Evening star., 1939-11-21
McNary Advocates
Benefits 10 All
Farm Producers
Also Fuvors Repeal
Of Trade Agreements
Act to Bolster G. O. P.
BY J. A. OLEARY.

believes WOulQ Drlng success to the |
Republican ticket next year by re-
gaining the support of the agricul-
tural regions was outlined today by |
Senate Minority Leader McNary of |
Oregon. Briefly, it provides for:
A broadening Of the soil conserva-
ton program to apply alike to all |
producers, instead OF singing out |
certain commodities, as at present. |
Repeal of the Reciprocal Trade
Agreements Act, on the ground that
Its benefits to some industries have
been gained at the expense of the
farmer.
These two propositions are of ma
tor Importance if the Republican
party is to dominate the situation
In l940," Senator McNary declared
Security Fight Predicted.
Meanwhile, Senator DoWney,
Democrat, of California. stanch
advocate of the Townsend pension
plan, served notice that both major
parties will have to reckon with the
supporters of more liberal old-age
benefit payments in the 1910 cam
paign. Stopping off in Washington
after a speaking tour of Pennsyl-
vania, the Californian said:
THE pension groups are very
much opposed to the Social Secur-
ity Act as it stands and would not
support any candidate who stands
on the present act"
He indicated that if neither of the
parties takes satisfactory stand
on the pension question, these
groups probably will concentrate on
electing sympathetic candidates to
congressional seats.
Indicating that he regards the
farming regions of the West and
Middle West as major battle-ground
next year, Senator McNary made
this prediction
After considerable thought have
arrived at the conclusion that the
Republican party of l940 can be
successful if it demonstrates to the
farm vote and to those dependent
on farmers that the Republican
party is interested, as formerly, in
their welfare.
In my opinion, the party must
support practicable plan covering
soil conservation, with benefit pay
nents justifying the continuation of
the practice. All benefits and privi-
1eges must accrue alike to all pro-
ducers. irrespective of crops pro-
duced
Sees Discrimination Weakness.
Nf Lo o1yy,a t,,
the present A. A. A. Act is the dis
elimination shown to small group
of farm commodities. In the States
that have public lands, the Govern
ment must share more literally in
the revenue that accrues from the
sale of forests and grazing on the
public domain. as we'll as in the de-
velopment of mineral resources.
Il am also convinced that the
Reciprocal Trade Agreement Act,
which expires in June, 1910, should
be repealed. While some industries
may have profited by these agree
mel" IS, it has been done at the eX-
pr Sc of the products of the soil"
N support of his contention that
tie present soil conservation pro-
gram is discriminatory, the Oregon
Senator pointed out that it deals
with five crops-cotton, wheat, corn,
tobacco and rice.
There are at least four other
branches of agriculture, he said,
which ranked above the five covered
crops in gross income in 1888, name
ly: Milk, ST ,496 100000; cattle and
calves. 1,118,o00,OO0; hogs, $1,161,-
100000, and poultry and eggs, ST.
O31,O00,OO0.
Downey Undaunted by Votes.
Senator Downey, who. with DR..
Francis Townsend plans to carry
chis speaking tour in behalf of new
Toldage pension legislation into New
. York. Ohio and Illinois, was not
discouraged by the recent election
returns in California and Ohio, |
where liberal pension plans were
defeated. These votes, Senator
Downey said, indicated a trend
away from State plans and toward
a broader national plan. He con-
tended that not more than half |
the advocates of a new national |
system voted for the State plans.
The Californian also turned /!
thumbs down on the proposal Sen |
ator Wagner, Democrat of New |
York, is drafting to bring thou
sands of individuals not covered |
by payroll taxes into the Social |
Security system by permitting them
to buy voluntary annuities, up to
$1,000 year. from the Social Sc
curity Board. The plan is intended |
to benefit small shop-keepers, other |
self-employed persons, agricultur-
lists and domestics. Commenting |
on it, Senator Downey said:
That is just going to increase the
difficulties, because all it will Go is |
place the Government in the po-
sition of collecting billions of saw
ings, and what is the Government |
going to do with it?"
He added that he is skeptical
whether the Government could han
die such annunities 30 per cent |
cheaper than private companies, as
had been suggested.