Evening star., 1941-11-04
Wickard Would Limit
Some Farm Products
To 10 Pct. Of Parity
Rodio Forum Speaker
Soys Forms Feor Initiation
In Higher Food Prices
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Hitlerism. When the Nazis are de-
feated, we'll use that food to feed
the hungry. Well use it to help
insure a Just and lasting peace.
Some OF you may be wondering
whether we can feed ourselves, our
allies, build up reserves, and at the
same time keep food prices from
going sky high. Yes, we can, pro-
vided We produce enough. You
know some of the things necessary
for abundant production. We have
the resources and the organization.
There are no other farmers in the
world who can produce like Ameri-
can farmers. But there's one thing
that Is essential to abundant pro-
duction that some of us may over
look. That thing is fair prices for
farmers.
Keep in mind that we must have
the production. There are remedies
against surpluses. There is no
remedy against scarcity. If we
don't have enough food, our whole
defense effort will be threatened, to
say nothing of the defense effort
of Britain and other nations fight
ing Hitler. If we don't have enough
food. high prices and rationing au-
tomatically follow.
Fair Prices Are Vital.
The simplest and most effective
way to assure abundant production
Is fair prices to farmers. In fact,
It Is the only effective way.
Without fair prices, farmers
simply can't produce enough for
our needs. A farmer can't stay in
business indefinitely and lose money
any more than a manufacturer can.
We wouldn't expect a plane manu-
facturer for example, to make
bombers and fighters at q loss. If
he failed to break even, we'd know
that he would have to quit. We
want planes In this time of crisis.
snd so we see to it that the manu-
facturers are we'll paid for making
them. We want food, lots of it, and
to get 1t, we must assure fair prices
for farmers
What do I mean by fair prices?
Generally speaking, I mean parity
prices. When farmers began to
complain about low prices after the
first World War, Congress decided
that during the 19O9-1914 period
farm prices were just about right by
comparison with other prices So
that period is used as a yardstick to
determine parity prices. If a farm
er Is getting parity prices for the
things he raises, why that means
that he's getting about the same
prices comparatively speaking, that
he got back in the 1909-19l4 period.
I think the country has come to
accept the parity principle for agri-
culture and wants farmers to get
parity. The agricultural legislation
enacted by the Congress proves
that. In turn, I'feel that the
Majority OF farmers think parity
prices are high enough. Farm
prices are close to parity now and
I haven't heard many complaints
lately, about prices, from farmers.
Farm prices, however, have gone
Up In the past year and, as a result,
some people think they are high.
They aren't high but some Of us
simply had become accustomed to
low prices for farm products.
Food Not Unreasonably High.
AS a matter of fact, the prices
OF some farm products have been
going down a little lately. I've al
ready mentioned pork. Hogs are
of something like cent and half
q pound from their September high.
But prices to consumers have
climbed a good bit and I am afraid
that farmers have been blamed for
most of the increase.
Consumers should keep in mind
that the price of farm products is
only one factor in the cost OF food.
In many instances, other costs have
gone up 80 that retail food prices
have risen more than the farmers
price.
Food prices today are not un-
reasonably high by comparison with
other periods. They are only a little
over 80 per cent as high as in 1929.
The average American family can
eat as well as it did In 1929 and
have more money left out OF its
pay check for other things after
the food bill is paid.
Consumers should realize that
farmers have been selling the things
they raise at bargain prices for a
long time. I don't think the aver
age consumer will object very much
10 paying enough more for food to
enable the farmer to get reason
able return for his labor.
And don't forget this: The best
protection consumers can have
against scarcity and sky-high prices
Is abundant production by farmers.
And, as have said, the way to get
abundant production is to give
farmers fair prices.
Now, fair prices and exorbitant
prices are two entirely different
things. I don't believe the average
farmer wants his prices to go much
above parity. Farmers know that
they are in the minority. Without
the help of other groups, farmers
can't get legislation to protect their
interests. If they try to gouge the
public now, farmers will have to
pay dearly for it later on. Most
farmers know that and want to
conduct themselves accordingly.
Farmers Fear Initiation,
Furthermore, farmers fear inf1a-
ton. They remember the price