Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-09-23
Bid for the Farmer

Of all groups in the electorate.
the farmer is getting the closest
and most devoted attention from
both parties.
On Friday, Mr.. Eisenhower few
to Newton, Iowa. where the ma
tional blowing contest is being held
this year, and was greeted by some
100000 persons. He spoke briefly
and extemporaneously He plans a
'major address" on the farm prob
lem in Peoria. ILL.,, on Tuesday,
when he is expected to defend his
farm policies generally and flexible
price supports specifically.
In Iowa, Mr.. Eisenhower barely
mentioned the farm problem and
what he hopes to do about it. He
spoke, instead, of his boyhood on
the farm, his brothers interest in
soil conservation, the musicianship
of two bands that greeted him, and
the pillow as a symbol of peace.
Again, it was a candidate pre-
scented as an all-purpose President.
His failure to deal with farm policy
also pointed up the administrations
determination to consider the farm
ers not as a special group outside
the jurisdiction of economic law,
but rather as part of the general
economy to be treated as such.
Whether or not the farm voter &C
cepts such a position in the eco
nomic community may determine
the extent of G. o. P. success in
farm areas.
Yesterday afternoon, Mr.. Steven
son journeyed to Newton to deliver
his appeal for the farm vote. AS
was expected, he assailed the EiSen-
hover farm program and recited
the stock evidence showing how low
the poor farmer has fallen.
Mr.. Stevenson offered solutions,
none sure, none quick and easy, to
the agricultural problem. He again
proposed a food stamp plan, similar
to the program in operation from
1899 to 1943, under which the Gov
eminent distributes stamps good
for buying surplus foodStuffs to
families on public relief. Earlier
this year, the Senate Finance Com
mittee rejected the proposal, and
Secretary of Agriculture Ezra Taft
Benson says he is opposed to 1t
except during a depression. Mr..
Stevenson also suggested world
food bank, an idea which origi-
mated with Senator w. Kerr Scott,
Democrat of North Carolina. Under
this plan nations with surplus food
and fiber would deposit in the bank
some of their surplus, which would
be drawn upon by hungry nations.
Many observers are convinced the
farm revolt" of last spring is over.
Certainly the situation now is not
as depressing as it was then, when
the memory of Sill hogs was still
fresh and bitter in the minds of
many farmers. Since that time
there have been a number of boosts
to farm morale. There have been
soil bank payments at time when
the money was most needed. Also
since last spring President Eisen-
hover has fixed farm price supports
at levels substantially higher than
those which had been in operation,
bringing Republican flexible" sup
ports almost to the level Of the
Democratic-prop rigid" sup
ports. Further, the mountains of
surplus crops held by the Govern
ment have been disappearing rap
idly-in some cases going out faster
than they are coming in.
But. in the final analysis. the
Midwest farm vote will depend to
a large degree on the price of hogs
Immediately before election day.
Hog prices are now around a top
OF $3.50. compared with SIT at
this time last year. Some agricul-
tursl experts believe the prices will
have to hold to near SIT If the