Evening star., 1955-10-26
By JOHN '. HoRNER

BY JOHN v. HORNER
Secretary Of Agriculture Benz
son, central figure in the Nation
wide controversy over farm poll
icies and prices. charged today
that politicians are deliberately
stirring things up.
"A determined effort Is being
made to paint the picture hlncker
than it really Il. Z the soft-sp oxen
Secretary declared, sIt is tlue
that farmers have not shared
fully in the prosperity. But there
are many bright and encourag-
ing aspects. "
Generally speaking. Mr. Ben-
son said. agriculture Is not IN q
depressed condition.
Program Is Sound
Furthermore. he predicted The
American voters in 1856 viii be
convinced that the Republican
agriculture program is sound.
Some leading Democrats have
been making political capital ont
ok farmer complaints about De-
clinihg income Adlai E. Steven
son and Gov. Hartman Of New
York, both Of whom are pros
pective candidates TOR the Denn-
pcratic nomination. are adyo-
eating high rigid price supports
Is d remedy.
IN an interview, Secretary
Benson told The Star he is more
convinced than ever before that
the present flexible support pol
icy Is correct. This presumably
4 the view he win express to
President Eisenhower Saturday
when he confers with him In
Denver.
I'VE can't 60 back to the rigid
program. ? he said. 'sIt Is bad
Tor agriculture. I don't care
what political pressure builds UP.
we're not going to be stampeded
into an unsound program.
Mr.. Benson contends high.
rigid supports artificaIly stimu-
late excessive production. lead To-
huge stoclxpiling and cause farm
commodities TO be priced out Of
the market.
Need More Flexibility
The Secretary believes that
more fiexibility - not less Isl
needed BY agriculture. Under
the administration program. the
basic crops of wheat. cotton.
corn. rice. peanuts and tobacco
are supported on q scale between
82.5 per cent Of parity and 30 per
cent
Next year the scale win range
from Is to 80 per cent.
Parity is q formula designed tol
give farmers q fair return on
their products in relation to farm
costs.
Secretary Benson said the ef-I
fects OF rigid supports in the past
were "deplorable" and that any
changes proposed by this ad-I
miniStration win be In the same
direction it Is now going with the
flexible formula.
Most of the things we need
will come within the framework
Of our broad program" he said.
noting that the policy was
drawn after careful study Of the
whole agriculture situation, by oil
non-partisan group cf citizens.
He has not reached firm con-
clusions with respect to recon-
mendations to the next session
Of Congress. Progress along this
line viii be accelerated when the
National Agriculture Advisory
COMMITTEES meets December II.
Conservation Emphasis
Mr.. henson said he will con-
tinue pushing the rural develop
Inent program for low-income
farmers. work on q new scale
Of supports for the various
grades Of wheat and possibly
cotton. Greater emphasis may
be placed on conservation and
growing Of grass crops.
The idea OF a soil fertility
''hank" Is still under study, Mrsl
Benson said. Under this plan
farmers would be paid to take
some Of their land out Of pro-
duction and building up Its soil
for use later. Thus, they would
receive income while surpluses
~ere being reduced,
Mr.. Benson said the Agricul-
ture Department and the advis-
sorry committee had considered |
q number Of variations OF the
proposal but had reached mol
final conclusion. Such d pro-
gram looks attractive, he con-
ceded. but its complications could |
prove dangerous. It is therefore
necessary TO explore the subject
fully before reaching a decision. |
he added. Il
Despite Democratic criticism, /
the Secretary insisted the recent /