The daily monitor leader. [volume] (Mount Clemens, Mich.) 1942-19??, 1942-07-13

SIO'II SIIO0iO OS VOW W
pouItr, and livestock, thus in
creosine the produc ton OF
meets, doirp end poultry prod
ucts needed in wortime not on
ly for U. S. troops, but for the
ormies and civilian populations
Of the United Motions as we'll.
II this surplus grain has to be
sold OF parity. or ob owe, it
means that meat, doiry and
poultry prices, most OF which
ore already we'll above parity,
will 90 even higher. The De-
pertinent of Agriculture. onx-
ious to hold down the cost Of
these foods, seriously concern
ed over how the big crops Of
grains to be harvested this
year ore TO be stored on top OF
the SURPRISES already bursting
the seams Of every elevator
and corn crib in the lond,
thinks some Of this surplus
grain should be sold below por.
ity.
THEY'D TELL 'EM
The American Farm Bureau
insists that none Of this sur
plus grain sho|I be sold at less
than parity, wor or no war.
price ceilings or no price cell
ines. The Bureau, in other
words, takes the stand that it
is bigger than the government
and will dictate to the Con-
qress what shall be done on
this issue.
Just what is this American
Farm Bureau Federation and
how does it get that woy9 Con-
servotively speaking, it is the
most powerful lobby in Wash
ineton. Organized labor may
represent more menbers-lO
million against the Farm Bu-
reou's 100000 - and labor
may have more synnpothizers
in the executive branches Of
the government. But the farm
Bureau likes TO think it coils
the signals for the legislative
end Of the government and
that it is in q, position to die
tat policy to the Department Of
Agriculture.
This isn't so surprising. Sec
retoy Wickord, Clifford Town.
sen, director Of agricultural de-
Tense relations, and other big
shots in the Department we're
members Of the Federation
even before they come to
Washington. The Department
and the Federation have fought
and slept side by side for es-
Enlistment Of the parity prin-
ciple. In about IS midwest
ern form stotes, the Federation
actively contributes to the
support Of the county agent
system and hos seni-offoiol
stondine under the laws Of
these stotes, going back to the
days when the county oeents
we're first being established.
And as for as Congress is con-
cerned, this is on election year,
and the weight and influence
these local Federotions pack at
the county level, where they
run effective cooperative buy
ing and marketing enterprises,
is tremendous.
SIGNIFICANT SIGN
To find the Department OF
Agriculture now buckin9 the
Farm Bureau Federation is
therefore significant. As for as
the Farm Bureou is concerned,
it hos to keep on fighting for
parity, or poss out Of the pic.
ture. The Washington lobby
ISIS ono the leaders Of the Fed.
Grafton simply couldn't hold
their Jobs if they tried to sell
the membership on q Look
whot we did for you lost yeor'
bosis.
But the question crises os to
whether the Form Bufeou leod-
ers. President Ed O'Neol OF
AIobomo and Vice President
Eorl G. Smith Of Illinois, who is
olso president of the Illinois
Agricultural Association ond
the reol boss Of the Federation,
NOV not be laundering them.
selves on this surplus feed is
sue.
Assurance is supposed to
have been given that q presi-
Dental veto would be forth
coming if Congress should poss