Evening star., 1935-10-28
A Famous Victory.

The corn-hog farmers have voted al
gram, which gives them Government
checks for not producing corn and hogs.
Why not take a referendum now on
whether the veterans of the World War
would prefer immediate cash payment
of the soldiers bonus? Administration
officials professed doubt as to the out
come prior to Saturdays referendum
vote, cast by the farmers who produce
corn and hogs in forty-eight States of
the Union. 1t seems incredible that
they could have had a doubt.
The corn-hog programs OF the past
two years-plus the slaughter of mil
lions of pigs-have shot the price of
pork products to undreamed-of heights.
Or was the increase in the price due
to the drought? There has been an
inclination on the part of the propo-
nents OF the corn-hog program to place
the blame for these high prices on the
drought when talking to the disgrun-
tied consumers. When, however, the
high prices are explained to the men and
women who receive the benefits, the
Government checks, which go along
with the higher prices, the A. A. A. is
made the hero Of the piece
The referendum taken Saturday ap-
parently has settled one thing. The
Roosevelt administration is going right
ahead with the proposed corn-hog pro-
gram for the year 1886 and the con-
tracts signed may call for a four-year
program. 1t is explained by officials Of
the A. A. A. that the 1886 program prob
ably will permit an increase of Is to 30
per cent in hog production. They be-
lieve that such an expansion will have
the effect of providing sufficient sup
plies of pork to take care Of the mar
ket, to prevent further price increases
and even to bring some reduction in
the prices.
The whole country has an interest in
the A. A. A. programs-corn-h hog, wheat,
cotton, tobacco and the like. The ref
erendum just taken was a reflection of
the opinion only of those who benefit
directly from the program, those who
either receive or are in position to
receive Government checks for not
producing corn and hogs. But what Of
the millions of citizens who buy pork
and pay double the price for that kind
Of food because of the corn-hog pro-
gram-or was 1t because of the drought?
How would they have voted in a refer
endum on Saturday? They were given
no chance to vote. They merely foot
the bill. Not until November, 1896, will
these consumers have an opportunity
to register their views on the corn-hog
program, in the general election Many
other issues will then complicate the
election, perhaps preventing a straight
out vote on the corn-hog checks. I'm
til the consumers are allowed to vote
along with the producers in these A. A. A.
referendums these elections will have a
lopsided look.
Granted that the farmers may act
collectively to restrict crops in order to
avoid surplus-the law gives to the
farmers many privileges that are not
extended to others-it is nevertheless
very different matter to have the Gov
ernment pay benefits to the farmers for
such collective restriction of production,
out Of money taken from the consumers
generally. No one has yet suggested
that shoe manufacturer be paid by
the Government for failure to extend
his plant or for failing to produce a
certain number of shoes. In principle,
such payments to the manufacturers
would be comparable to the payments
to the farmers. And shoes, after all,
have become necessity in this day
and age.
The corn-hog program battle has been
fought and won, at least temporarily.
by the A. A. A. 1t may yet bring to
mind old Kaspar's final estimate of the
Battle of Blenheim, whose answer to
little Peterkin is poetic If not historic:
But what good came of it at last?'