The people's voice., 1942-09-25
OBSERVERS Think
F. UNION CHIEFS
STAR Is RISING
By NAT S. FINNEY
Morning Tribune Washington
Correspondent

WASHINGTON James G. Patton
president of the National Farmers
Union, today is the rising star among
the farm leaders in the capital, If al
usual indications are to be believed
1t is said if you go to the White
House with the secretary of agricul
ture and are closeted with the Presi
dent, just the three of you, your star
is rising fast
Observers noted Patton did this
when the President was preparing his
wage and price fixing messages for
congress and the public.
Meanwhile Ed O'Neal, president of
the American Farm Bureau Fedora
ton, has had his differences with the
White House. And Ed, onetime fam
iliar of the President, has seen little
of the man he is reputed to have
called Frank for years.
Earl Smith, head of the Illinois
Farm Bureau Federation and potent
figure in the national organization is
in the same boat.
They fought and came near to win
ming, a battle in congress to prevent
sale of surplus wheat to S5 per cent
of the parity price Of corn.
How much of fight they will put
up to prevent removal of the 11O per
cent of parity limit on farm price
ceilings from the price control act
remains to be seen.
Roosevelt whipped them in the sur
plus wheat fight. They may not offer
battle on farm price ceilings.
The rise to prominence of Jim Pat
ton is brought about by combination
of personality and policy.
Jim Patton is an attractive per-
sonality. A little over medium in
height, built like a good halfback, his
brown, well-chiseled face surmounted
by a fine shock of black hair, he's a
lean, young lion of man.
But he doesn't roar. His baritone
voice is persuasive and sincere, mask
ing the keen salesmanship with which
he uses 1t.
Patton is a hog for work, and he
has the first requisite of a public
mantle physical stamina to cover
territory that would wreck three trav-
cling statesmen, keep the many people
he meets sorted out in his mind, and
to be freshly, warmly attentive to
what they all have to say.
He's a builder-upper by nature. He
finds time to be an active trustee in
Denvers famous Grace Community
church while jumping around the
country building farm organization.
His liberalism is authenticated. He
vas one of the late Sen. Edward P.
Jotsigan's young men, and served a
ong apprenticeship in the farm CO.
operative movement.
Promising young public men like
Tim Patton are new-minted gold on
he Washington political exchange.
The National Farmers Union now
laims 10000 farm family members.
The National Farmers Union pro-
ram fits well into both the new ad-
agricultural policy, and |
var time farm policy.
Patton represents "the lower two
birds of the farmers of America"
Ie calls the top one-third of farmers
commercial farmers and says II do |
ot represent them, and the Farmers
Jnion doesn't represent them"
The commercial farmer is produc-
ng right up to the peak now, Patton
ontends.
The marginal farmer isn't up to the
eak.
He's got more labor than he is u.s.
ng, mostly his own family. He has
It enough money to handle his farm
D best advantage. He needs educa-
ion, loans to buy stock and feed, and
elp all along the line," Patton con-
nues.
Patotn wants the administration to
ct a $5OO,000,00O appropriation from
ongress for the farm security admin
'trdIlOn 10 use III nelpinS mdrBludl
lrmers.
He wants to change AAA benefits
D they'll be paid to farmers who pro-
uce what the government wants
lem to produce.
Secretary of Agriculture Wickard
Iready is on record this years bump
r crop may be the biggest in long
me-" He sees farm labor and ma
ICoufiuuad nm Ra