The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1940-07-24

An off-the-record confidential meet
ing of Triple-A state committeeman
was held at the department of agricul
ture last Friday. NewspapermeI
were prohibited, while Chester Davi!
of the national defense board former
Triple-A administrator, and recently
described by John Vesecky, president
of the National Farmers Union, as Z
friend of agriculture no longer to be
trusted, spoke to the Triple-A officials
ON prospects for agriculture and the
war.
After the disbarment of the report
ers, the uniformed attendants, etc.
leicester Davis told the boys that he
lfelt like the man who was seen going
into large garage and throwing the
doors open wide, only to appear later
riding forth on "kiddie-car."
While 1t is true that Mr.. Davis APP
parently avoided anything "hot," he
did continue to say that everything
that has happened to date amounts to
almost nothing as compared with what
lies ahead. The implication is that
RECOMMENDATION and control are being
viewed as such chief levers of action
by Chester Davis and my friend Ed"
as he, the farm representative" re-
fers to Stettinus.
Davis frankly admitted that the ma
tional defense program hits the farm
ers first and hardest. He indicated
no real program for alleviating this
condition. Saying repeatedly that we
must think boldly" he told the COM
mitteemen that there are certain agri-
cultural imports which we must con-
tinue to bring in-for example: wool;
holding that such imports are essen
tial for national defense, he said that
we will continue to import them to
the full extent requirde. He also in
dicated that quotas" may be string
emily reduced, and that if such reduc-
ton is necessary, we must also fact
this boldly"
He said that while it is true that
a food shortage may occur in Europe
at the end of the war, the problem
of paying for such imports will inn
mediately arise and that the United
States must be prepared to arrange
for such exports even If they are not
paid for in theusual and ordinary
terms of trade. He made no elabora
ton of this point, but the implication
was that we must continue to trade |
with Germany even though economic
relations become more definitely po-
litical.
Why Congress Didn't Adjourn
Continuing its cautious watch upon |
the White House, congress again re-
cessed on July IL for the democratic |
to reconvene again on |
July %, after the convention is over.
The chances are that upon re-conven-
ing, congress will spend few point
less days in session and then on or
about the 10Th actually adjourn.
Despite many other reasons adj
congress has stayed in session
that 1t might participate in any major
moves affecting foreign policy. 1t |
was the possibility of moves leading |
to intervention that kept congress in
session, not defense" Observers for |
both parties are inclined to believe
hat we are now safe from actual in
.ervention until after elections. The
Of France, the disappearance
If the Cartel plan, and the strong
tide of non-intervention-
st sentiment, have effectively put
he damper upon the probability of
,ur earlier Intervention.
Apparently, these have likewise re-
ulted in certain promised concessions
o Burt Wheeler in the platform on :
he question of foreign policy and in
ervention, sufficient to prevent his {
lifting a third party on the peace I
ssue. Whether or not the politicians 4
within the party will go along with
Roosevelt on such promise is still I
mother question. I
Despite these checks, the admins Z
ration is still pushing it's arms pro- (
ram 10 the limit. AS predicted he !
would in our last Letter, the President I
las made still another request for 4
urther appropriations, amounting this |
ime to another five billion dollars
or "a two-ocean navy. Appropria- {
ions now on the way amount to c
oughly II billion dollars. Readers {
,ill contrast this with the two billion {
ollar program of only weeks ago. g
nth which the so-called defense pro a
ram" was initiated. t
business Strikes Against the Govt
Probably the most significant de-
elopment of recent weeks is the 7
trike of aviation manufacturers Y
gainst the government. In brief, the a
roducers of airplanes, as well as d