Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1944-03-24
Agricultural Reimbursement
Seen as Postwar Must
Farmer Educator Stresses Need for More
Efficient Farming, More Attractive Life
In Order to Maintain Production.
By BAUKHAGE
Netrs ANALYST and Commentator.
WNU Service, Union Trust Building,
Washington, D. C.

-
Washington, d. c.
Ever since the beginning of the
year, Washington has realized that
one OF the most important problems
before it is rehabilitation.
1t isn't a future problem. It's
here.
Nearly a million and a quarter
men have already been discharged
from the army and navy since Pearl
Harbor. More than $4,000 were
physically disabled" but excepting
the severely wounded, most of these
can be absorbed into civilian activi-
ties.
Reconversion of our economic and
social structure is beginning.
Two weeks ago, l discussed at
some length in this column, the
George report on reconversion. Since
then has come the Baruch report on
the same subject, which was rapidly
followed by executive action. 1t
looked as if congress and the White
House were in a race to see who
would be first to start the colossal
job.
While attention is being conferred
on readjustment of industry, less at
tention has been paid publicly to the
necessary readjustments in agricul-
ture which must come. Because
many starving peoples will have to
be fed for some two years after the
war is over, the demand on the
farmers for production of food and
textiles should continue on somewhat
the same basis as at present. But
adjustments will have to be made
whether or not this high rate of
production is maintained because
any changes in our economic life
are bound to affect the farmers.
One of the most important recent
contributions to this planning for the
adjustment of agriculture has been
made by DR.. Murray R. Benedict,
a Wisconsin farm boy who is now a
professor of agriculture in the Uni
versity of California. He points out
in very thorough study of Farm
People and the Land After the War;"
released by the National Planning
association, that if we want our peo-
pie to be adequately and suitably
fed, and if we want our farmers and
farm workers to be satisfied, farm
ing will have to be made more eff
Gent and farm life more attractive
both as a business and as way of
life.
Political Reaction
Unfortunately, there is a great
danger that such efforts will be frus-
trated owing to the very natural
political reaction of a democratic
country, long under federal regula-
ton which is necessary in wartime.
Once peace returns, free people
Is anxious to throw out its chest and
start off Justify, padding its own
canoe again.
1t must be remembered that up
until 1870, the condition of agricul-
ture shaped the entire anatomy of
the American body economic -
political-social. After 1870, indus
try developed to the point where it
became the tail that wagged the
agricultural dog.
Since 1870, the percentage of the
population engaged in nonagricul-
tural activities has remained either
about stable or has shown a slight
Increase. The farm population
showed a decrease until now when
1t has become fairly stabilized at
about 80 million.
1t would be possible, provided GER
tain definite steps were taken, either
TO increase the number of paying
farm jobs or to achieve greater pro-
duction with a fewer number of
workers, so that we could have more
or less farmers, according to pro-
duction needs and still make it re-
munerative to all.
According to DR.. Benedict, the nor
NAL birth rate keeps the farm popu-
lation just about stable unless sharp
shifts to and from the farm are
made. The shifts do come and they
throw the whole farm picture out
of killer. This is where the tail
wagging the dog comes in, for in
time of depression, of course, in
dustrial workers seek livelihood on
the farm and, therefore, have ten
dency to glut the market-in time
Of boom, the farm boy deserts the
fields for the cities and the better
paying jobs.
Four Major Factors
There are four factors which can
take up or let out the slack:
Cd A larger demand for farm
products at home or abroad.