The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1945-06-29
ANDERSON new
SECRETARY OF
AGRICULTURE

AGRICULTURE
The new Secretary of Agriculture
Clinton P Anderson takes over his
duties on July 1. His job is. by no
means an easy one, and he comes in
at the very time when food needs at
home and abroad are furthest out of
line with production On him will
also fall the responsibility for plan
ming the reconversion of agriculture
from wartime to peacetime operation.
President Truman has made Ander-
sons task somewhat easier than that
which confronted his predecessor by
combining the office of War Food Ad-
ministrator wit hthat of the Secretary
of Agriculture. Although necessary
at one time, the continued separation
of War Food Administration from the
Department of Agriculture would have
tied Anderson's hands at the outset.
In taking over the reins, Anderson
is expected to have more power over
farm policies than any of the three
proceeding chiefs Marvin Jones,
Chester Davis, or Claude R. Wickard.
While much of the pricing policy had
been turned over to the OPA and
questions of broad strategy went to
War Mobilization Director Vinson, it
appears likely that most of these di-
receives, on the policy-making level,
may now be returned to the Secre-
tary of Agriculture.
What Kind of Secretary?
On all sides the question is being
asked, what kind of secretary will
Anderson be-" The general concen-
sus of opinion is definitely favorable.
Anderson is recognized as friend
of abundant production and as sup
porter of administration policies. Lit
tie is known about his views on spe-
cific farm questions, but his record
during the three terms that he has
served as a congressman from New
Mexico has been a progressive one.
To prepare Anderson for the secre-
taryship, he was recently made chair
man of the house committee to in
vestigate food shortages. Although
some people have sought to determine
his farm views by reading the COM
mittee's report, this is by no means
fair criterion since his chief contrib
ution to the report was that of re-
straining other members of the COM
mittee form loading it with meat
packer propaganda.
Anderson's voting record throws
some light on his views, but it is by
no means conclusive. His most i'm
portant single vote was perhaps that
against the bill to exempt insurance
companies from the antitrust laws.
Though Anderson is himself the own
err of an insurance company, he took
a prominent part in the fight against
the insurance lobby and helped to de-
feat the bill. He also voted:
For allowing non-AAA farmers to |
feed excess wheat
For the house-senate conference
report on price control act of 1941
after earlier voting against the
house version of the bill.
For the use of RFC funds in fl
nancing an increase in FSA's re-
Mobilization fund.
For the sale of aforementioned
corn and wheat below parity in
order to increase war food produc
ton.
For unfolding Truman's veto of
Flanagan bill for compulsory de-
ferment of farm workers.
For Wallace and the administra-
ton on the question of separating
RFC from the Dept. of Commerce.
AS chairman of the campaign expen-
ditures committee during the last
election, Anderson first came under
the glare of the nations spotlight.
The thoroughness and fairness with
which he conducted the investigation
soon won him the respect of voters in
both parties.
Anderson carefully sifted the
charges made against the CLOS Po-
litical Action Committee, and the re-
port of his bipartisan committee did
much to explode the many false and
vicious ISLANDERS that were being cir
culated by labor's enemies. The only
real objection to the Anderson in
came from Frank E. Gan
lett's Committee on Constitutional
Government, which defied the house
Investigation and had the dubious dis
inction of being one of the two
groups refusing to divulge the sources
If it's funds.
Although Anderson lives on an 500 8
lcre dairy farm in New Mexico and
WINS another 600-acre farm in South s
Dakota, he is not, strictly speaking,
farmer. Most of his time has been s
evoted to the insurance business
hat he runs and, more recently, to
lis activities in Washington.
The new Secretary of Agriculture
las not been identified with any of
he major farm organizations, and no
loubt this was a necessary qualifica-
ion for his appointment. The Ma
ional Farmers Union has issued a
statement "applauding" Anderson's
ppointment because of "his splendid z
ecord in the houes." -
AS soon as Anderson takes over the 9
ual controls of WA and the Depart
nent of Agriculture, Marvin Jones &
will return to the bench of the U. S.
Iourt of Claims Wickard has been q
dominated Administrator of REA
he senate committee has given q
Vickard it's approval, and it is gener-
lily expected that the senate will con- -,
irm his appointment Research Il