Evening star., 1938-10-14
FARM BELT RISES
ASBATTLE GROUND
G. 0. P. Leaders Hope to
Make Political Capital Over
Growers Discomfort,
ey the Associated Press.

vi UWCI . OiSOOiIlCllls
By the Associated Press.
Secretary Wallaces efforts to bolster
the administration crop-control pro-
gram are undergoing careful scrutiny
by politicians for their political as
well as economic. effects.
Republican leaders hope to make
considerable political capital out Of
discomfort over low farm prices ard
crop surpluses which has been ex-
pressed in various quarters. They are
making the Midwest farm belt one Of
the principal backgrounds the No.
vember election campaign.
MIR. Wallace himself is taking hand
in the Democratic campaign, having
accepted invitations to speak in Iowa
in behalf of Senator Guy Gillette.
The Secretary expressed the opinion
Wednesday at his press conference
that the present level of farm prices
would not affect Senator Gillettes
contest against former Senator L. j.
Dickinson, Republican.
Lower Consumer Demand.
Agriculture Department officials say
the prime causes of the reduced farm
income are excessive crop yields and
the business recession which lowered
consumer demand. Both Of these
conditions make for lower prices, and
both occurred at time when the pres
ent farm program was just getting well
underway.
Mr.. Wallace and his aides are ad-
vocating revival of processing taxes
to raise funds for additional subsidies,
an expansion Of domestic markets and
the sale of surplus farm products to
low-income families at bargain prices
They argue in effect that the new
crop-control law is adequate to sta
billie farm income
Several influential members of Con-
gress have expressed approval of the
surplus disposal idea, although Senator
King, Democrat, of Utah called it AN
other raid on the Treasury
TITS just another fantastic plan OF
the Agriculture Department to dip its
hand into the Treasury" Senator King
declared. He added he did not believe
the public would support processing
taxes or imitation.
Borah Favors a Bill.
Senator Borah, Republican, of Idaho
said he would like to see Mr. Wallace S
suggestion put into the form of bill
for presentation to the next Congress.
His suggestion that we see to it
that our own hungry get the benefit OF
our own surplus foodstuffs is, as an
emergency proposition, sound and hu-
.nanitarian," Senator Borah declared
"The scarcity doctrine impoverishes
the farmer and starves the needy. 1t
has been demonstrated beyond all
question that it does not work.
The farmers are in worse condition
today than they have been at any time
in the past and that certainly is not
because an effort has not been made to
help them, but simply because the sys-
tenn is wrong
The Government can take up the
surplus and dispose of it to those who
can pay something and dispose of it
also to those who can pay nothing, for
we have to feed them. believe that
plan such as the Secretary suggests
can be worked out so that it will go
far toward solving the farm problem
and 1t will not cost in the end as much
as the present program"
More Than Billion Cost.
Most legislators hesitated to esti-
mate the cost of a program such as
Wallace outlined. but they recalled
that Senator Schwellenbach, Demo-
crat, Of Washington, had given Con-
gress high cost figures last Winter in
opposing Senator Borah's suggestion
that the Government buy crop sur
pluses and give them to the needy
Senator Schwellenbach estimated ii
would cost $1,051 100000 to purchase
the surplus Of the wheat, corn and cot
ton crops of 1898 at parity prices
He said the cost of processing these
crops to make them ready for the
consumer would be 2.44 times as great
Is the original purchase price.
Senator Wheeler, asserting that the
present farm program had broken
down." said he favored dual price
system for three or four major crops
We've got to come to the two-price
system" he declared. THE farme,
should be given the benefit of fair
price on the home market and be
permitted to dispose Of his surplus at
the world price level
To Require Congress Action.
Most of Mr. Wallace's suggestions
will require action by the next Con-
gress That is why he and other ad-
ministration leaders are eager for the
reelection of Senators and Repre-
sentatives favorable to the Depart
ment's program.
Various farm proposals on which
Mr.. Wallace frowns already have been
advanced by opponents Of the new
crop control system. Some sugges-
tions have been made for direct fixing
of farm prices-a scheme which mus
tered considerable support in the Sen
ate last year. Under that system