Milford chronicle., 1953-04-03
Horse
s Ms
An Editorial
in The Christian Science Monitor

The current warm debate over farm prices and
policies should clear the air-which, as Senator
Aiken says can stand some clearing. 1t should helm
the public to understand better the special prob
lens OF the farmers. And it should help the farmers
to decide who are their real friends.
Most farmers want two things: Freedom from
federal regimentaton, and a governmental floor
under prices Like most folk they hope for the best
OF both worlds-no control by Washington but aid
from Washington to prevent hardship.
I A good many authorities believe the farmers can
nave both freedom and AOor-provided the floor is
not too high But few who have studied the question
believe there can be any real freedom for American
agriculture if the farmers-or politicians who DIR
port to represent them-insst on price SUPPORTS at
high level
I 1hls is something to remember in the midst of
excited cries that the farmers are being ruined and
senatorial demands that President Eisenhower
fire" Secretary Benson.
When farm prices are falling it is not strange that
men who claim to speak for farmers should be ask
ing federal aid But it is strange that the loudest
complaints come from cotton, wheat and corn sena-
torS' FOR those commodities are guaranteed price
support at go per cent of parity through 1854.
1t is hard to believe that growers of those CROPS
are being ruined" at that price level Indeed there
is more reason to believe that at 90 Der cent Of
parity surpuSes will be produced that will cost the
government next year nearly $1,000, 100000. AL
ready the government holds ST ,OOO, 900 worth
OF Surpuses which are expected TO spoil or be de-
Stroyed or sold at great loss.
FOR several years war shortages and the foreiqn
aid program have provided foreign markets which
are now disappearing. If this trend continues the
present price support program could encourage the
PIooucuon OF continuing surpluSes which would
eventually become an impossible load on the gov
eminent If that happens Washington will insist on
crop quotas or other methods by which the sur
puseS it must buy can be restricted.
Ahat means governmental regimentation and a
great increase in federal bureaucracy. Abnormal
experience in the last few years has tempted farmers
10 believe that they can get high price supports
without government controls. But the history of
American agriculture does not support that dream.
The natural control is by competition and price
declines when surpluseS occur. This is often verv
rough, and the farmers should have some aid from
government to insure against disaster. But rigid
price controls at high levels remove the brakes on
Surpluses. Unless the government is to have some
other means of preventing surpuses-which means
telling farmers how much they can produce-then
surpluses can become ruinous to farmers and oov-
eminent alike
Many farmers know this. The bulk of the farmers
who speak through organizations are on record
against rigid high price supports-and repimenta-
uon Producers OF meat don't like high grain prices
Producers of perishables see little hope for work.
able price supports Probably it is small propor-
ton OF farmers who back the political demands for
nigh supports Butn time of falling prices millions
naturally become uneasy and many are Iured bv
the siren song of subsidies
We do not believe the politicos who sing that song
are the true friends of the farmers We believe the
genuine friends are those who, like Secretary
Benson, declare couragcou3y that federal price
supports can only be a -EOor aqanc4 disaotar MOI