Evening star., 1950-01-12
The Political Mill
Democrats Risking Defeat
By Booking Bronnun Plan
Party Loyalty Seen Big Handicap
In Farm States Particularly
Bv Gould Lincoln


The Brannan farm program with its pro-
duction payments to farmers taken out Of
the pockets Of the taxpayers shows signs Of
becoming q milestone around the necks Of
Democratic candidates for Congress in the
great agricultural States Of the Midwest and
the West.
Many Of these Democratic candidates, and
prospective candidates, don't like the Bran
nan plan. which they consider fantastic and
costly and bureaucratic. But their problem
Is how to avoid the taint-if 1t is taint-of
pro-Brannan plan issue strongly supported
by the Truman administration and by the
CIO and other labor unions. II they de-
nounce the Brannan plan, where does it leave
them? First, against the Democratic ad-
ministration which Is pressing for this plan,
and second. against the labor unions which
are pressing the administration to press for
the Brannan plan.
The reports brought here from farm States
like Kansas, Iowa and Illinois picture the
farmers against the Brannan plan. These
reports come from Democratic sources as
well as Republican. OF the great farm Or
ganizations, the American Farm Bureau
Federation and the Grange are fighting the
Brannan plan with all their force. and carry
ing on campaign Of education against it.
The more radical Farmers Union Is for it
but the Farmers Union Is numerically strong
in only a handful of States, and even in
some Of them the Farm Bureau Federation
has more members.
The Brannan plan issue will be almost as
difficult to duck by Democrats who do not
favor it as will be the Taft-Hartley Labor Act
by Republicans who really don't like that law.
Lucas Up for Reelection.
The Democratic leader Of the Senate.
Senator Lucas of Illinois, has to campaign
for reelection next fall. He has not been
for the Brannan plan, but has been strongly
in favor Of the program advanced by the
Farm Bureau Federation-wllich calls for
farm price supports adequate to give the
farmer fair break under any conditions,
but with sliding scale designed to discour-
age great surpluses Of production
His stand has been praised by the Farm
Bureau leaders in Illinois. But Senator Lucas
will be opposed by Republican candidate.
probably former Representative Dirksen who
will denounce the Brannan plan bill from
cover to cover and the administration whose
leader, Senator Lucas, is in the Senate.
Again and again he may seek to pin a
the latter. in self defense, will have to break
absolutely with the administration on this
issue. It could be awkward.
Democratic leaders speak with high hopes
OF electing Senator In Iowa, where Senator
Hickenlooper, Republican, is up for re-elec-
ton. The Democratic administration, with
the aid Of numerous labor leaders. launched
its drive for the Brannan plan in Des Moines
last spring. Is the Democratic NOMINEES
against Senator Hickenlooper to be- Bran
nan-plan man or not? II he Is not, the
administration is going to look pretty foolish.
II he is, according to Allan B. Kline, presi.
dent Of the Farm Bureau Federation and an
1owan. he will probably be defeated The
Farm Bureau Federation is particularly
strong In Iowa.
Klein Denies Partisan Politics
The Farm Bureau Federation has both
Democratic and Republican members It Is
strong In the South. where its Republican
members are few and far between. It be-.
neves In . bipartisan or non-partisan ap-
proach to the farm problem. But it is strik-
ing 4sledge-hammer blows at the Brannan
plan today. ,9
Mr.. Kline denies fatty he is actuated by
partisan politics in the stand he takes He
brands as untrue the story that Gov. Dewey
promised to make him Secretary Of Agricul-
ture II Gov. Dewey were elected President.
He says he saw Gov. Dewey only once. and
then only to discuss the farm problem. He
takes shot, too at the report he was re-
sponSible for Agriculture Secretary Brannan's
not being invited to the annual Farm Bureau
Federation Convention last fall. He calls
attention to the fact that in nine years
Agriculture Secretaries have attended only
three such conventions, and Mr. Brannan
attended one OF them But he admits he
wouldn't have invited Secretary Branann If
the matter had been before him.