The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1935-02-07

1
prices.
"This situation can and should
be corrected. 1t Is the business Of
the federal government to regulate
the fundamentals governing farm
prices and production, leaving the
details of individual farm activities
as crop selection, to the individual
farmer, who best knows what he
and the farm can best produce.
ut Is wrong economically to sub
ject the farmer-producer to the
perils Of uncontrolled markets, fix
ed partly by legitimate trading but
materially influenced by unscrupu-
ious speculation.
This is a job that cannot be
done by six million farmers acting
individually, but can be and
should be basically carried on by
the federal government.
Until this is done, the farmer is
doomed to get the short end Of the
deal regardless of which way the
market goes. When he has goods
to sell the market will drop and
when he has to buy the market will
advance. Facing this he Is consign-
ed to almost certain peasantry un-
less this unfair situation is recog-
nized and acted upon.
"The average farmer Is fair in
his demands. He blames no one for
the weather and other uncertain
conditions over which there is no
human control. He Is willing to
stand assessments or equalization
fees to offset the cost of develop
ing new markets or selling in for
eign channels at prices out of line
with the American standard and he
is willing to eliminate acres to con-
troll production, but he wants a
fundamental simplicity of control.
This must provide for mini
mum price, a surplus pool from
which basic farm products will not
be removed at under the minimum
price and system Of acre control
when needed to balance production
to effective demand.
1.-THE three factors most neces-
sary to the development of the full
possibilities Of American prosper.
ity lie in this fundamental control
of markets for major agricultural
products, minimum wages for Ia
Dor, and regulation of the dollar
on the basis Of commodity values
all three Of which are q function
Of the federal government, which
must deal with these problems In
a broad way in controlling mini.
mum market prices, wages for Ia
Dor, and the commodity dollar by
providing q surplus pool for exces
sive products, labor, energy, and
an in and out movement of the dol
lar as the basis Of this control"
Mr.. Brandt presented in detail
what has now become nationally
famous as the Brandt plan for sur
plus and production control.
Taking of marginal land out Of
production.
Fixing of a minimum price on
major basic farm crops.
Creation of surplus pool which
shall absorb the surplus at his min.
imum price.
Providing for advance by the
government of a billion dollars as g
revolving fund to defray expenses
of the surplus pool, the expenses OF
the operation Of which to be paid
however, by an equalization assess
ed on major farm crops.
Provision whereby surplus
stocks may be withdrawn from the
pools at 10 per cent over cost and
resold to private or cooperative
marketing associations when need.
ed in regular channels, or this sur.
plus can be used at cost to the gov.
eminent in relief work or sold In
foreign countries at less than cost
to compensate for lower costs In
competing foreign countries.
A board is set up to have control
Of the surplus pool and also with
authority to curtail production
when It would seem that the sur.
plus is unduly large. This control
would be accomplished by taking q
certain percentage Of cultivated
acres out of production.
In case one crop was especially
guilty Of over-production, the
board would have the power to as
sess higher equalization fee on II
than on other major crops.
M. p. Mortensen followed on the
program with an explanation OF
the State Dairy Divisions plan fol-
cream quality control and legisla'
ton as regarding the dairy bust.
ness soon to be brought before the
state Legislative bodies. He urged
farmers to write to their represen.
tatives asking them to use their in
fluence in passing these bills.
At N. Cordell, buttermaker, then
gave a talk asking cooperation OF
the patrons and thanking them fol
their splendid support Of the past
year.
The patrons Of the creamery ex.
tended a vote Of thanks to the bus
mess and professional men Of the
city for their contributions and fol
the lunch. They also extend thanks
to the Little German Band mem.
bers and to DR.. p. w. Hansen and
Miss Vogel for their excellent con.
tributions to the program.
The secretary's report follows:
q