Evening star., 1938-09-25

way for the ready and enthusiastic recep-
ton OF the acreage reduction. But when it
came the farmers found it so vastly Diff
ferent from what they had expected they
felt they had been cheated. There was an
immediate reversion of sentiment The
program met instant and vociferous oppo-
sition from all quarters.
And now the Texas wheat growers are
faced with similar situation. They have
observed how the cotton acreage reduction
plan has worked. The A. A. A. program
calls for reduction Of wheat acreage in the
same way that cotton acreage has been re-
duced, and the plan finds little favor in
Texas. Majority Of wheat growers here say
they will not join in such a program Of
acreage reduction.
Another part Of the New Deal program
has hit snag in Texas: The construction
of dams for food control on Texas streams
subject to overflow and resulting damage
to crops and property.
Construction of these dams at first re-
ceived support from all quarters. for Texas
was glad to cooperate in any program that
would reduce flood damage. Several such
dams have been constructed. Their first
real test came when excessive rainfall along
the Colorado River and its tributaries
poured an immense volume of water into
Buchanan Lake. The lake formed by
Buchanan Dam and by Inks Dam on the
Colorado was full Of water when the heavy
rains came and the flood waters pouring
down the stream were not stored, as con-
templated in the original plans. The food
waters held back by the already full lakes
overflowed farms and towns, causing the
worst flood conditions in the history OF
those streams. Then, when the hoodgates
were opened and the water poured down
the stream, disastrous floods were caused
all along the stream to the Gulf. Farmers
who had hoped to be protected from floods
found that the large dams. costing many
millions of dollars did not protect their
fields and homes.
Dams Operated for Power.
Cause for this failure of the expensive
works was sought. Hearings were held and
testimony Of experts heard. The general
opinion is that the dams already built are
being operated as power dams, not for
food control. It is necessary to hold the
lakes with a full head Of water to produce
water power. Lakes already full Of water
cannot be used to store food waters at time
nf AorS foi1 ryv
troll measures.
That part of Texas adjacent to the power
dams already is adequately served by eec-
trio power companies. The river authorities
charged with responsibility of operating the
Government dams propose to produce elec-
trio power and distribute it within these
same areas in competition with the pri-
vately owned companies. The privately
owned companies have distributed owner
ship of their stock among thousands Of
citizens Of Texas and these small stock
holders are not pleased to see the Govern
ment build great power dams under the
representation that they are for flood con-
troll, and then to see these same dams op-
Grated for production of power to be sold
IN competition with the companies these
same Texans own. Thus there is great
unrest and much opposition developing to
this phase Of the New Deal program.
Other governmental agencies in this part
OF the country, including the p w. A.,
w. P. A., F. H. A., H. O. L. c., Social
Security, Labor Relations Board and many
others, are looked upon generally as an in
vasion by the Government of private busi-
ness Many persons, looking on the Govern
ment as kind of Santa Claus, have been
trying to get what they can while the
getting is good. Now that they realize the
money must be repaid in taxes they feel
resentment toward that bountiful Santa
Claus which made it possible for them to
get in such predicament. There is much
resentment toward growing tax bills, and
there will be still greater resentment toward
any increase in income tax or other Federal
tax In any form.
Burden Put on Thrift.
One effect Of the liberal relief attitude
has been to encourage idleness and shift
lessness and to put burden on thrift. The
Negro population of this section has proven
the greatest burden on direct relief and on
the indirect relief measures. Because it
has been easy for Negro workers to secure
direct relief or its equivalent by working
few days on the W. P. A. or other alpha-
betical agencies, 1t Is next to impossible
Tor families to secure competent help as
servants or common laborers The Negro,
or uneducated common laborer, would
much prefer to remain on Government
relief with little or no work at all to do
than to find regular job and receive pay
for the work done. Instead of improving,
this condition will grow worse as long as
relief is made available for such individuals
that, at least, Is what the man in the
street Is saying.
In State politics Texas has Just passed
through two very interesting campaigns
ana two primary elections. w. Lee
ODaniel, flour salesman, who had used
the radio in his flour business during the
past eight years, was nominated for Gov
ernor, defeating II opponents, some of
them veterans in Texas politics and Office
holders of many years. This precedent
breaking campaign, in which a man with
out political experience won majority
of the more than one million votes cast
over his II opponents can be cited as
proof that the people of the Southwest
live in changing period. They have
grown tired of the existing order and de-
mand change They voted for men who