Evening star., 1934-11-01
HARMONY TERMED
A. A. A. OBJECTIVE.
Administrator Explains Aims
in Address in Radio
Forum.

National economic harmony" Is
the prime object of the Agricultural
Adjustment Administration in its
many efforts to restore farming to
state of prosperity that will place it
on an equal footing with industry
and business.
This declaration was made last
night by Chester c. Davis, admins
traitor of the A. A. A., who spoke in
the National Radio Forum. The
forum is arranged by The Washing
ton Star and broadcast over a coast
to-coast network of the National
BroadcaSting Co. The address was
heard locally from WRC.
1sO9-14 Period Cited.
During the period from 1909 to 1914,
Davis said, the country enjoyed "eco-
nomic harmony"
The Agricultural Adjustment act
Is designed to restore and maintain
that same balance in America again."
he added. I'VE are trying to sound
again the lost chord of that pre-war
harmony"
The administrator traced many of
the steps taken by the A A. A. to
restore agriculture. citing expenditures
that have exceeded S431 900, 900 under
the provisions of the various COM
modify programs.
Text of Address.
The text Of Mr.. Davis address fol-
lows:
Since this program tonight has ac-
cess to SO many thousands of homes
all over the United States, I am glad
my subject has the practical impor-
tance that it does have in nearly all
these American homes. Perhaps I
cannot make this subject interest all
OF you-but it does concern you.
Indirectly the agricultural adjust
ment program affects the business
man, the man on the street. the house
wife and the laborer nearly as much
as 1t does the farmer himself But be-
cause the effect is indirect / am afraid
many well-informed people do not
study or understand 1t as the farmer
naturally does.
Without this fundamental Under
standing I can see how the most in
telllgent of people might be puzzled
When they read in the papers that
farmers are receiving Government
checks by the millions of dollars. I
can see how the most sincere of peo-
pie, who had not examined the sub
Ject very far, could be led to mouth
Sucn spectacular catch phrases as "a
dole to farmers dipped cut of the Fed
eral gravy bowl to be paid by our sons
ana grandsonS," even though such
catch phrases are entirely erroneous
Many Of them were deliberately circu-
lated with the idea of prejudicing the
city consumer against the farm pro-
gram.
Farmer Loser for Years.
In this connection, speaking of the
city consumer, let me interpose this
suggestion: The American farmer has
su1ered years of unfairly low prices.
He furnished millions, yes billions of
collars worth of food and fiber to the
city consumer below the cost of pro-
duction.
Farm prices are even yet below
parity-and I'm going to explain In
a moment just what is meant bv
parity prices" In addition, this year
the farmer suffered a disastrous
drought. I submit that he should
hgardl be harassed still further bv
inaccurate attacks on a program that
has been set up to assist him to regain
his former usefulness in the economic
community he served so vigorously be.
fore.
The business man, the man in the
street the housewife, should see to it
That they are not tricked into dan
gerous catch-thinking that might
weaken program designed, as it is
stated in the title of the act itself: ITO
relieve the existing national economic
emergency-"
prOSnerify Held PeIatiyo