Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-12-11
Arnold Pledges
Fight on Food
Monopo|ies
Says Farm Share Of
Commodity Dollar
Has Dropped Sharply
q, the Associated Press.

B, the Associated Press.
BALTIMORE. Dec. Thurman
Arnold. Assistant United States At
tornev General, asserted today that
price controls and monopolistic
practices" in the food industry we're
depriving farmers of their share OF
the consumers food dollar.
In an address before the annual
convention Of the American Farm
Bureau Federation the Justice De-
partment official said the farm share
of the food dollar had dropped
from Sc cents in the 1890 period
to 4O5 cents in 1888 and 1889.
Mr.. Arnold told of Nationwide
investigation of food processing and
distributing systems by the Justice
Department under his direction.
This investigation. he said, may
prove to be the most important
service to the American farmer
ever performed under the antitrust
laws"
Nine Cents a Meal Group.
The 100000 families who must
spend less than 9 cents per person
per meal" Mr.. Arnold said, do not
buy the food they need. They buy
what they can afford.
whatever they spend to pay for
racketeering and waste or for extra
charges eXacted by some prlce-flxlng
ring comes directly out OF their diet,
and this means that it directly re-
duces the amount of farm products
they can buy
Mr.. Arnold said many "Wasteful"
distribution practices reduced the
farm price rather than raised the
consumer price. He pledged rigid
enforcement of antitrust laws to
prevent development of new mo-
nopolistic practices provided Con-
gress made necessary funds avail
able
Credit Move Weighed.
A proposal that the federation
urge congressional repeal Of the
johnson Act so credit might be ex-
tended to Great Britain was weighed
today by the organizations Reso-
lutions Committee.
Such a proposal was advanced by
the federation's president Edward
A. O'Neal, in a speech in which he
declared the United States should
place it's full industrial resources
completely and quickly on the side
Of Britain"
A majority of the members of the
Resolutions Committee favored ex-
tension of greater assistance to the
British, but some hesitated to ad-
vocate repeal of the act which for
bids loans to nations delinquent in
World War debts to this country.
Lord Lothian to Speak.
Just how strong a stand the COM
mittee will take may depend, men,
bers said, on speech to be delivered
before federation convention BAN
quet tonight by Lord Lothian, Brit
ish Ambassador to the United
States.
Mr.. O'Neal also advocated repeal
Of existing neutrality legislation and
adoption of a policy Of giving Great
Britain cash and credit and num-
tons to the full extent of the need"
The Resolutions Committee also
studied many proposals designed
to improve the economic position
Of various agricultural groups.
Fruit growers, who have seen
world markets shrink and prices
decline as a result of the war, asked
that consideration be given to a
proposal that marketing quota pro-
visions of the Agricultural Ad-
justment Act of 1888 be extended
to their crop.
Message From Roosevelt.
IN a message to the federation
President Roosevelt declared yes
terday that equitable distribu-
ton" of wealth to help the under
privileged and provide security for
workers and farmers was an essen
tial part of the Nations program
Of rearming ito preserve freedom
Mobilization of men and NUM-
tions alone, the Chief Executive
said, would not effectively arm the
country.
This message and a speech from
Secretary of Agriculture Wickard,
promising greater Agriculture De-
partment effort in behalf Of farm
ers, were hailed by Mr.. ONeal as a
pledge that the administration will
- continue to fight for it's social aim
of improving the lot of the less for
tunate."