The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1941-03-14
WNU Service, 1895 National Press
Bldg, Washington, ID. G.

WNU Service, 1895 National Press
Bldg, Washington, ID. G..
WASHlNGTON.-I the past few
weeks the tall figure of HooSicr
farmer has been seen frequently en-
tering and leaving the White House.
This was not so strange to us who
watch the busy portals because the
man was Secretary of Agriculture
Wickard. Like other members OF
the cabinet. he is called in for fire.
quent conferences with the Presi-
dent these days. Cabinet officers and
other government officials have been
helping the President plan the CON
crete steps to be taken to aid Brit
ain under the lend-lease bill.
But what lot of us did not guess
was just what Secretary WiCkard
was up to. The purpose Of those
visits has not been officially an
nounced, as l write these lines. But
It can be safely predicted that he
was working out plans with the Pres
ident to include farm products
among the first supplies to be loaned
or leased to England.
Secretary Wickard was able to
achieve his purpose partly as re-
suit Of his own responsiveness, and
partly for other reasons that / will
explain later.
Here is the tip-off on the plan the
secretary discussed with the Presi
dent, in Mr.. Wickard's own words.
1t is pretty cagily expressed but if
you know how, you can read be-
tween the lines. This is what Secre-
tary Wickard said in public speech
during the congressional battle on
the lend-lease bill:
Overproduction Held Unlikely.
Frankly speaking, there Is little
likelihood that we will produce too
much meat, butter, cheese, milk and
other dairy products in the months
to come. 1 have an idea that all
we produce in the South and else
where will be needed.
THE reports about the British food
situation are not too encouraging
The British have lost their sources
of food supply on the continent.
They are handicapped still further
by their shipping losses. The Eng
lish may want some of our food and
want it pretty soon. II they call on
us, ! think we will answer the call"
Almost all Of the products to be
sent to Britain under the lend-lease
plan will be proteins (meat, milk
and milk products and eggs). There
will be, however, some cotton, wheat
and tobacco, but these commodities
will constitute a minor part OF the
shipments. The practical arguments
for sending proteins are obvious:
1. The extra physical demands on
fighting men require a greater pro-
tein diet.
2. These products up TO now have
been shipped to England all the way
from Australia, New Zealand and
the Argentine. Two trips can be
made from New York to Britain
while one is being made from these
distant points.
Unfortunately the protein commod-
tiles which are needed by England
are not the ones we most want to
sell. They do not constitute our
great SURPRISES, disposition of which
has caused the biggest headaches
in the department of agriculture
since the farm problem was tossed
in the governments lap.
Surplus Produce Unaffected.
Furthermore, they are the prod
ucts which, later on, when the de-
Tense industries expand, we will
need at home because if all our un-
employed we're working full time and
eating three meals a day, we would
not have enough proteins at the pres
ent rate OF production 70 satisfy
them. The things we do want to
get rid of-the things of which we
have enough and 10 spare-are not
as greatly affected by increased en-
ployment. Department OF agricul-
ture experts here will tell you any
day that in prosperous times there
is not an important increase in the
use OF cotton, tobacco and wheat.
But as far as the British go, they
have to consider first things first,
and they have all the cotton, wheat
and tobacco they need, or they can
get these products as conveniently
from their own dominions as from
the United States.
So this new '1cnd-lcase" market
won't solve the problem OF farm sur
pluses. Nevertheless, il will absorb
some Of them, for the government
is insisting that along with the pro
tcins. some OF the surplus products
will be included in the commodities
we dispose Of under the lend-lease
plan.
How long this new market over.