Evening star., 1949-11-26
National Grange Calls
|brannan Plan Cancer
On Free Enterprise
BY the Asseeiafed Press

oy UUe tsSoctoIeo FI0sS
SACRAMENTO. Calf, Nov. rs.
The National Grange has re-
jected the Brannan farm price
support program as IAN internal
cancer that would ultimately
destroy our free-enterprise sys-
tenn"
The resolution condemning the
farm program proposed by Sec
retary of Agriculture Brannan
was a highlight Of the closing ses-
sion of the 12-day National
Grange convention last night.
Delegates from 81 States took
part in installing Albert S. Goss
for his fifth two-year term as
master just before passing the
resolution which said Of the Bran
nan plan:
THE proposal has totally un-
desirable political implications.
Clearly, under such a system, that
party which would promise to
farmers the largest bonus out of
the treasury would garner many
votes not obtainable on the basis
of an honest. sound platform.
Shelved by Congress.
1T would then, become a race to
see which party would promise
most"
The resolution said that Bran
nan type of subsidy would make
farmers public beggars for a fair
income" and destroy their char
acter and self-reliance.
The Brannan plan. shelved at
the recent Congress-. calls for full
parity supports through purchases
and loans, as at present. for corn.
cotton. wheat. rice. peanuts and
tobacco. For perishable products,
the price would be permitted to
seek its natural level in the market
place. The Government would de-
termine a fair price" in advance
and then pay the producers the
difference between that price and
the natural price, If it were lower.
The resolution suggested that
today's farm problem results
largely from unsound methods.
"The output of farms and of
industry have not been kept in
proper balance" it said. Farm
products have not reached the
right markets and our Nation has
not given enough consideration to
a better diet for our entire popu-
lation."
Temporary Service Seen.
The subsidy method of solving
the difficulties was assailed as "at
best q temporary device which will
only serve to postpone the time
when a sound solution must be
reached"
The resolution maintains there
are other means than the Bran
nan plan to help the farmer obtain
a fair income. 1t specifically
recommends more advertising,
strengthened cooperative market
ing and the use of dual. or
multiple price system.
The resolution. continued:
Subsidies are In reality for the
benefit Of the consumer, but the
stigma Of drawing money out of
the Treasury attaches to the
farmers. Moreover. subsidies op-
crate to increase the proportions
OF our colossal national debt and
are in themselves inflationary."
Other officers formally installed
for two-year terms include: Henry
D. Sherwood. Pine Plains. N. Y,
Ioverseer: Edward F. Hotter, Mid
dletown, Md. lecturer; Bryan v.
Holmes, Millburn, Nebr.. stew
ard; Franklin c. Bixon. Vincen-
town. N. j., chaplain; w. g.
Armstrong. Niles, Mich, treas
urer; Harry A. Cation, Coshocton,
Ohio. secretary.
The Brannan plan held center
stage during the entire conven-
tion. It opened with Master Goss
recommending rejection of any
such program. Mr.. Brannan,
himself. addressed the delegates
last Saturday and requested con-
sideration.
Representative Helen Gahagan
Douglas. Democrat, of California
also advised the grange to try
the Brannan program to help pre-
vent boom and bust on the farm.
| Mr.. Goss stood for reelection
IN on anti pronnon YJon r1onk