The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1941-08-07
New u. ). Farm Policy
Aims at High Production
Latest Campaign Represents Definite Shift
From 'PIowing Under Plan; Powder
Makers Need Cotton LinterS,
BY BAUKHAGE
WNU Service. 1343 H Street, N. w,
Washington, D. c.

WNU Service. 1S43 H Street, N. w.,
Washington, D. C.
This year and next the farmer
is going places. There are certain
indications that he will continue to
see considerable new money: In
dications based on conditions that af-
feet the farmers general outlook
on life, as we'll as his cash income"
That statement did not come from
"official sources"-it didn't even
come from a farmer, although he
used to be one. 1t was made in
my office by s~quare-cut, square,
jawed Conklin ("Pop") Mann. an
editor and advertising man, keen
student of rural matters, and a long
time friend Of mine. Mann was
down from New York bursting with
enthusiasm for his favorite theme
assured prosperity On the farm.
Mann believes that business has a
job ahead to interpret and readjust
its marketing to meet the sweeping
economic changes now taking place
in American agriculture.
The farmer is now becoming a far
more important factor in the dis
tribution Of both consumable and
capital goods than ever before.
That rise in the farmers economic
Importance isn't just a matter of
great cash income. according to
Mann. It is due. rather. to the fact
that the farmer now has a sound
business platform under him and
can plan and work on a basis COM
parable to any other business man.
Farmers" says Mann, "are both
doing we'll and experiencing a new
sense of economic security because
of parity and guaranteed prices for
farm products. There is a definite
psychological response to their feel
ing of increased safety. When a
farmer is doing well. and feeling
secure, look for a strong upward
surge in his buying psychology"
Mann interprets the farm in terms
Va 1llOdSlll AlOQS ly-llC SSSo AlS
as a manufacturing plant, produc-
ing the raw materials for food,
clothing and numerous other prod
ucts. revolutionary changes, deep
down in farm economies" says this
agro-idealist, have taken place
which give the farmer a stabilized
economic base from which he can
plan and work with a sense OF
security he never had before"
Farmer Psychology
l like the way this hard-hitting,
successful business nan and writer
describes the psychology Of the
farmer as he grew up with him in
other days. He asks this question Of
the industrialist:
How would I feel about buying
anything but necessities if my whole
economic structure was a gamble?
Suppose I owned a ten or fifteen
thousand-dollar plant and a lot of
livestock, and, once a year. I plant
ed crops, not knowing if the price
would make them worth harvesting;
how would I feel?"
Mann has a deep inherited kim
ship for the man who works close
to the soil and you cannot doubt
his sincerity when he adds:
Some day a saga will be sung
about the courage that kept the
farmers going through their darkest
days"
1 wish I might write that saga
for I know it from brave letters that
poured into me from radio listeners
all through the worst Of the depres-
sion. I can tell you that they gave
a renewed faith in America that
has kept me from being cynical
through these days of distrust and
doubt.
BY the time this column is read,
the greatest concentrated drive to
increase farm production, to assure
the farmer a definite price for what
he produces will be on. For the
first time in history. milk and poul-
try producers will be asked to
pledge themselves to raise as much
of their product as they possibly
can-and they will get all the CO.
operation, advice and assistance
that the government a give them.
Quite a different picture from
'.plowing under"
Cotton Linters