Evening star., 1937-11-15
Text of Presidents Message
Need for Definite, Early Action for Business,
Labor and Farm Interests Stressed
IN Document.


ploymsnt Of both capital and labor
Reasonable profits ana fair wages
"A resumption Of that vigorous
movire equilibrium which began in
1888. De1lation and imitation are
equal enemies Of the balanced
economy that will produce that
progressive increase In national In
come.
In the attainment Of the broad
central purpose We recognise many
related objectives. This message,
however. deals with only four of
these objectives-four which are
already being considered by the
Congress. Two relate directly to
the stabilixation and maintsnance
OF the purchasing power Of the
Nation. The other two, essential
tools for the whole task, look to
the Improvement Of the machinery
and functionlng Of both the execu-
tive and legislative branches of
the Federal Government.
l. Agriculture: Intention TO pass
. new and permanent national
farm act was declared by the Con-
gress in joint resolution last sum-
mer. Great ~ the need was then,
that need il still greater today.
Some crops will begin to be planted
within three months.
In recent weeks farmers have
once more been facing acute sur
pluses and falling prices. Cotton
farmers are harvesting the larg-
est cotton crops in all our history
5000, 900 bales more than the mar
kets OF this country and Of the
world have been accustomed to
take, Corn farmers and potato
farmers are harvesting crops that
threaten to crush them for pro-
ducing this plenty. And the pro-
ducers of other crops are wonder
ing how soon they, too. will be the
victims Of surplus uncontrolled.
Safeguard Farmers
Against Crop Failurs.
We must continue in our efforts
toward abundance without waste.
We need legislation which will not
only prevent new farm surpluses
from causing new collapse in farm
prices, but which will also safe
guard farmers and consumers
against the hazards OF crop failure.
We need an all weather" farm
plan-a plan that uses the rea-
sonable surpluses Of = year of good
weather to carry over food supplies
to make up for the shortAyes Of 4
year Of bad weather.
Out Of the experience OF the last
f1ve years We have learned that
with the aid OF the Government
farmers can successfully guard
themselves against economic dsas-
ter.
In formulating . farm program
there are certain things We must
keep in mind.
We must keep in mind the fer
tllity OF our soil. We have beeun
to assist farmers to stop the waste
Of soil and save the rood soil that
remains. Any sound. long time pro-
gram must have soil conservation
~ q principal goal.
We must keep In mind the eco
nomic welfare Of farm families.
A = longtime national policy,
farmers must have q fair share in
the national income to supply
farmers buying to keep city fac
tories running.
We must keep in mind the con-
sun,ers Of the Nation. The blirht-
ing droushts Of 1884 ana 1895.
which spelt disaster for 70 many
fArmers IN those years, were
brought forcibly home to our large
cities in the high prices Of many
foodstuds this year. Consumers
should have the same protection
against the undsrproduction Of
years Of scarcity ~ the farmers
should have against the overpro-
duction Of years Of glut.
Support Il Farmsrs
h Held Essential.
We must keep In mind the Amer
loan democrAtic way. Farm pro-
grams cannot long succeed unless
they have the active support of the
farmers who take part in them.
Our program should continue to BE-
one planned and administered, 70
fer as possible, by the farmers
themselves. Here again, ma jority
rule seems justified. II and when
huge surpluses in any one crop
threaten to engulf all the producers
OF that crop, our laws should pro-
vide ways by which . small mi
nority may be kept from destroy
ing the proceeds of the toll of the
great majority.
We must keep in mind the
United States Treasury. 1 have
already expressed my view that il
the new farm act provides for
expenditure Of funds beyond those
planned in the regular budget, ad-
ditional means should be provided
TO yield the additional revenue.
May I reiterate that with all the
emphasis I can give2
We must keep in mind the Con-
stttution Of the United States. Al
thnnI1h vital v>os.&ion. - 49, A.: