Evening star., 1949-07-23
The Political Min
The Political Mil
Bronnon Farm Plan Likely
To Be Big Campaign Issue
House Vote on Party's Pet Proposal
Dooms Action on Bill This Year
Bv Gould Lincoln

President Trumans first major victory In
the S1st Congress-the ratification Of the
North Atlantic Security Treaty by an over
whelming vote-was brought about by
coalition of Democrats and Republicans. 1t
was victory on the international front.
The Presidents nearest major victory on
the domestic front was the recent passage OF
the public housing bill.
On the same day Mr.. Truman was chalk
ing up the treaty victory in the Senate, the
House of Representatives gave him major
defeat-also by means of coalition of Dem
ocrats and Republicans. The House defeated
by large vote the bill-backed by the ad-
ministration-to give the Brannan farm
program trial by applying it to three COM
modties. eggs potatoes and shorn wool.
This vote on the Brannan farm plan vir-
tually throws action on this pet program
of the Administration out of the window for
the remainder of this year. The Senate will
have an oportunity, when 1t tackles farm
legislation, to put through provision for
modified trial of the Brannan direct subsidy
to the farmers. But in the Upper House there
Is also strong opposition to this Brannan
proposal. and even should it squeak through.
it would still have to run the gantlet in the
House again.
Catch In the Plan.
The Truman Democrats seized on the pro-
gram which bears the name of the Secretary
of Agriculture believing it was a sure-f1re
vote -getter. They figured it would appeal to
both the farmer and to the city dWeller.
Under it, the farmer would sell his produce
for what it would bring in open market, and
the Government would pay the farmer the
difference between the price he received
and the so-called parity price"-that Is, the
price which would give the farmer the full
price for his labor compared to the full price
paid city dwellers for their labor.
The catch in the Brannan plan. however.
lies in the fact that no one-not the Secre-
tary himself-can guess what it would cost
the taxpayers, and in the further fact that
the Secretary of Agriculture would eventu-
ally become the Gear of Agriculture, with
power to cut q farmers acreage in two-and
so reduce the farmers income by half So
the farmers and their organizations have
not yet taken kindly to the Brannan plan
to the surprise of the Truman Fair Dealers.
The latter, however, have not given up. They
will keep the Government propaganda mill
working at full speed to change the farmers
minds, and line them up for a second drive
for this legislation next winter-or for their
votes in the 1850 congressional elections or
both.
Issues To Be In Campaign.
The Truman administration has been un-
gress. A majority of this Congress does not
favor many Of the principal items of the
Presidents program. A majority of the
Congress believes that the program Is de-
signed to centralize all government in
Washington still further, that 1t will cost
the taxpayers billions more dollars, and that
1t Is socialistic in character. It will take
another election at least-and q major vic
tory for the Fair Dealers-to change the
situation. Already 1t has been made clear
that the labor issue (repeal of the Taft
Hartley Act) is going into the coming cam
paign And now the farm issue is following
suit.
While the Democratic administration is
having its troubles with divided Democratic
congressional membership. the Republicans
cannot claim great unity. even while they
laugh at the Democrats. The picture of
Senators Taft of Ohio and Wherry of
Nebraska, respectively chairman of the Re-
publican Policy Committee and Republican
floor leader. attempting an Horatius- at-the-
bridge stand against ratification of the
North Atlantic Treaty, while the third prin-
cipal leader Of the Senate G. O. p, Senator
Vandenberg of Michigan, rallied majority
Of the Republican senators to the support Of
the treaty is a case In point.
majorities-moves slowly and with delibera-
ton. The longer its first session lasts the
more disappointing it becomes for Mr.. Tru-
man. Nor does 1t show signs of being forced
to adopt the inf1ationary program which
Mr.. Truman has advanced, with its huge
spending.