The Glacier reporter. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1953-current, 1954-02-26
FARM PROGRAM
STILL HOT ISSUE

JILL 0UI ISSUE
Washington, Feb. 22.-Sccrc.
tary of Agriculture Ezra Taft
Benson's assertions before Con-
gress recently that he was conf.
! dent most of the Eisenhower
farm program wauld pass. and
his statement that a great major.
ity of of republicans, plus some
democrats were behind the flcx.
ible support system. we're brave
statements.
The Secretary is fighting a
host of opponents on Capitol Hill
including the chairman of the
House Agricultural committee. of
his own party. on many of the
proposals contained in the Ad.
minisatration's farm program,
Like he found last year. when
he made controversial speech
in the north central part of the
central part of the country. farm
ers are slow to change their
minds, but not any slower than
congressman. And Benson has
gone so far he cant turn back.
He stands by his proposal for
flexible price supports Though
he knows he is walking into
storm. he is walking on in. any
how.
The Secretary has courage. But
he may be optimistic The latcs,
from inside both house and sen.
ate committees indicate he will
not get his flexible price supper,
program. The suspicion is that
Congress will write its own bill
covering the level of price sup
ports.
II this is done and the law is
passed by good majority in
each house. the Sccrctary's pc.
sition could become hot one
this fall. \cvert h cless. he
would not be a rinch to get the
boot. President Eisenhower.
like Presidnet Truman. is slow to
kick anybody off his team merely
because what he is doing isn't
popular. II Ike had wanted to
boot Benson. the time was ripe in
1858
Yet If Bcnson's ideas fall on
deaf ears in Congress and he can.
not get his program through. his
effectiveness may be limited.
These are questions which vii!
not have to be answered today
but which will have to be answer.
cd in the coming months.
Meanwhile the secretary is IN
q tough position. lie is pushing
q program congress seems unlike.
~ to accept. He says supper, for
It are growing. but there are
those who wonder. He is having
TO face opposition from powerful
legislative sources. includi II .
many Of his own party's top men
iE Congress. And the chorus of
dissent from the farms Is not dl.
minishins.
1t is not an easy seat to be sit,
ting on. The President feels for
his man. but he also knows tina,
lie may cost the Republican party
votes. II is a delicate situation
all the way around. and canno,
persist indefinitely.
The major lesson learned by
the State department at Berlin
was that the Russians have
changed little. In their foreign
policy aspirations since the death
Of Joseph Stain. The frs, in.
ternational conference since IN.
death Of Uncle Joe brought the
same disgusting pcrforman CO
from '. NJ. Molotov rs have all
the rest since World War land
even during that conflict.
Even Dwight y. F.iScnhowcr>
atom pool plan was only talked
around IN n circle. II was ob.
vious that the Reds came to the
conference table hoping To come
away with plums like they won
al ialta. In this hope. however,
they were disappointed TN,
western powers weren't ha,Ing
any Of that: they were ready 10
conrrdr no major points
II also seems oh, iu,iS that Moi
otov Is almost rntircl. ~ charge
OF tSSR foreign affairs IA sad
and disappointing rr,cla'in
Malenkov. the fat boy. srru, T."
he dealing the cards uindrr the
table only IN domestic ATTAIN,
AS long rs Molntov Is the r,lirrg
hand behind SOvir, foreign pui
icy the tniiccd States won't rx
poet anything IN the way of nm
prOtcnicnt. That's the conrlu,
ION drawn from the Berlin NEE,
! ----~----~---.---
There's . Difference
When father is sick he rspcr,s
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