Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1942-05-14

While certain individual farmers
may profess to believe that initiation
may be good thing, farm people
generally appreciate the disaster
which will follow in the wake of
runaway initiation. Farmers had ex-
perience with such an initiation in the
last war. When the break came
farm prices, generally, fell drasti-
cally while many items of cost stayed
up. Initiation induced land boom
which more than tripled farm debt,
the results of which have not all
been eliminated to date. Farmers
have every reason to want to avoid
a repetition.
The question is rather over wheth-
err present and proposed controls ex-
tend to all the important factors of
initiation: Particularly lack of spe-
cific controls over labor costs and the
profits in some industrial activities
related to the war.
Farmers question the insistence on
the 4O-hour week when war produc-
ton is of such vital Importance.
While it is true that farm people may
underestimate the speed and strain
of some types of industrial labor,
they cannot be blamed for contrast
ing the short work week with the
long hours which are required on
many farms. The reasoning that the
reduced hours of work provide en-
ployment for more individuals carries
less weight now that unemployment
has been reduced. Reports of time
and-a-half or double-time for over
time work also suggest that spreading
the work is not the only result of
the 40-hour week.
It is argued, of course, that in
creases both in the basic rates of
pay and extra wages due to over
time rates come out of profits. But
farmers may well point out that in
view of the important part played
by the government as buyer, the in
creases come largely out of the pub
lie.
What about the insistence on the
minimum prices below which CELL
ings cannot be fixed? AS one looks
at the prospective supply situation,
it is difficult to escape the conclu-
sion that price ceilings may not play
as important part in the agricul-
tural picture as many seem to think.
True, there are lines in which there
are shortages, as for instance, wool
and sugar, and perhaps some fats
and oils. In the main, however, sup
plies of farm products are likely
to be sufficient to keep prices with
in bounds.
The question may well be raised
whether it would not be good strategy
for farm leadership to shift its at
tack. Instead of saying that farmers
must be given benefits to offset spe-
cial considerations accorded other
groups, why not present forceful de-
mands that these favors be abolished.
Too many evidently are still cling
ing to the notion that war brings
prosperity. We have not accepted,
in full, the fact that war instead
demands sacrifices. If the worker,
the farmer and the industrialist all
seek to increase their share of the
smaller supply of goods, they are
running after the pot of gold at the
end of the rainbow
The danger is real. Initiation al
ready is under way. Any general
rise in wages, in farm prices, or net
profits at this time will speed it
along. It can be held in check only
if heroic measures of price control
and of war financing through much
heavier taxation and the purchase
of defense bonds out of current in