Evening star., 1935-07-12
A.A.A PERMANENT,
| BANKHEAD SAYS
AIabaman Says Opponents
Will Lose Farm Votes
/ Regardless of Party.

Will Lose Farm Votes
/ Regardless of Party.
Opponents Of the A. A. A. process
ing taxes will lose the votes OF the
farmers regardless Of former political
Affiliations" Senator Bankhead, Demo-
crat. of Alabama warned last night in
q speech in the National Radio
Forum.
7 with the farmers overwhelmingly
favoring its continuance, the Demo-
cratic party favoring it and the first
big assembly of Republican politicians
acquieScing. it appears certain that
the A. A. A. is here to stay" the Sen
ator declared in an address arranged
by The Star and broadcast on a coast
forecast network by the National
Broadcasting Co.
Bankhead's mention Of Republican
politicians" referred to the recent
Springfield, Ill, Grass Roots Conven-
tion," which, he said, lin effect in
dorsed the Agricultural Adjustment
Administration
Denounces Opposition.
He denounced attempts to array
industrial workers against farm work
ers" to prevent enactment of pending
A. A. A. amendments, which purpose
Ito bring the original act clearly and
definitely in line with the Supreme
Court decision in the N. R. A. case"
ANY investigation of propaganda
relating to congressional legislation
should by all means include thor
ough scrutiny of the efforts made and
money expended by interested persons
who have been diligently striving to
create adverse sentiment against the
amendments" Bankhead said, and
pointed to the effects of the adjust
ment act:
while farmers are still greatly
burdened with debts, an overwhelming
majority of them are now looking to
the future with new hope and splen-
did courage.
The Agricultural Adjustment Ad-
ministration has pointed the way to
a better and fairer part in the ma
tional income for the producers of the
food and the raw material for cloth
ing all the people of our country.
Text of Address.
The text of Senator Bankhead's ad-
dress follows:
During this session of Congress the
Agricultural Adjustment Administra-
tion, familiarly known as the three
"A's," has been under a steady fire
from its enemies. A microscopic eX-
animation of all phases of its activi-
ties has been publicly conducted. An
exhaustive search has been made to
find weak spots.
The public is now hearing much
about the propaganda engaged in, in
opposition to the utility holding COM
pany bill. 1t has not been informed
about the extensive and widespread
propaganda which has been carried
on since this Congress met, by han
dlerS, professors and distributors of
farm commodities. Members of Con-
gress know, however, how their mail
has been filled with protests from
people who knew nothing about the
provisions of the pending bill, but
who had been led to believe that it
directl ytouched their business. Any in
vestigation of propaganda relating to
congressional legislation should by all
means include a thorough scrutiny
OF the efforts made and money ex-
pended by interested persons who
have been diligently striving to create
adverse sentiment against the bill
amending the agricultural adjustment
act. The identity of these persons
should be disclosed and the public
given full information on the subject.
Burden on Workers Charged.
Attempts have been made to array
industrial workers against farm
workers. Partisan critics have in
sisted that the rise of prices in farm
commodities which has resulted from
programs administered by the A. A.
A. constitutes burden upon indus
trial workers. Farmers have not pro-
tested against higher priced industrial
commodities as an improper burden
upon them. They demand and are
entitled to the same consideration.
Farmers realize that industrial work
ers need good wages to enable them
to buy farm products. Everybody
understands that shorter hours, higher
wages and so-called fair trade prac-
tices by industries have increased
prices paid by consumers, including
the farmers. Without fair prices
farmers. constituting 25 per cent of
our population, cannot do their nor
NAL part In supporting industry and
IN enabling industry to provide en-
ployment at fair wages.
The welfare of the farmers depends
upon the ability of Industrial work.
ers to buy farm products. Regular
employment of industrial workers at
good wages depends upon the ability
OF tne farmers to pay for industrial
products and services. There is a
relation of interdependence between
tnese two major groups of producers.
Inc efforts of politicians, self-styled
pro bono advisers and critics to array
farm workers and industrial workers
against each other have miserablv
1aiied. 1t is pleasing to note that
tne horrible loss, in purchasing and
oeot-paying power during the great
depression, of 30,000,0O0 people upon
the farms OF our country has brought
most OF our industrialists to an acute
Fealzatlon OF the sad plight of agri-
culture and o. the dire necessity of
remedial measures for the financial
rescue OF the farmers. There has not
peen, there is not now, a comnlete
accord on what are the best methods
70 accomplish that result.
Aid by Criticism Welcomed.
constructive criticism Is helpful and
welcomed by those in positions of
responsibility and power. But de-
structive objections are obnoxious
When the agricultural adjustment act
was passed, there were many Doubt
ang Thomases. both in CONGRESS and
out. In the ontjro ,icforry - 49,