Evening star., 1935-10-27

farmers increasing incentives for con-
servation and efficient use Of the
Nations soil resources. In addition,
the President suggested the time may
come when the A. A. A. will work to
increase crops, and there will be a
decentralization of farm control by
the Government so it will be managed
locally to a greater extent, rather than
from Washington.
A month ago in these columns 1t
was predicted that the administration
would seek to improve and change its
farm program, getting away from the
principle of crops curtailment as the
principal basis for the payment of
Government benefits to the farmers.
The Presidents statement may be in
terpreted as indicating such change
is now strongly in contemplation.
He said: The longtime and more
permanent adjustment program will
provide positive incentives for soil
conservation. The benefit payments
can be made on a basis that will en-
courage individual farmers to adopt
sound farm management, crop rota-
ton and conservation methods"
Republican speakers have taken ad-
vantage of the dissatisfaction which
has arisen outside of the farm areas
because of the high prices being asked
for food. They have stressed the fact
that pork has practically doubled in
price to the consumers and that prices
of other foodstuffs have been rising
The Democrats are not unmindful of
the fact they must hold the votes of
the people Of the great industrial
States as well as those Of the farm
States if they wish to keep their
present control of government.
There is a feeling growing that con-
sumers of food do not look kindly on
the payment of Government checks to
the farmers for failing to produce
their usual crops. The consumers are
paying for these benefits to the farm
ers. not alone in higher prices for
their food, but also through the proc
essing taxes, which in themselves are
helping to increase the prices OF
foods-according to the Republicans.
The Republican National Committee,
not unnindful of the effect it may
have on the popular regard for the
administration, has seized on the
record of American exports and i'm
ports of farm products in September.
1895. as compiled by the Bureau Of
Foreign and Domestic Commerce. In
a statement issued last night the COM
mittee said:
From an agricultural standpoint, 1t
is probably the most dismal record
that has been written in the last 30
years. In September the United States
for the first time since the Civil War,
if not for all time, imported more
farm products than it exported.
Sees U. S. Losing Title.
THAT sounds incredible in view Of
the fact that ever since the West was
opened Immediately following the
Civil War the United States bore the
proud title of being the granary Of
the world"
Under. the New Deal policies OF the
last two and a half years, however,
agricultural exports have been
steadily declining and our agricul-
tural imports have been steadily in
creasing. The policies Of the A. A. A.
are swiftly destroying the farmers
foreign markets and gradually de-
stroying his domestic markets.
THE month Of September shows
our exports of animals and edible
animal products, meat products, dairy
products, lard and fish, to have
amounted to $9,307, 900, while our
imports of the same articles amount
ed to S10,253,000. The exports OF
vegetable food products and bever-
ages, grains and grain preparations,
fodder and feeds, vegetables and
vegetable preparations, and edible
vegetable oils, amounted to $21, ,978,-
600, while our imports Of the Ike
articles were more than double that
amounting to 8,161 900.
When the American farmer sees
the imports of agricultural products,
both raw and finished, are nearly
twice the exports of like products,
he should begin to do some serious
thinking regarding the policies of an
administration which makes this
possible"
With the sacrifice of agricultural
production In this country through
crop curtailment, the antagonists Of
the A. A. A. say, there has come
increased foreign competition in the
production of agricultural commod-
tiles. Foreign nations have increased
their crop acreage as the United
States has decreased its acreage.
Trade Barriers Blamed.
The proponents Of the A. A. A.
program insist, on the other hand.
that trade barriers erected by foreign
nations have been responsible for the
falling of of American agricultural
exports. They do not see any pros
pect of regaining these foreign
markets unless these trade barriers
are removed And there seems to be
no immediate chance Of breaking
down these barriers.
The Republican National Commit