The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1948-12-24

plea for his flexible support pro-
gram. He explained how his pro-
gram holds supports at 80 percent
of parity until 1850, then allows
them to slide to a so percent mini
mum if SURPRISES grow large.
Ole L. Olson, GTA president, said
that farmers should refuse to ac-
cept the concept that farmers should
be penalized for abundant produc-
ton by being forced to take so
percent of parity"
Thatcher said he respected Aiken's
ability and the work he has done for
farmers, but "either he doesn't I'M
derstand his bill, or else don't I'M
derstand it. If another man works
overtime, he gets time and one-half.
But if a farmer overproduces, under
the Hope-Aiken bill we have now, he
gets half-time."
James G. Patton, National Farm
ers Union president, and Glenn J.
Talbot, North Dakota Farmers I'm
ion president, told the delegates that
their organizations would stand for
nothing less than full parity for
American farmers" This stand puts
the Farmers Union on the one hand
and the National Farm Bureau and
National Grange on the other hand
at direct odds over the parity pro-
gram.
What could happen to farmers
under the 80th Congress Hope-Aiken
bill was explained by Roy F. Hend-
rickson, Washington representative
for the National Federation of Grain
Co-operatives, of which GTA is a
member.
500 Cut In Income
Hendrickson said that a typical
northwest wheat farmer in 1948,
with 1000 bushels to sell, could put
it under loan and get $1.80 bushel
for 1.-THE national support price of
$500 minus freight, handling and
loan charges. His income for the
year would be $1,000. In 1853, the
farmer could get as little as $3,084,
if he took out loan on 1000 bush
els of wheat.
Two warnings that the National
Tax Equality Association, which is
the Co-ops, hasn't given
up in it's drive to cripple co-opera-
tives, were given farmers at the
meeting. The first came from
James E. Wells, Jr., general man
ager of the Farmers Union Livestock
Association. He told the co-opera-
tors not to "be tricked into revolv-
ing any of GTA's capital until eco
nomic conditions justify it, and until
enough elevators and facilities have
been built to handle the great grain
storage program that must be put
into operation in the next few
years."
Wilfred E. Rumble, GTA general
gave the second warning
when he said that the fight against
co-operatives, instead of being over
after the election, is getting a fresh
start.
The GTA delegates also heard OPP
Grating reports by assistant general
T. C. Croll and T. F.
O'Neill, and heads of the co-opera-
ives business departments.
Other Resolutions
The 100 percent of parity resolu-
ion passed by the GTA stockholders
vas one of IL unanimously adopted
other resolutions called for cooper
tive control of Banks for Cooper
ltives, program to build adequate
rain storage facilities with REA
ype loans from CCC, a new Inter
Wheat Agreement, recog-
lition that the real aim of NTEA
S to injure co-operatives, and 900
'ercent patronage goal, in which all
would participate
ully."
The three-day session, largest of
is kind in the nation, closed with
he election of four directors on the
leven-man board. Erwin Schum-
.cher, Drayton, North Dakota, was
elected to succeed Filing Knutson,
Gilmore, North Dakota, who has
erved on the GTA board since its
President Ole L. Oh
on, Buxton, North Dakota; Ole S.
Power, Mont. and Ben