Evening star., 1939-05-09
Senator Gillette Sees
Distribution as Key
In Farm Problem
Farmer at Mercy
Of Buying System,
Says Forum Speaker

Says Forum Speaker
Senator Guy M. Gillette Of Iowa
discussed "Our National Farm Prob
lem" last night in the National
Radio Forum. arranged by The Star
and broadcast over a Nation-w wide
network of the National Broad
casting Co. The text of his address
follows:
I am quite aware of the difficulty
Of discussing in limited radio
period the constantly continuing
problem of our agricultural industry,
and the constantly recurring acute
economic situation pertaining to
many Of those engaged in that in
dustry. This evening, as I discuss
this matter, there is pending before
the Congress an appropriation bill
for the Agriculture Department Of
our Government and for the ad-
ministration of existing legislation
amounting to sum of around one
and one-quarter billions of dollars.
Because I believe the solution Of our
present national situation of wide
spread industrial and economic de-
preston is ineXtricably bound up
with the same solution of our agri-
cultural difficulties. hope to dis
cuss the question this evening with
particular thought that large per-
centage Of my hearers are engaged
in other lines of work and occu-
patton.
Recently, I received letter from
a constituent of my home State Of
iowa from which I now quote:
II received IL cents a dozen for
Eggs today. What do you pay in
Washington"
Egg Price, AZ Cents.
That night, inquiry of my good
wife brought the information that
she had paid for dozen fresh eggs
that day AZ cents. Now the price
the Senator's wife in Washington,
the iron workers wife in Pittsburgh,
the miners wife in West Virginia,
the factory workers wife in New
Jersey, the taxi drivers wife In New
York pay for eggs, milk, pork chops,
beck steak, bread, fruit, or vegetables
has a very definite effect on the
farmers Of my State Of Iowa. as well
as the farmers of every State in the
Union. At the same time having in
mind that some % per cent of the
average workers wages must go for
essential food emphasizes most
strongly the importance Of the prob
lem to the industrial citizens of our
Nation. The problem of the farmer
in the West and the South, the
North and the East, is their direct
concern. 1t represents their bread
and butter. and determines their
standard of living each day of the
vear.
Every ear Of corn raised in Iowa,
bushel of wheat in Kansas, pound
of beef or butter in Wisconsin, New
York or Minnesota is sold to the
wage earners of America. The en-
tire economic life of the farmer AMI
his family depends on the sale of
his harvest. Whether or not the
farm family buys any clothes, shoes,
machinery, radio, automobile, insur-
ance or professional services de-
pends on the amount of income they
receive from the sale of their
harvest.
Speaking directly to you people
in the cities, may say that whether
your husband is employed to help
make the market for the products
of the millions Of farm families or Is
forced on relief rolls depends, in
large degree. on the purchasing
power of some 30 millions Of families
directly engaged in agriculture. Now,
it is difficult for many people to
understand or believe that our
farmers have been growing, harvest
ing and marketing their crops for a
number Of years and losing money
each year on their work and trans
actions.
Picture Has CHANGED.
TO understand more clearly our
present condition, am going to
trespass On your patience to make
q OIIN AAoUO4 IOdl ACN4CW VI d1lIllklk
and farm legislation. First, we must
have in mind the tremendous change
that has taken place In our farm
production and consumption during
the period Of our national existence.
In the early days OF the Nations
history, 1t has been estimated that
some 80 per cent of the people were
directly engaged in agriculture. Be-
cause Of the simplicity Of life in
this period and the limitation Of
needs under standards of living then
existing, most of these farmers
raised their products for home con-
sumption on the farm. The wheat
and corn were raised for flour and
meal; the calves and hogs for butch-
sring and meat storage. There were
two or three COWS from which came
milk, cream and butter and cheese
for the family The poultry went
largely to the family table. The cot
ton, dax, wool and leather for tex
tiles and wearing material for
family use all were in great measure
produced for consumption at home.
Small were the needs, outside Of
these things, and small, indeed, was
the surplus produced for sale to the
other 20 per cent Of the Nation.
When, however, American In.