Evening star., 1945-07-01
BY Ovid A. Martin,
Associated Press stan Writer.


A man with full confidence in himself
and with confidence In the future Of the
Nation takes over as the Nations food
chief
He is Clinton p. Anderson, 6-foot
New Mexico resident OF Scandinavian
ancestry whom President Truman lifted
out of the House OF Representatives to
become Secretary Of Agriculture and
war food administrator.
It Is well that he possesses great con-
fidence. The huge task ahead Of him
that Of relieving acute food shortages at
home and OF helping provide food for
the hungry abroad--is, in fact. task
Of defeating fear.
Fear of Surpluses
Anderson and his colleagues on q
iouse food shortage investigating conl-
nittee have just returned from tour
il Midwestern and Far Western food
producing areas. accompanied the
ommittee and can report that farmer
ear of farm and food surpluses Is stand-
ng in the way of maximum produc-
ion.
This fear grows out of the memory
how oyerexpansion In farm produc-
ion during World War helped bring
n q tragic agricultural depression.
It was similar fear Of surpluses-on
The part Of Government food officials
chat contributed heavily to present
shortages. Thinking that the war in
Europe would end last year. these ON
cials quite understandably led farmers
to cut back production.
What the Nation Needs
Abundant production" Anderson told
an audience Of businessmen and farm
ers at Minneapolis, 'is what the Nation
needs. There need be no fear OF sur
pluses, now or in the future"
Abundant production is the only sound
solution Of shortages, black markets
and inflated food costs" he added. The
audience applauded loudly.
The new food chief, In similar talk
before farm and business groups at
yakima, Wash, said he understood and
sympathized with farmers fears that
their efforts to expand production to
meet extraordinary war needs might
bear fruit at time when the wal
market had disappeared.
Il recall" he told his Yakima audi
ence. "how many of my friends In
South Dakota, where was born ana
raised, lost everything they had as a
result of the last agricultural depres-
sion. They were honest. upright citi-
zens, and 1t was no fault OF theirs that
they were ruined"
Giving the Farmer a Break
In the same speech, Anderson said
he recognized that one Of the first
things he must do Is to re-establish
farmer confidence in his contention
that full production need not destroy
producers. He said he believes 1t to be
the duty and obligation Of the Govern
ment, with full support of consumers.
to give farmers the same protection
against financial loss as is accorded
makers Of tanks, airplanes and guns.
Anderson explained that he recog-
nized that the war with Japan may end
with farmers producing food at q vol
ume In excess Of normal outlets.
But he said that Americans ss a
whole have seldom II ever had all the
food they wanted and needed. He be-
lieyes that II their wants and needs
were met, farmers would have little
cause to worry about surpluses.
Emphasis on Expansion
Farm programs Of The future" he
told q Seattle radio audience, Should
place emphasis upon expansion of con-
sumption. rather than on curtailment
Of production
Anderson indicated In informal dis
cussions with farm leaders at Omaha,
Seattle and San Francisco that he ia
vored the use of food-stamp and school,
lunch programs to increase consumption
if full employment is not reached
The new food boss told Minneapolis
group that he expected to run into op-
position In carrying out his views with
regard to protecting farm prices and
protecting American consumers against
excessive belt-tightening for the sake Of
food shipments abroad.
He promised audiences at several
stops that he would take good horse
traders stand in negotiating on lease
lend and other foreign shipments Of
food as long as shortages exist at home.
Anderson goes into office with the