Evening star., 1937-05-18

SltudUlOIl Ol \ man running 1Or MS
life from the rising waters, and no
sooner had he dragged himself to
safety into house on a bit of high
ground than the house was struck by
lightning and burst into flames. At
one moment he was in danger OF
drowning. The next he was likely to
burn to death.
Quite obviously the most desirable
equipment would be pump which
would enable him to use some of the
excess water to overcome the fire.
The Government provided such a
device, and the farmers, with markedly
satisfactory results, undertook to oper-
ate it.
Today the foodWaters have receded.
The fire Is extinguished, but the
farmers are anxious to keep the pump
handy. The waters may again rise.
Lightning may once more strike the
house.
With the facts of national recovery
clearly in mind, the United States
Senate last Thursday passed an agri-
cultural appropriation measure, which
included s45O,OOO,O00 for the soil
erosion. soil conservation program and
continue in effect most Of the benefits
Of the Triple A.
Program Based on Need.
The Governments present farm
program and future farm policy have
been evolved out Of the experience of
the past and in the light OF the need
for continued national recovery.
The improvement in conditions
which I have described has not been
accidental. Nor has it been restricted
to my own State of Iowa.
Under the Triple A program several
million farmers throughout the 48
States banded themselves together in
a common effort to cooperate with
State and Federal governments in
carrying out national farm programs.
The problem confronting the farm
ers was twofold. First. they were
compelled to make disposition of great
surpluses for which there was no nor
NAL market either at home or abroad;
secondly, they realized that they must
restore and conserve the fertility of
the soil, upon which the prosperity
of the farmers in normal times de-
pends
Under the A. A. A. the Government
had the difficult task OF taking care
of those surpluses, and also to act
as shock absorber" for the farm
ers in years OF drought. The pro-
gram helped in both ways.
II you take a 40-acre field that has
been in corn and seed 1t to grass or
legumes, you do two things. You re-
duce the supply Of corn and thereby
help the price, should the season be
favorable If it turns out to be bad
year your shift from corn to grass
has given you better crop than you
would have had otherwise. Corn
burns. up in dry year. Grass and
legumes provide some feed.
Ask any farmer in the drought
area which he would have preferred
last year: A field of corn or q field
Of alfalfa.
Sound knowledge Credited.
To be forced to meet two different
kinds Of disaster in the space Of few
years is test for any administration.
The success Of the Roosevelt admin
istration's program in meeting that
test was the result of sound technical
knowledge, expert management and
healthy reliance on the ability Of
several million individual farmers to
work together on national program.
The interest which the Government
has taken in agriculture has not been
for the sake Of agriculture alone. The
larger aim has been national recov-
cry. The progress made by agricul-
ture has been Of tremendous help to
the entire Nation in rising from the
depths Of depression.
Not everybody realizes it, but the
national farm program is a primary
triumph for economic democracy. The
farmers for the first time had the
opportunity to demonstrate their abil-
ity to work together, to elect their own
their constructive ideas to the develop
ment OF sound national agrarian
policy.
The Triple A operations for the ben
eft Of agriculture are at present TAX
ing several forms The principal op-
Grafton is the conservation program,
by marketing agree
ments, surplus removal, commodity
loan and flood and drought relief
measures
The last few years have taught US
that II agriculture Is to be kept in q
sound condition 1t must have protec-
ton against the dangers Of price COL
lapse and crop failure.
Extremes Of weather have brought
home to farmers the reality Of both
Of these dangers The farmer scarcely
knows which Is worse: To have 4
bumper crop to sell at pitifully low
price or to see prices skyrocket while
most Of his crops are ruined by
drought. The city consumer suffers
quite as much from these extremes as
does the farmer. Depressed prices
bring on unemployment in the cities.
High prices create almost prohibitive
living costs. When drought sears the
great producing regions the city con-
sumer pays the bill In sharply rising
prices.
Program Has Proved Value.
The soil conservation program has
demonstrated its value, and is, In my
opinion, here to stay. 1t is the foun-
dation Of an economically sound ma
tional farm policy.
Building on this foundation, leaders
OF farm organizations have been work.
Ing among themselves and with mem
bers of Congress on supplemental leg
islation, which includes safeguards
for food supplies and farm incomes.
A central feature Of this newly pro-
posed legislation is the plan for an