The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1942-07-24
PRES. ROOSEVELT
WRITES TO
JAMES G. PATTON


DENVER. = Following is the com
plete text of the letter of President
Roosevelt to James G. Patton, presi
dent of the National Farmers Union,
answering a communication sent to
the chief executive last week:
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
July 2, 1912
Dear Mr.. Patton
In these dark days when the for
tunes of war demonstrate more clear
ly than ever before the dependence
of our fighting men upon adequate
supplies, it is heartening to receive
the letter of June goth, signed by you
and six other leaders of farm, labor,
and religious organizations asking
help in giving all our farmers the
equipment with which to produce
enough food for victory and peace
that will endure.
The seven signatures on this joint
appeal spell a new understanding and
a new unity, born of war, among
farmers, all three national labor or
CARNATIONS, and two great religious
groups of men and women of good
will. Our fighting men need this kind
of unity in support of them. AS their
Commander in Chief, l welcome it.
The authorization to sell some of
the governments holdings of grain for
Oh OK Of 10
parity price for corn is essential if the
armed services and the civilian popu-
lation are to be assured adequate sup
plies of pork beef, milk, chicken, and
eggs at prices that will neither break
the ceiling nor require ex-
cessive subsidies. The government
will continue to assure fair prices to
farmers for their products Certainly,
the government organized for total
war must have the. authority to deploy
its resources promptly and in suffi-
cient volume to speed victory We
have SURPRISES of grains; we have on
coming stringencies and shortages in
certain meats, fats and oils.
The only real issue involved here
IS whether the government should be
tree to use it's feed resources to pro-
luce food for the wartime effort.
When this fact becomes clear, l am
certain that pressure group tactics
will not prevail and that the action
aiken by the congress will reflect the
lation's needs.
To meet the nations war food goals,
We must have the full time employ
nent of all farmers, big and little.
agree with your statement that
hey, as working farmers tilling their
,wn land, should be given such sup
port as is necessary to utilize their
'esources fully They must be as
sisted to stay on the land and to have
" to get life's stake in it. This, |
he senate recommendation for Farm
Security Administration loan authori-
ations and appropriations, will do in
measure that, however, inadequate, |
S infinitely better than the made
uate proposals that are being mis-
akingly urged on the congress by GER
GILL oOiliou anu ponOi ioiiSiy StONPS'
The approval of the senate recommen-
ations on the Farm Security Admin
stration program are, in my judgment,
ssential to the nations war effort.
hey are minimum. Quite properly,
illions have been allocated for the
inancing of war industry, large and
mall Similar balanced aid to make
ull use for war of our varied farm
esources should not be denied.
You have asked me to take this
ssue to the country. l think that
our excellent letter has done this in
irge measure. l will support and
mphasize it at every opportunity.
hould resistance to these proposals
ersist, l am confident that the peo-
lie will hold those responsible to
trict account.
Very sincerely yours,
(s) FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT.
ames G. Patton, Esq.
Iational Farmers Union
sol East 46th Avenue ;
enver, Colorado. (