The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1953-12-04
Regardless of Benson,
Agriculture Deserves Fair
Share of National Income

agriculture deserves FaIr
Share of National Income
Lindsay, Mont.
Glendive Daily Ranger
Ken Byerly, Publisher
| Dear Mr.. Byerly:
On the editorial page of the Ranger,
under the heading. "As We See It."
your article, please Keep the Cow"
brings a question to my mind. wonder
what you are referring to?
The quotation you use-"The Lord
helps those who helps themselves
has a very familiar ring, similar to
the many utterances Secretary of Ag-
riculture Ezra Taft Benson, the high
light being when he told the farmers
in his ST. Paul speech not to set their
sights on the dollar
This talk threw a panic into the
minds of, the farmers of this country:
many of us are wondering if 1930-32
is going to be repeated.
From President Eisenhewer's speech
at Kasson, Mimi: Here and now, with
out and ifs or butts, say to you that
party stands behind-the amendment
to the basic Farm Act to continue
through 1854 the price supports on
basic commodities at 80 per cent of
parity.
I firmly believe that agriculture is
tional income. A fair share is not mere
ly 80 per cent of parity, but full
parity"
Was this only a prediction prom
Use to be scuttled after 1854 for fleX-
ible so to 90 per cent as it seems Sec
rotary Benson is advocating?
All of these high sounding phrases
of parity in the market place, and let
the law of supply and demand function
are old stuff.
1t is A years ago this week since
arrived on the homestead on which I
under this formula. And I dread to
think of what is going to happen to
the nation if we ever go back to that
kind of prosperity.
Last fall the press reported: aboard
Eisenhower Special Train - General
Dwight D. Eisenhower, hugely enjoy
ing waves of laughter, blistered Presi-
dent Truman again Monday on a wide
range of campaign issues. After all,
said he, there was a very prosperous
United States a long, long time before
the New Deal "
Let's go back to the Golden Twenties
of the Coolidge administration, which
were the years of the bonanza times.
L have before me statement of
from the Chicago Commission !
Co. of Miller White and Woods dated
Tuesday, Oct. 27, 1925, for a carload of
cattle consisting of 80 head which net
ted me $722.10. AT that time, [ talked
to an Iowa feeder who had a carload !
of prime Angus feed steers He said
he was offered nine cents a pound and
that he would have to have at least IA |
cents to break even.
5n 1912, Congress passed the Stea
gall amendment which for the first
time in our history supported farm
prices at 80 per cent of parity.
We have had no depression since
1912 except for the minor recession in
l949 resulting from the lapse of Con-
gress in accepting the 60-90 per cent
price support. ''..
Last winter while in Billings,4I at
-ended the Farm Institute sponsored
~ the Billings Chamber of Commerce.
Earl H. wilkins economic analyst,
Raw Material Council. His topic was
Stake in Price Supports"
Farm income protects industry's mar
let Our rural territories are the re-
iproca1 market of American industry
The farmers are not the only ones
Who benefit from 80 per cent of parity.
'he businessman and laborer has
take in the ,solvency of the farmer.
IS Mr.. wilkins continuously keeps re-
,eating: ,
1.-THE nation has had an average of
of national income for each 81 of ,
ross farm income. Furthermore, when :
yer the gross farm income dropped
l we have taken loss of approx
nately 81 in national income.
'In like manner, we must have g
rice level that keeps wages, commodi- !;
V prices and business operating mar :
.ins in a normal balance.
Under the Constitution, Congress
as the right to determine the value :
f the dollar To stabilize prices is not
ocialistic. 1t becomes socialiStic, how =
yer, when government controls pro- :
uction and tries to allocate equal q
hares in the whole. Stable commodity .
rices mean a stable dollar"
[ notice the Minnesota state legisla-
ure recently passed a joint resolu- >
ion unanimously asking Congress to :,
Import prices at parity. This resolu- I
ion was signed by the Republican :,
overnor, C. Elmer Anderson. =
This is NOT a political issue! :
1t means solvency or bankruptcy of :
ne nation after Korea.
THEO J. JOHNSON,
Former Dawson County Senator, :
Lindsay Montana :