Evening star., 1939-06-13

SENATOR sec
acreage curtailment under that de-
cision Immediately good weather
gave us staggering, unmarketable
surpluses. Had the original Agri-
cultural Adjustment Act been held
constitutional, I boldly assert that
we would not at this hour be COM
PEELED to hazard prophecy as to
the future of the cotton farmer of
the South. He would not today be
confronted with a 13.00O,O0O- bale
carry-over. Our exports in cotton
would not be the smallest since 1880.
The exports in this season, which is
more than tWo-thirds completed, are
expected to be only three and one
half million bales.
How can We recoup the losses sus-
tanned? Shall We follow the philos-
ophy of some who would crawl COM
placently in our national shell and
produce only what we consume, or
shall we continue to use our trad
ing and bartering ingenuity. as we'll
AS to subsidize the exporter, in order
that American surplus cotton may
continue to flow freely in the world
market? I am one who believes
that America is entitled to her fair
share Of world trade in the sale of
cotton. We should never retreat
but constantly carry on an offensive
in every honorable way with nations
who need this raw material.
In addition to our support Of this
export feature we should also ex-
pend every dollar that is necessary
in laboratory and research work in
order that we may find more use
In domestic consumption for this
indispensable commodity. Under
such a program, working in con-
junction with the present Agricul-
tural Adjustment Act. the current
surplus will gradually disappear and
the cotton farmer will again find
his place IN the economic sun. We
must look at the cotton problem
over long period of time. 1t is a
shortsighted policy that looks only
to the current crop, losing sight of
the tremendous surplus in the ware
houses.
Wheat Repeats Story.
What happened to cotton also
happened to wheat when the court
removed from the statute books the
basic law of control We found
farmers in the fall of 1887 and the
spring of 1888 planting 10000 900
acres Of wheat, second largest crop
in the history of this country. and
creating a surplus which drove the
market price of this commodity
down to the point where it was far
less than the cost of production.
With the great majority of wheat
farmers cooperating this year in
acreage curtailment in conformity
with the present law, I prophesy
that the wheat farmer will realize
a satisfactory price for the crop
produced this year. Wheat today is
selling for 68 cents to 10 cents per
bushel at the elevator in my section
OF the country, with subsidy pay
ments for co-operators bringing the
price to about 80 cents, while at
Liverpool last Saturday wheat hit
new six-year low. 1t is signifi-
cant that the Chicago wheat price
is now about 20 cents bushel over
Liverpool, whereas prior to the adop-
tion of the American farm program
Liverpool was about 18 cents per
bushel on an average over the Chi
cago price. This would appear to
be clinching proof that the Gov
ernment program of loans and SUBJ
sidy payments has stabilized and
steadied American wheat prices.
The future will bring little or no
basic change in the law affecting
wheat farmers. Another year Of
active participation under the pres
ent legislation will produce more
contentment among the wheat farm
ers of this Nation.
When We return to the years of
1884 and 1885 we know that the
corn farmer was making tremen-
dous progress under the corn-hog
program of the Agricultural Ad-
justment Act. And, as one who
has spent his entire life in the heart
of the corn belt district of Illinois,
I am glad to testify over the air
that the great majority of corn
farmers of this Nation approve the
present legislation of soil conserva-
ton, adjustment payments and
mandatory loans. They have never
before enjoyed such stabilization
and security of price. They are
certain that the economic barriers
have once and for all eliminated
the Hoover 10-cent corn that they
experienced in 1882. Under the
present program the wide range of
fluctuation of prices is impossible.
-Signup Proves Popularity.
And while the price of corn at
the present time is far below parity,
yet the loan and price adjustment
have given to the cooperating
farmer a decent, livable price for
his 1898 crop. The best proof of
the success OF the present program
affecting the corn and hog farmer
can be found in the fact that nearly
,400, 900 farmers in the commercial
corn-producing area have indicated
their intention of participating in
the 1899 program by signing individ-
ual contracts. This Is an increase
of 250,000 over last year. The corn
farmer, with his American market
feeding IS per cent Of the total crop
to hogs and cattle, 70 obviously In