The Omaha guide., 1956-03-23
kefuuver's S Food Stump Plan
Would Ease The Plight Of
Urban and Rural Negroes

west speeches, this week, proposed
amendments to the farm bill which
would directly affect the Negro
city dweller who is feeling the
pinch Of unemployment and high
food prices.
Under bis overall farm program,
the Negro stands to profit most
through the consideration given
the family-type farmer.
Carrying his bid for the Dem
ocratic presidential nomination in
to Iowa, the Senator declared: Il
am sick and tired of hearing the
Secretary Of Agriculture moan a.
bout 'overburdening surpluses' and
blaming the farmers woes on
them"
This is significant in view Of
the many areas where Negroes are
applying for relief to meet the
bare necessities Of subsistence
food and clothing"
The Senator does not believe
we car afford to classify these
food surplu5es as burden, since
there are many ways they can
serve to relieve suffering at home
and make friends abroad.
Under the Senator's Food Stamp
Plan, the Secretary Of Agriculture
would be authorized to issue food
stamps through regular state well
fare agencies. Such stamps would
be redeemable for food on the sur
plus list at stores participating in
the plan.
he says. ANY of those who are
receiving benefits or assistance
under the program Of old-age as
sistance, Federal Old-Age and Sur
vivors Insurance Benefits, aid to
dependent children, aid to the
blind, and aid to permanently and
totally disabled viii be eligible for
food stamps"
The Urban Negro is particularly
aware Of the need for the distri-
button Of surplus food in a manner
which will reach the thousands
who are on the rolls Of the agen-
cies listed.
These statements by the Senator
will be met by opposition in many
quarters. However, the Senator
has the evidence to refute the op-
timists who claim that everyone in
our nation has plenty to eat. He
cites as an example member of a
group which operates a center for
assisting the needy in Washington.
He brought along some of the
letters that they receive daily
grubby. grimy, written on torn
pieces Of paper with pencil" the
Senator said, and quoted from the
letters:
VIII you please send me food
order. My children haven't had
anything to eat all day long and
VIII you send some food please be-
cause / have five children.
VIII you please send me some
food. l have six children. l will
appreciate anything you can send
me Thank you"
The Senator concludes: 1--WE cal
culate that there are about Is
million persons in the United
States who would qualify for use
of the food stamp plan"
On the other side of the surplus
food problem, the Negro farmer
stands with other farmers. The
Senator included in his speeches
the following statements which d.
rectly affect the Negro farmer.
i intend to propose that we
nave lcJ per cent price supports
from those farms showing revenue
of $1,000 or less; 90 per cent on in
come between $1,000 and $4,000;
rs per cent up to $4,000. This
graduation viii give the major
benefit to the family-type farmer
instead of the big ones.
Right now hogs are selling, /
believe, at around SO per cent. If
we set the minimum level at 90
per cent, then we would be say
ing, in very rough figures, that the
income Of the hog farmers would
be increased by around 80 per cent.
] think that's the kind of vital as
sistance you need"
The keystone of Senator Kefau-
ver's farm proposals is aid to the
family-type farmer.