The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1939-09-07
Explains Idea
Behind Distribution
Continued from page u

part of the surplus at prices which
have been estimated and calculated
as fair and equitable. BY removing
part of the surplus. a more just and
equitable price will be obtained for
the remainder of the crop. 1t is
fftef "a itA-tllstf HIiie@Eife
quantity purchased by the corpora
ton does not exceed five per cent
OF the total crop. The plan is to
unit purchases to what is necessary
to bring about the commercial mar
ketlng of the remainder: and usual
~ the demand for the product by
relief clients must also be taken
into consideration.
Encouragement of Consumption
Another important object in the
purchase and distribution of sur.
plus commodities is to encourage
the increased consumption of com
moditles. especially those not ex-
tenslvely used among people of the
lower income groups. This applies
particularly to citrus fruits and 9th
er kinds of fruit, but also to other
commodities, for instance dairy
products. The object is to stimu-
late the use of more varied and
better balanced diet. In general
way this should help the producer
by increasing the permanent de-
mand. As to the consumer the
better diet should contribute to bet
ter health.
The Program Should Not Be Judged
FrG.n a Narrow Viewpoint
Every country on earth believes
in producing more than it needs for
It's own people and in exporting the
surplus to other countries, but there
1t natural antipathy against the
importation of products from other
countries, except products that can
not be produced at home. The same
aversion prevails in every state of
the Union and even in every com
munltv in every state. A commun-
ity that produces more butter
or cheese or potatoes or cabbage
than IS needed at home does not
look with unblended delight upon
the importation of any of these com
modltleS, even though the commodi
ties are donated by the Federal
Surplus Commodities Corporation
tor the benefit of the needy. This
is natural attitude; but it is not
based on full consideration of the
surplus commodities plan in all its
ramifications. During the last year
the corporation bought surplus com
modities in As of the 43 states of
the Union at cost to the govern
ment of more than S58.00O000 as
already mentioned Unquestionablv
these huge purchases enormously in
creased the consumption of these
commodities. 1t helped to main
tain the price to the producer on
these commodities no matter where
the purchases were made. Take for
instance the heavy purchase of but
ter effected during the last wear. I
a great deal Of butter produced in
Montana is shipped TO some mar
keting agency in Seattle. Some Of
the butter produced in eastern Mon
tana is shipped to marketing agen-
cies in Chicago The corporation
purchases quantities of butter in
both of these great markets. some
OF It Montana butter. But no mat /
ter IN what state the butter was
produced, the large purchases by
the corporation will help all the [
producers in all the states The t
same applies to the other commodi- +
ties that are handled by the Federal /
Surplus Commodities Corporation
and consumed throughout the states
of the Union.
Effects on Sales by Merchants
1t is realized that to some extent
the extensive distribution Of sur
plus commodities is decreasing the |
sales made by merchants in the
particular commodities concerned.
but there is no less in the total
sales of merchandise. The mer-
chants in Montana understand very
well that nearly all the low-income
groups spend all their cash earn
lngs for commodities or services of
some sort If they buy less of
fruits, vegetables and dairy prod
ucts, they have more money for the
purchase of coffee. tea, clothing and