The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-12-09

Under the system Of govern
ment loans and subsidies. this
country has piled up tremendous
SURPRISES Of export crops LIKE
cotton. wheat. tobacco. fats and
oils, etc. But the war and the
self suffleieney OF bellissrents
have cost us our foreign markets
also the British blockade with
which Washington will not tam
per. In the last war our exports
hit a peak OF i7.o per cent OF our
products Today Il stands at
slightly above per cent. and
may 40 even lower. Uncle Sam
already has u billion dollars. In
loans or actual purchases. In
vested In agricultures heavy
goods exportable crops. For
the moment they are unstable
anywhere.
Under the present AAA sys-.
tenn OF benefit payments for only
slight reductions Of acreage.
these SURPRISES viii continue To
increase. Despite artificial gov
eminent aid through loans and
subsidies. the combined effect Of
export losses and stuffed ware
houses will eventually dspress
prices on these staple products.
Under a normal agricultural sys.
tenn OF economics. prices would
now be down To fuinous figure,
both for the individual producers
and Uncle Sans large holdings
Hard headed experts eoncede
that this condition cannot be
permitted 10 grow worse.
Certain AAAsrs reluctant 10
admit defeat - or even a set
back have ballyhooed the Ala
bama plan" a. a solution. THIS
requires greater performance by
the farmer In the way 81 soil
conservation as a requisite for
benefit payments. But insiders
ooncede that IL 10 no practical
or long time answer.
What may happen. now slsc-
ton IL past. IL that the admins
tration Will become mors hard
boiled with the farmers. II may
demand teeth" In any new law
and administration Of IL. Nation.
al acreage quotas for each ma jor
crop may be sharply reduced -
by a. much as 30 per cent and
individual growers may be order
ed To stay within their allotment
under penalty 81 forfsiting all
claim on federal checks Wash
ington may lower the loan values
on surplus products. write off
Losses for It's present holdings
and reduce the incentive for
oyerproduction by letting prices
fall. These are only tentative
proposals. 80 far. but they reflect
the reaction Of som. farmers at
Washington.
Nesnwhiis. the demand and
prices - for such products as
fresh fruits. vegetables. meats.
butter. milk and cheese feon-
sum.rs' goodsl have remained
firm or Increased The food
stamp plan and larger purchss-
ing power are jointly rssponsiDls
so where II IL possibls. the smart
farmer will shift 10 the pfo<1tie-
ton ~ those items under IA
snooursgsmsnt
The Lack 81 ranking American
diplomats in foreign capitals mas
proved q distinct disadssntAgs
b Washington In its attempt 10
keep abreast Of happenings
abroad. sources q economic,
political and military informA-
ton vital 10 the United States
are drying Up.
Despite ths war censorship In
belligsrent nations. Cur lookOuts
have had remarkable success IN
pry1ng into secrets even in tOtaii-
tartan regimes. They have capt.
tAiizsd on long acquaintance. and
even In Berlin there are minor
but ksy officials not wholly sym
pathetic 70 Hitler. likewise IN
Rome Our agricultural experts
Informative reports on the food
problsm and possibilities IN Ger
many and Italy are due 10 these
contacts. Both state and com
nsros scouts have mad similar