The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-05-11

fertile cotton, cane and rice
country, Mr.. Wallace staunch-
ly defended the Agricultural
Adjustment Administration
as "the farmers best friend"
1t was the New Deals answer to
Longs scathing attack delivered in
an address to Midwestern farmers
at Des Moines April q. Long has
been one of the sharpeSt critics Of
New Deal policies. He described Mr..
Wallace as "the ignoramuS of Iowa"
Mr.. Wallace declared the AAA
was following principles laid down
by Thomas Jefferson, who was
first, last and always an agricul-
turist." He said jefferson believed
the farmers should have equal
rights with industry, that they
should receive a fair price for their
labors, and that they should always
have voice in the government Of
the nation.
Termed Workable Tariff
Since the farmer has to buy in
a protected market, the farm pro-
gram of the New Deal found a way
to help him sell in a protected
market. For the first time, through
the device of the processing tax, the
majority of farmers have a tariff
that actually works. he said.
THE AAA borrowed the centraliz-
ing power of government so that ag-
riculture might at least win back
a little of its fair share of the ma
tional income.
Nov that these governmental
powers have been used by millions
of farmers for two years, the cry
has arisen that they must be taken
away. I do not hear that cry from
any large number of farmers. They
know that moderate use of these
governmental powers has helped out
them back on their feet" he said.
Cites Rise in Receipts
Pointing to the rise in receipts
from farm marketings in Louisi-
ana, Secretary Wallace offered this
as proof of the benefits under the
AAA.
1T is around the cotton adjust
ment program and processing tax
that the enemies of the New Deal
for agriculture have rallied. They
haven't quite got the nerve to say
the cotton farmer is making too
much money, but if they win their
fight against the cotton program.
the cotton farmer will certainly be
making far less money" he charged.
Turning to the share-cropper
problem in the South, Mr.. Wallace
said:
The minimum wage for textile
workers in the South, under the tex
tile code, is 30 cents an hour Do
the men who grow cotton do as
we'll? I have an analysis made in
Georgia and Texas, including all
necessary items Of expense and re-
ceipt.
Food Shortage Denied
IN 1884 16-cent cotton brought
the acreage re-cropper in Geor-
gia wage of 14.6 cents per hour;
in Texas, Is cents an hour. We're
these share-croppeers to get 30 cents
an hour for their labor on the cot
ton crop, as the textile code pro-
vides for textile labor, the price Of
cotton would have to be around 30
cents a pound.
ut is true" he explained, that
sharecroppeprs have a little land
to raise food and feed, but it Is
also true that the numbers Of hours
during the year when they can
earn their IS and Is cents an hour
cash income from cotton is severely
limited. In view of these facts. can
either industry or labor fairly ac-
cuse agriculture of charging too
much for it's services and its prod
uct?" he asked.
Mr.. Wallace denied that Ameri-
can people were faced with food
shortage and said: The adjustment
programs have cut down production
for an export market that no longer
exists; they have not deprived the
American people Of an ounce Of
necessary food "