Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-10-14
Iowa Called $3.50 Be
For Wi||kie Despite
Federal Subsidies
Democratic Leaders
Reported Admitting
Difficult Fight
By G. GOULD LINCOLN,

DIES MONIES, Iowa, Oct. IA
Into this heart of the Corn Belt the
New Deal administration has poured
hundreds of millions of dollars-ln
farm payment benefits in one kind
or another-during the last six or
seven years. The millions are still
rolling. and will continue to do so
right up to the day of election and
for months thereafter.
Incredible as it may seem, Iowa
Is at least a $3.50 bet for Willkie
In the presidential race-and per-
haps better. according to observers
here. Even Democratic leaders,
while they insist that Roosevelt
will run true to form" and carry
the State-are not at all confident
or exuberant. Indeed. they seem to
think they have a very tough fight
on their hands.
The farmers of Iowa earlier in
the year received approximately
Sl30O0,0O0 in parity payments, -
part of the farm aid program. Not
long ago there were some $50 000,-
900 bushels of corn in sealed bins,
corn from the last two crops. on
which the Government agreed to
let the farmer have 81 cents bushel.
The price of corn this year has
been somewhere near the loan value
fixed by the Government-and is
now quoted at 81 cents at elevators
here. Some of this corn has been
Withdrawn for use or sale, but most
of it is being resealed 1t is clear
that Iowa farmers will benefit to
the tune of millions of dollars from
these corn loans-and the loans
have proved very popular.
More Payments Due.
Around the first of September the
Government checks to farmers FOL
compliance with the soil conserva-
ton program began to roll into
Iowa. 1t is estimated that already
between $4,000 900 and $4,000 900 has
reached them and that by election
day the total may be as high as
S12,oO0o00 The heavier payments
will come in November and Decem-
Der. probably bringing the total up
to between S3oOO0000 and $40
900 900.
There are an estimated 2l5,00O
farms in this State, and IS per cent
of them are complying" with the
A. A. A. farm program.
Crops have been good this year
and the farmers have been doing
comparatively well.
Yet, despite all this New Deal
bounty. the Iowa farmers, it is re-
ported, are turning away from
President Roosevelt in considerable
numbers and planning to vote for
Wendell l.. Wlllkie. Indeed, it is
estimated that the farmers stand
about equally divided in their po-
litical allegiance today. This is not
enough, for it is said that Roosevelt
cannot carry the State unless he
gets Sc per cent of their votes. In
many OF the smaller cities and
towns the Republicans will snow
him under. The farm vote is esti-
mated at about 40 per cent Of the
total in the State.
Millions Spent on w. P. A.
I'm rather bitter tones, Roosevelt
leader said to me: You would think
the farmers would remember the
dark days of 1882 and 1933-but
memories are short"
The farm benefit payments are by
no means all the Federal monies
~.;5 - ,it;,apc If Tou,o d,Irino the
last year. Millions have been sent
here to pay w. P. A. workers. Iowa
received also during the last fiscal
year s7.42o.OO0 in Federal grants to
aid in financing various Iowa social
security programs. More than six
million dollars OF this was for old
age assistance; 610700 was for I'M
employment compensation admin
istration; s209,500 was for aid to
the blind: s193 500 for public health
work; s19 900 for maternal and
child health services; S72700 was
for service to crippled children. and
SIS. 300 for child welfare services.
This food of Federal dollars has
not descended alone upon Iowa
Other States have had their share
some more, others less. Huge sums
for public works of various kinds
swell the totals. And yet Democrats
here are claiming that the compar-
atively speaking puny campaign
funds collected and expended by the
Republicans in their campaign
against the New Dealers are excess
sive. Under the Hatch law the
Democrats and the Republicans are
both limited in the total amounts
that may be expended in their ma
tional political campaigns. Pre-
eumably, when the dust has cleared
away, the Democrats will have eX-
pended campaign funds just as
large as those of the Republicans.
There is nothing in any law, how
ever. that can prevent the political
influence of the vast Government
spending, the huge Government
subsidies that are going to farmers
and workers, and the millions Of
dollars to those or the Federal pay
rolls.
Beneficiaries Told of Source.
These Federal subsidies are not
paid directly to buy votes. But the
beneficiaries are told that if they
wish these benefits to continue they
had better keep the New Deal party
in power. Take, for example, the
work that is being done in Iowa
Is it is in Missouri. Kansas and other
farm States-by the so-called non
partisan" National Committee on
Agriculture This committee. headed
nationally by William Settle of In
diana, is exceedingly active in this
State. The committee in Iowa has
as its chairman former Gov. kras-
chel, Democrat, and other prom
inent Democrats and New Dealers
are assistants. 1t is bearing down
ON the farmers-and working pre-
Sumably where it can through the
numerous A. A. A. committeeman,
State, county and township. Indeed,
I was told by Democrat that this
was the procedure.
In an effort to Offset this kind of
appeal to the farmers the Repub-