Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1935-08-01
Protecting The Farmer

Protecting The Farmer
One could not listen to Henry Wallace, Secretary
OF Agriculture, without being impressed both with the
mans sincerity OF purpose and his simplicity OF action.
Wallace is first Of all exceedingly human; he is full
OF enthusiasm and vigor that characterizes a man Of
his youth and vitality, and possessing those qualities,
it is easy to understand how impressively he is able
to sell an audience such as he spoke to in Great Falls
last week a plan which he himself is all wrapped up
Wallace paid special tribute to the two Montana
men, NJ. L. Wilson and Chester Davis who have had
SO much to do in shaping the Agricultural Adjustment
ACT, and especially as 1t effects wheat growers In the
northwest. The allotment plan Is largely the product
OF Wilson's brain and to Davis is given much Of the
credit for the administration Of this part-of AAA.
Although, a Republican, like his father who at
one time held the same cabinet seat, Wallace immed-
lately dispels any interest In partisan politics in con-
sideration OF agricultural problems His chief concern
is to bring the farmers of America the same protec-
ton that has been afforded business interests through
tariff walls for many years. This he is seeking to do
through AAA.
Wallace traces the cause Of the depression direct
ly to Over-production OF agricultural products with
decreasing export markets and the consequent piing
up of huge surpluses. He holds that to control produc-
ton In the leading farm commodities will serve the
same purpose as placing a tariff wall around manu-
featuring interests.
Whatever may be the objections raised to the
youthful Secretary's plan OF production control, It
would seem that one conclusion Is selfevident The
farmers OF America, left through all these years at
the mercy OF a skinfully manipulated" market, fin
ally bringing to them disastrous prices for any CON-
modify they chose to produce, are entitled to the
same kind, or as much, protection as manufacturing
interests. If industry Of the nation can be built up and
hugo forfunaa not only made r01aVhln INT hoc06no
realities behind government made tariff walls, then by
what process Of reason can one bring himself to the
conclusion that agriculture, the basic industry OF the
country, is not entitled to the same protection? Until
that question is satisfactorily answered farmers as
well as business men will be slow to scrap the Wilson
allotment plan.
True, there, may be some objections to the pro-
cessng tax-the plan through which money is &C
Quired to return to farmers In allotment" for acreage
removed from production 1t was never intended that
the socalled tax should be merely passed on to the
onsrme as we know it has been in many cases. But,
just as Secretary Wallace said in his Montana address,
"our plan naturally will need revising from time to
time just as any business needs revision to make 1t
move along successfully, but we are making those
changes as rapidly as they appear necessary"
Especially interesting is the fact that a few in
dustries have sought the assistance OF the courts to
have returned to them processing taxes which they
have paid. But more interesting Is that fact that
these same processing taxes which they paid were col
lected from the consumer through increased prices on
commodities they manufactured. Wallace predicted
that. with amendments to the AA Act which were
practically assured OF approval by Congress, one Of
which provided that any industry seeking return Of
processing taxes be compelled to "open their books to
the courts upon demand Of the government, they
would not be so anxious to seek such repayment"
When we think Of the lack Of any kind Of protec-
ton given the farmer during past years. and when wo
think Of the plight farmers OF our own state would
have faced during the past two years without allot-
ment payments, we cannot help but feel AAA has
been, and is Of practical good to our country. Until
some better plan is offered to replace it, farmers Of
America will probably continue to hold about the
same opinion they did recently when they voted over
whelmingly to have it continued another two years.