The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1942-10-16
Washington, d. @,
FARM PARITY FIGHT

FARM PARITY FIGHT
To Roosevelt advisers, the farm
parity fight was an ominous runner
UP Of what many Of them expect
during the next two years-IF the
November elections turn sour for the
Democrats. It left people little
worried around the White House.
Up until now, the White House has
been confident that the house Of rep
resentatives would remain Demo
cratic-despite the warning of Chair
man Ed Flynn that the Middle West
and probably California would 60
Republican.
So the fight over farm parity was
shock; and administration leaders
shrink from the prospect of fac
ing that type Of congressional bat
ting for two long years to come.
But, if the Republicans organize the
house, or even if the Democratic
majority is appreciably cut, that is
exactly what will happen.
Three reasons are given, back
stage, for the faulty handling which
resulted in the terrific farm battle.
l. The President himself, who
couched his message to congress in
terms of such a strong ultimatum,
rather than the usual Roosevelt pep
talk strategy at which he is so adept.
incidentally, the speech was writ
ten in large part by brusque, bull
doing Leon Henderson.
2. Speaker Sam Rayburn, who
dropped his usual kindness and
stormily told congressional friends
that the President had promised him
not to send farm price sterilization
message until later. Rayburn's at
titude was tip-of in deeds if not
words "To vote as you please,
boys"
3. Price Gear Leon Henderson,
who was considered the political
ogre and bogeyman for whom the
farm sterilization bill was being
passed.
WAR BONDS
A war savings bond salesman in
Buchanan county, Iowa, was nom
plussed when the spokesman for a
colony of rs families fatty refused
to buy even so much as 10-cent
stamp +. The salesman was about
to leave, but was called back and
handed $6,450 in cash as the colo
ny's donation to the war effort
Seeking an explanation, the bewil-
dered bond seller was told that the
community was composed of Amish
families and that their religious
creed forbids them to make profit
out of war ". They were willing
to make a gift of the money, but
could not buy interest-bearing bonds.
Presidential adviser Isador Lubin,
after 36 straight hours of hard work,
went to bed one morning at nine
o'clock, slept until nine the next
morning.
The infantry company at Fort
Devens, Mass, boasts that every
member of the company is buying
war bonds, and it is 101 per cent
correct.
ARMY SHOES
If you are draftee with high
arches or low arches, one fiat foot
or two fiat feet, or even if your
right foot is half size larger than
your left foot-it doesn't matter.
The quartermaster will fit you any
way.
Even if no one of the 1913 different
sizes of army shoes fits you, instruc-
tions to army posts are that every
foot shall be fitted, and fitted COM
fortably. This order is to be obeyed
even if it means making a plaster
cast of the odd foot and making a
special shoe from an Individual last.
In such cases, the individual last
is tagged with the name of the SOL
der and filed away until he needs
another pair of shoes. Such service
would cost $25 pair in private life.
Army experts declare that a sol
der with sore feet is worthless.
NO CELLOPHANE COMMISSION
Siegfried Bechhold, president of
the Armored Tank corporation, Is
now a private in the army. After
making a small fortune in manufac-
turing tanks. ,Bechhold joined the
army as a private, age AZ, was sent
to Camp Lee, Va. Friends expected
to find him unhappy after exchang-
ing his soft life for the rigors of
the army. But when Bechhold got
away for his first weekend, he de-
clared:
This experience is making man
of me, and wouldn't miss it for the
world I've served in other armies,
but there's no army to compare with
this one You talk about morale
the soldiers don't need morale;
they already have it.
"You have to get out of Washing
ton to learn what Uncle Sans army
is really like. If had ten sons,
would tell them all to join the
army"