Evening star., 1948-02-13
Cut Farm Price.
Props, Taft Asks
In Omaha Talk
Senator Proposes Plan
To Revise Pority
Concept Below 1920
BY the Associoted Press

/. OMAHA, Feb. ia cut in the
level of Government farm price
supports was proposed today by
Senator Taft, Republican, of
Ohio.
T Arriving to open a drive for Ne
braska's backing in his race for the
presidential nomination, the Ohioan
chose this Midwestern grain and
livestock area to outline a farm
program of his own.
This included:
l. Price props "at a much less
percentage of parity than 80 per
cent" PARTY is a level calculated
to keep farmers income equal to
that of other workers.
2. No price or production con-
trolls, although the latter might be
used Sin the greatest emergency"
3. No taxation ION farmers
banded together to sell at a higher
price or buy at lower price"
4. Encouragement of soil con-
servation.
Would Revise Parity Concept.
Senator Taft in an address before
the Livestock Exchange in South
Omaha that the Government has
peculiar justification" for maintain
ing minimum farm prices. ..
"But I believe very strongly that
the parity concept will have to be
revised" he said, adding:
"I think if there is to be such a
support program it ought to be at
a much less percentage of parity
than 80 per cent, although at 80 per
cent the Government might under
take to interest itself actively in
creating more of a market for the
product"
The Senator said President Tru-
mans repeated demand for price
wage and rationing controls looks
rather foolish today when we see
the tremendous drop in commodity
prices without price control"
He said the recent drop may take
some advantage away from. the
farmers.
f Bans "Inside information"
"But don't expect me to COM
ment on that" he added. at would
be inside information straight from
Washington and I do not want to
add all of you to the list of people
who have. managed to get in on it. /"
Some co-operatives which "as-
sumo a largely commercial aspect
should be taxed, Senator Taft said
Ibut not those of farmers who band
for their own protection.
He said he could see mo particu-
lar reason why the Government
should pay a man for using fertil-
izer which directly improves the
crops he sells during the ensuing
year"
But he said he supports soil con-
servation payments which will
make the farm better farm 10
years from now"
Starts 2-M0nth Drive.
Obviously cheered by the recep-
ton given his demand in st. Paul
MINI, last night for a "hard-boiled'
plan of European aid, Senator Taft
starts plowing friendly 'political
fields here.
With two speeches in Omaha and
one in Council Bluffs, Iowa, the
Ohioan officially starts drive that
will reach its peak two months
hence in the Nebraska preferential
primary. April 13.
For the first time in that race,
Senator Taft's friends said he will
have the chance to lay low the
specter that has dogged his presi-
Dental candidacy-the widespread
contention that he could not win
in November even if nominated in
June.
IF Senator Taft could top the
field of candidates in that test
his supporters think such victory
would give him a tremendous boost
in his nomination bid.
The Ohio Senator himself ap.
peared confident. He told report
ers he thinks he has "a gooc
chance" to get the support of Ne
braska's is delegates Going tt
the convention unpledged, they may
be Influenced by the outcome o1
the preferential vote.
To win, Senator Taft will have
to fight off Gov. Thomas R Dewey
of New York and former Gov. Har.
old E. Stassen of Minnesota, al
we'll as lesser candidates.
Senator Taft's friends thought
their candidate came off well II
his visit to Mr.. Stassen's home ter.
ritory yesterday.
The Ohioan got loud and more
1See TAFT, page AID