The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-07-20

thus increasing the production of meats, dairy and poultry products needed in wartime not only for U s. troops, but for the armies and civilian populations of the United Nations as we'll If this surplus grain has to be sold at parity, or above it means that meat, dairy and poul- try prices, most of which are already well above parity, will go even higher. The Department of Agricul- ture, anxious to hold down the cost of these foods, seriously concerned over how the big crops of grains to be harvested this year are to be stored on top of the surpluses al- ready bursting the seams of every elevator and corn crib in the land, thinks some of this surplus grain should be sold below parity.
 THEY'D
 TELL FEM
 The American Farm Bureau in- sists that none of this surplus grain shall be sold at less than parity, war or no war, price ceilings or no price ceilings. The Bureau, in other words, takes the stand that it is bigger than the government and will dictate to the Congress what sahll be done on this issue.
 Just what is. this American Farm Bureau Federation and how does it get that way? Conserva- lively speaking, it is the most powerful lobby in Washington. Organized labor may represent more members-10 million against the Farm Bureaus 5oO,O00 - and labor may have more sympathiz- CTS in the executive branches of teh government. But the Farm Bureau likes to think 1t calls the signals for the legislative end of the government and that it is in a position to dictate policy to the Department of Agriculture.
 This isn't SO surprising. Secre- tary Wickard, Clifford Townsend, director of agricultural defense relations, and other big shots in the Department were members of the Federation even before they came to Washington. The De- partment and the Federation have fought and slept side by side for establishment of the parity princi- pie. Tn about IS western farm states, the Federation ac- lively contributes to the support of the country agent system and has semi-off1cial standing under the laws of these states, going back to the days when the county agents were first being estab- lished. And as far as Congress is concerned, this is an election year, and the weight and influence these local Federations pack at the county level, where they run ef- fective cooperative buying and marketing enterprises is tremen- dous.
 SIGNIFICANT
 SIGN
 To find the Department of Agri- culture now bucking the Farm Bureau Federation is therefore significant. As far as the Farm Bureau is concerned, it has to keep on fighting for parity, or pass out of the picture. The Washington lobby ists and the leaders of the Fedora ton simply couldn't hold their jobs if they tried to sell the membership on Look what did-f you last-year basis.
 But the question arises as to whether the Farm Bureau leaders, President Ed ONeal of Alabama and Vice President Earl G. Smith of Illinois, who is also president of the Illinois Agricultural Associa- ton and the real boss of the Fed eration, may. not be laundering themselves on this surplus feed issue.
 Assurance is supposed to have been given that a presidential veto would be forthcoming if Congress should pass a bill preventing sale of surplus grain at below parity prices for feed or the production of grain alcohol. Either way - whether Congress. or the President takes the responsibility for per- hitting below-parity sales = the Farm Bureau chieftains stand to be discredited before their mem- bership. But don't sell 'em short. Ed O'Neal, who is the backslap- ping f1xer with the cotton bloc, and Earl Smith, who represents the corn and wheat men and is the brains of the team, both pack more weight in Washington than John L. Lewis ever did at his best.