Evening star., 1944-03-05
Farm Leaders Views
To Be Heard by COP
AT Meeting in April
By GOULD LINCOLN.

The first definite step toward
formulation of an affirmative
program on domestic issues is to
be taken by the Republicans
when the committee on agricul-
ture of the Republican Postwar
Advisory Council starts work in
Chicago April 3 and 4.
Chairman Harrison E. Spangler
of the COP National Committee
announced last night that the agri-
culture group will hear representa-
tives Of the National Grange, Amer
lean Farm Bureau Federation,
Farmers Union, National Council of
Farmers Co-operatives, and the Ma
tional Cooperative Milk Producers
Federation. This is the first time
1t was said, that a political party
has called into conference repre-
sentatives Of big industry to get
their views in advance of the ma
tional convention, at which the
party platform will be adopted.
Critical Of Policies.
The farm organizations, with the
exception of the Farmers Union,
have been sharply critical of Presi-
dent Roosevelts wartime policies
and programs affecting farm prices,
particularly food subsidies. Ad-
ministration leaders. on the other
hand. say they are ready and will
ing to go before farmers on a plat
form supporting such subsidies.
They say they do not believe the
farm organizations reflect the views
Of the rank and file OF farmers.
COP leaders are fully aware of
the need of presenting in their
platform a program dealing with
current issues-both domestic and
international. In the past, the
formulation Of such a program has
awaited the national convention.
Then. in rush, platform would
be whipped into shape for adoption
by the delegates.
Mr.. Spangler early last year an
nounced appointment of the post
war advisory council. He placed on
it all Republican Governors, mem
bers of the House and Senate and
of the pational committee. The
council met at Mackinac Island.
Mich. last August and adopted a
foreign policy declaration, which
pledged the COP to support inter-
national collaboration for peace
after the war That declaration is
likely to be the basis of the inter-
national plank in the platform.
Eight committees were named al
this meeting to deal with important
subjects, including agriculture.
Preliminary Work Pushed.
A great deal of preliminary work
has already been done by these
committees. They are expected te
conclude their work and submit
their recommendations to the ma.
tional committee well in advance
Of the national convention, which
opens in Chicago June 26. In turn
the national group will turn ovel
the recommendations to the con-
vention's committee on resolutions
which drafts the platform.
Representative Halleck of Indiana
chairman of the committee or
labor said his group has done con-
siderable research work, and he in
timated that public hearings may
be held at which representatives OF
labor and industry will be heard.
Mr.. Spangler said last night, TT
is common knowledge that the New
Deal, through its planned economy
regimentation and regulation, has
created a state Of chaos on the
farm front The theories of the
armchair farmers in Washington
have brought us into maze of con-
fusion which must give way to a
common sense program largely ad-
ministered by the farmers them
selves"
The Agriculture Committee
whose hearings will be open, Is
headed by Gov.- Bourke Hicken-