Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1935-08-29

,v,, other day from the
wa Fi0ns Agricultural Adjust
More Wheat ment Administra-
ton, presented one
OF the sharpest reverses in policy yet
promulgated under the New Deal.
Dozens of experiments have been
tried out since President Roosevelt
came into Office and almost as many
have run their course and have been
abandoned. Many of them were tried
out with high enthusiasm but the en-
thusiasm died long before the recently
created agencies themselves went out
of existence. Such was not the case,
however, in the instance to which l re-
fer because the simple announcement
by the AAA resulted in the addition Of
100000 acres to the wheat planting
area Of the United States for the 1886
crop.
Not alone did this announcement rep
resent change in administration agri-
cultural policy. If one is to believe the
undercurrent of information available
around Washington, one cannot escape
the conclusion that the increase in
wheat acreage to be authorized repre-
sented something of an answer to the
protests, even boycotts, that have been
evidenced in many sections of the
country against an Increased cost Of
living. #s
1t is unnecessary to repeat here how
hundreds Of women have boycotted
meat markets In Detroit and how one
delegation after another in other sec
lions Of the nation have written or tele-
graphed to the Department of Agricul-
ture or to their representatives and
senators in congress in complaint
against the high and ever increasing
food prices.
OF course, boycotts and riots and
demonstrations are rather silly. They
just don't get anywhere successfully.
About the only result one ever sees
flowing from that sort of activity is a
lot Of publicity.
So, when Secretary Wallace and Ag-
ricultural Adjustment Administrator
=. :, Davis agreed to raise
MORE Hogs the wheat acreage
Comes Next from So to 95 per
cent of the avail
able acreage for the next crop, the
consensus was that the administration
felt 1t might have gone too far in its
crop reduction program. Probably all
restrictions will be lifted on hogs very
soon because hog prices have sailed
higher than kite and the shortage Of
available live stock for packing has
come to be almost appalling. Certain
ly, the city jewellers who constitute a
big element in the market for pork
products regard the shortage as appall-
ing and they are not to be appeased
by any promises from Washington.
Secretary Wallace was rather an
gered at published newspaper accounts
from various cities to the effect that
the AAA program was responsible for
the high prices. He insisted that the
drouth of last year was responsible and
that the destruction of several hundred
thousand sows and several million pigs
had not affected the market situation
at the present time.
But Mr.. Wallace's statements did
not go over so well. In the first instance
the bulk Of the city jewellers simply
will not believe that the drouth had
resulted in killing off sufficient num-
Der of hogs and cattle to cause the cur
rent high prices. In the second place,
wiseacres around Washington who
have habit Of hurting out their
thoughts without regard to feelings of
others, promptly inquired what good
had come from the AAA corn-hog con-
troll program If the drouth alone was
responsible for the price increase.
These same individuals were mean
enough to inquire also why some ex-
perts in the Department of Agricul-
ture had released statements to the
press to the effect that meat prices, es-
peclally pork, will continue to sky.
rocket until the summer Of 1896. They
pointed out that great shortage in
supplies existed and that 1t was to be
expected the upward trend would con-
tinue until new crop of hogs of pack
ing size is marketed next year.
Then, we here in Washington heard
suggestions from men whose Job 1t is
to understand market conditions In
which Imports Of pork products were
predicted for the forthcoming winter
Now, Importation Of any commodity
does not take place unless the domestic
supply is short Of the requirements.
Thus, crop control program or no crop
control program, drouth effects or nc
drouth effects, 1t is possible that this
one Of the greatest hog producing ma.
lions In the world, may witness sub.
stantial imports Of a food item for
which 1t has always been noted as q
producer.
As regards the reversal Of form In
the wheat control program, Mr.. Wal.
lace said In his an
G~PtotHS n0uncement that the