The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1940-07-24
Statement Of the Joint Legislative
Committee Presented to the Resolutions
Committee of the Democratic Convention

| Agriculture, crippled by the postwar
adjustments, beginning with 1920, be
came completely Frustrated by the
economic collapse of 1929.
Recognizing the necessity of bring
| ing agriculture within our national
Legislative economy, the present. ma
tional administration, in 1888, made
definite pledges to farmers that con
tinuing effort would be made to bring
about a parity relationship between
the incomes of industry, labor and
agriculture In keeping with this
pledge there have been many legisla-
tive measures enacted and programs
for agriculture put into operation In
this connection we are fully mindful
of the fact that the agricultural pro-
gram adopted in 1888 was halted and
interrupted fby hostile Supreme
Court; that substitute programs have
been bitterly opposed and INSTRUCTED
by selfish interests engaged in the
marketing and processing of farm
products and that despite opposition
handicaps the measure initiated and
promoted by the present administra-
ton have brought great beneficial
changes to our agricultural economy.
However, the stubborn fact remains
that the sum total of agricultural legis-
lation up to the present time has
brought neither parity prices nor par
ity income to our agriculture. And
now we are menaced by new danger
. another World war - which seems
destined for a long period of time to
close foreign outlets for our surplus
agricultural products. We are con-
fronted with a situation which means
higher prices for farm machinery of
production and farm supplies and low
err prices for basic agricultural pro-
ducts.
agriculture, we ask your
committee and delegates to this con-
vention to frankly face the facts as
they exist, to remember the pledges
made to agriculture in 1888, and to
30 phrase the language of that sec
lion of your platform dealing with
agriculture that it will serve as def
mite promise to farmers that the
pledge of parity prices and parity in
,ome made in 1888 will be fulfilled |
md also serve as mandate to con-
,ress to enact the necessary legisla- !
ion to effectuate such results.
We must honestly face the fact that |
arming is a business with unacceptable
PRODUCTION costs. Prices of agricul-
ural products must bear relationship |
O such costs. Farmers do not pos
ess the devices of highly organized |
apitalistic business whereby prices /
nay be fixed on the basis of Cost i
'lus. Farmers must have the aid of
he Federal Government to achieve
heir necessary parity goal. For the
rejection of both our farmers and of
ur nation we ask you to adopt the
ssential elements of the following
rogram:
1. Payments to farmers for preser-
alton of our soil and natural re-
ources; /,
2. Price assurance through commod- ,
y loans, ever normal inventory of :
eeded supplies, surplus products dis
osal movement to foreign markets, r
nd to our low income groups and I'M q
at home. This program !
lould be supplemented by perma- ,
snt self-financing program for such =
which are adaptable to +
e use of the income certificate plan p
price equalization tax. The Fed d
al Government would then be called
Jon to provide adequate appropria- r
,ns for only such commodities which r
e unsuited in distribution to the 4
position of the income certificate Fl
an or a price equalization tax. n
8. Crop Insurance to be extended to ii
yer other crops in addition to wheat
rapidly as possible. ii
4. Extension and expansion of the liz
lrm Security Administration pro- IL
am for: ii
a. Rehabilitation loans. fl
b. Tenant Purchase loans m
c. Extension to low income farm
ers of the benefits of co-opera- tt