Evening star., 1935-10-23
COrn-HOg Election.

The farmers of the great corn and hog
producing States are to be called upon
Saturday to vote for or against con-
gram in 1886. These so-called referen-
dums on corn-hog, wheat and cotton
programs ask the farmers whether they
prefer to be paid for failing to produce
corn, hogs. wheat and cotton; whether
they are pleased with the Government
checks. The amazing thing is not that
the A. A. A. programs should receive
the Endorsement of the farmers. 1t is
that so many thousands Of farmers
actally cast their votes against the pro-
gram.
The administration is bent on continu-
ing the A. A. A. corn-hog program, al
though it has been worried over the
soaring prices of pork chops to the con-
sumner, and angered over the increase
in the price of loaf of bread. Indeed.
the A. A. A. is said to have won the
hearts Of the farmers of the West. and
their votes along with their hearts in
the next presidential campaign: The
fly in the ointment is the increase in
the prices of foodStuffs to the consumer
and the anger of the housewives who
purchase the food for their husbands
and children. Would the administration
refrain from continuing the corn-hog
program If the farmers were evenly di-
vided for and against it, or even if by
small majority the referendum went
against the program? This is hypo-
thetical question. 1t probably will never
have to be answered.
Thomas D. Campbell, one of the great
est wheat farmers in the country and at
one time a supporter of Herbert Hoover,
now declares that the A. A. A. must be
made permanent. Mr.. Campbell is
quoted as saying that many persons
insist that the high prices of foodstuffs
were caused by the A. A. A, whereas the
real cause of high prices was the drought
which has visited much of the farming
West in the last two years If Mr.. Camp
bell is right. then there was no need of
the A. A. A. program to bring higher
prices to the farmer for wheat and corn
and hogs. They would come in any event
because of the drought, a natural cause
What has happened and has rejoiced
Mr.. Campbell and other farmers is that
in addition to higher prices for their
products the farmers have been receiving
checks for large sums for not producing
crops. These checks are paid for out of
processing taxes and these taxes come
ultimately out of the American con-
sumers. The consumers are coming out
at the little end of the horn. 1t is both
ends against the middle, with the con-
sumers in the middle.
If the sole purpose of the A. A. A. is to
increase the prices received by the farm
ers for their wheat, corn, hogs, cotton,
etc, and these prices are increased by
curtailment of crops, why is it necessary
to pay the farmers for not producing?
The answer is simple. The farmers would
not curtan unless they had the money
in hand from the Government. That
money comes from the pockets of con-
sumers and in greater proportion from
the little man than from the big. The
Government has had to sugar-coat the
A. A. A. programs with hundreds of
millions of dollars. Long live the Gov
eminent checks!
The administration has conducted a
vigorous campaign among the corn-hog
farmers of the West in favor of the 1896
program. Why it was necessary to scat
ter propaganda for the corn-hog pro-
gram, to drum up meetings and to but
tonhole farmers 1t is difficult to see. But
the administration is taking no chances.
1t wants to roll up an impressive vote
next Saturday as a preliminary to the
vote in the national election next wear.