Evening star., 1937-05-18
FARM PLAN Wins
PRAISE OF HERRING.
Former Iowa Governor Says
Soil Conservation Is
Here to Stay.

OCrAL. OF Iowa pTeulCSu ldSU nlEIlC III
an address on the needs and problems
OF American agriculture. He spoke
On the weekly Radio Forum sponsored
by The Star and the speech was
broadcast over a Nationwide network
Of the National Broadcasting Co.
The Senator recalled his own de-
preston experiences with agriculture
as Governor Of Iowa from 1888 until
early this year. declaring that ad-'
mixture Of bankruptcy. tragedy and
disaster was dropped into my lap = -,
Just as it was brought to the United
States Congress and President Roose-
velt in a national way"
Soil conservation, he said, 'is the
foundation Of an economically sound
national farm policy
Map Further Legislation.
Building on this foundation, lead
srs of farm organizations have been
working among themselves and with
members Of Congress on supplemental
legislation, which includes safeguards
for food supplies and farm incomes.
A central feature of this newly pro-
posed legislation Is the ever normal
granary to store up reserves from sur
plus years for use in lean years.
Text of Address.
The text OF Senator Herring's speech
follows:
The Washington Star Radio Forum
y a splendid institution, the facilities
Of which sincerely appreciate having
placed at my disposal this evening I
am glad Of this opportunity to talk
over with thoughtful people OF city
and farm who are listening, some Of
the current legislation, especially that
part Of the Federal program which
directly affects agriculture
Food, clothing and shelter have
been, and will continue to be. mans
particular and universal concern. The
city dweller actually has a graver
problem than the farmer, because his
supply of foodstuffs can SO much
more easily be interrupted by the
villfulness Of men.
Therefore the solution of our agri-
cultural problems is of equal if not
greater concern to men and women
residing in cities than to families nv-
ing on farms.
The farmers of the United States
are to be congra tulated upon the prog
ress which they have made during the
past four years. They have pulled
themselves out of one of the most
desperate and disheartening situations
in which any group of people in the
history of our country ever found
themselves.
You farmers know how you stand
today as compared with your plight
disastrous prices which you received
for your hogs and cattle. your wheat,
cotton, corn and tobacco. You know
the great gains which have since been
made, not only in the things you sell,
but In the incomes of those who, in
spite of drought, have had something
substantial to send to market.
Because I come from a farm State
I think about recovery since 1888
In farm terms Those days of 1888
now seem miles away, and many years
removed.
Recalls March, 1888.
Elected Governor of Iowa in No
vember. 1882, have definite recol-
lections OF March, 1888 with its bank
failures and farm mortgage foreclos-
ures and its lengthening bread lines;
farmers selling their corn for dime
or less bushel. That admixture Of
bankruptcy, tragedy and disaster, was
dropped into my lap as Governor. just
as it was brought to the United States
Congress and President Roosevelt in
. national way.
Thinking back over what the ma
tional farm program has done for
Iowa since 1888, it Is easiest to state
the gains in dollars. The Bureau OF
Agricultural Econornics reports that in
the first three months of 1887, Iowa
farmers were paid for their produce
and for their work in conserving soil
fertility a total of S126500,000, as
compared with only $53 600 900 for the
same period in 1888, or nearly two
and one-quarter times as much.
Nor does this mean merely a dou-
bling OF farm income. The $4,000, 900
collected In 1888 did not meet operat-
ing costs-taxes. interest, feed and
other unavoidable expense
Tho farmer OF 1881 was in the posi-
ton Of a city worker, let Us say, who
has worked full time for one week,
and who, at the end OF the period,
instead Of receiving his wages, Is
handed bill showing he owes the
management $40. Today, when the
fn ho
dow, he Is given $40 instead OF owing
$40.
Note too, that in many lines, Iowa
Farmers. who are now taking in twice
as much money as in 1898, are paying
out less. Taxes are case in point
The average tax on farm land in Iowa
Is lower today than in 1892.
Taxes in Commodities COMPARED.
In 1892 farmer was required to
pay In taxes on a l6O-acre farm the
equivalent In dollars of the return
from the sale Of % hogs, weighing
200 pounds each. Last years tax bill
was paid from the revenue from seven
such hogs, instead OF %.
More important than the increase
IN cash income are the things, which
that steadily increasing income has
bought.
Increased farm incomes have been
translated into long needed improve
ments. Barns and houses have been
repainted and reconditioned. Fences,
machinery and equipment have been
repaired or replaced. Lime is being
spread on sour fields. Extra dollars
coming In have meant new dress
or q new hat for the farmers wife,
shoes for his children, perhaps even
new stove, or an electric washing
machine. Sometimes 1t has meant
buying = new car. the farm fami-
lies better income has been trans
lated into better living, and has
bought modest share OF security,
comfort and hope.
The restored purchasing power Of