Imperial Valley press., 1936-11-18
EYES OF NATION
TO WATCH FARM
BUREAU MEET

! 90
CHICAGO, Ill-The eyes of the
agricultural world will be turned to
Pasadena. California. December 9.
for the events that transpire there
when the American Farm Bureau
Federation meets for its Eighteenth
Annual convention may have
strong influence on the future agri-
cultural policies of the nation
The farm bureau played a PROM
lnent part in drafting the Agricul-
gural Adjustment Act. which was
voided by the supreme court. and
the county units of the farm bureau
took the lead in administ ering the
AAA programs for production con-
trol. In some states. such as Illi-
nois, the AAA county committeeman
were practically 100 per cent farm
bureau men. 1t was natural. then
ior President Roosevelt and Secre-
tary of Agriculture Wallace to turn
TO the farm bureau for counsel and
auVice IN Drafting substitute pro-
gram for the discarded AAA.
Edward A. O'Neal. president of
the American Farm Bureau FEEDER
atlon was dominant figure in the
discussions out of which came tbc
Soll Conservation and Domestic AL
lotment Act. but he has always
MADE 1t plain that he did not con-
Sloer this legislation a permanent
solution to the big problem of ap-
rlcuiture, which he consistently con-
'enoed must be solved through q
system which will enable the farmer
10 Keep order in his own house bv
adjusting production to effective
demand SO that the farmer NAV
enjoy parity of income with other
groups.
80 1t is likely that the Roosevelt
administration, which construes its
tremendous majority of the popu-
lar vote in the recent election as
vote OF confidence in its policies for
agriculture, may attempt in the next
congress to put through legislation
Which Will again give to agriculture
positive means for control of pro-
auction. Naturally. the official
action taken by the voting dele
gates to the farm bureau convention
VIII be given sympathetic consid- |
Grafton when future farm legisla-
ton is under consideration.
A straw which indicates which
way the wind is blowing in farm |
bureau circles was revealed in the |
meeting of farm leaders called to- |
gether by Secretary Wallace on
November 7 to discuss crop insur-
ance. Mr.. ONeil offered the resolu-
tlon which was unanimously adont |
ca py the group, which stated that: |
NO program Of storage or insurance |
can be permanently effective.
unless coupled with some effective |
means, of controlling production
and distribution of farm products"
The farm bureau has its great !
est strength in the midwest and
south, where the production con-
troll programs of the AAA were
most popular. hence it will not be
surprising ii the voting delegates at |
Pasadena go on record in a strong
of new legislation for
a national plan for production con-
troll.
Secretary Wallace will appear on
the program. 1t is a foregone con- |
cluSlon that he will discuss crop
insurance, which has been a hobby |
Of his for many years. but it is not |
unlikely that he will also discuss the |
possibilities of legislation along
much broader lines. legislation
which might give the farmer sub
stantially the same things he had
under the AAA Those familiar
with Mr.. Wallace's views on the con-
stitution believe he might welcome
another supreme court test of leg
islation based on the principles en-
bodied in the AAA programs.
Another subject that can not be
by the convention dele
gates in their deliberations is con-
sumer cooperation. In the past, the
farm bureau has encouraged cooper
ative marketing enterprises, but |
consumer cooperation is a horse of |
a different color Organized to re-
duce the cost of living, the consumer
cooperativeS may clash with pro
duce cooperatives. which aim at get
ting a higher price for. farm COM
modities. Clifford V. Gregory, edi-
tor Of The Prairie Farmer, who was
a member Of President Roosevelt's |
commission which studied coopera-
ton in Europe last summer, will ap-
pear ON the program. and the or
ganization will undoubtedly pass
resolution on the subject.