Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-08-16

The Democratic Party met
similar situations forthrightly in
the past with concrete, remedial
action. It has legitimate pride in
its consistent record Of initiating
and developing every construc-
tive program designed to protect
and conserve the human and
natural resources so vital to our
rural economy. These programs
enabled consumers to obtain
more abundant supplies Of high
quality food and fiber at reason
able prices while maintaining
adequate income for farmers and
improving the level Of family
living in rural areas.
Proposed Program
In order to regain the ground
lost during the Eisenhower adj
ministration. and in order better
to serve both consumers and
producers, the Democratic Party
pledges continuous and vigorous
support to the following policies:
Sponsor a positive and COM
Iprehensive program to conserve
our soil, water and forest re-
sources for future generations;
Promote Programs which will
protect and preserve the family
type farm as a bulwark of Amer
lean life and encourage farm
home ownership, including addi-
tional assistance to family farm
ers and young farmers in the
form Of specially designed credit
and price support programs,
technical aid, and enlarged soil
conservation allowances;
Maintain adequate reserves of
agricultural com m odities,
strategically located, for ma
tional security purposes. Such
stockpiles should be handled as
necessary strategic reserves, so
that farmers will not be penal
lied by depressed prices for their
deficiency and diligence in pro-
lducing abundance.
Prom tote international ex-
change Of commodities by Great
ing an international food reserve
fostering commodity agreements,
and vigorously administering the
International Trade and Devel-
opment Act.
Repeal the Eisenhower flexible,
collapsible price supports and
restore supports on basic COM
modities at 80 per cent of
parity, as provided in the bill
vetoed by President Eisenhower
and regain the full 100 per cent
of parity farmers received I'M
der Democratic administrations.
1--WE will achieve this by means
of commodity loans, direct pur-
chases. direct payments to pro-
ducers, marketing agreements
and orders, production adjust
ments, or combination of these
and other appropriate measures.
I Continue to advocate practical
measures for extending price
supports to feed grains and other
non-basic storables and to the
producers of perishable COM
modities such as meat, poultry,
dairy products, and the like.
Inaugurate a food stamp or
other supplemental food pro-
! gram administered by appro-
pirate State or local agencies to
insure that no needy family shall
be denied an adequate and
wholesome diet because of low
income.
A continuing expanded school
lunch and special milk program
to meet the dietary needs Of all
school, children.
1 Increase the distribution of
food to public institutions and
organizations and qualified pri-
Vate charitable agencies. and in.
crease the distribution of food
and fibre to needy people in
other nations through recognized
charitable and religious chan
nelS:
i Devise and employ effective
means to reduce the spread be-
tween producers prices and con-
sumers' costs, and improved
market facilities and marketing
practices:
Expand the program Of agri.
cultural research for better dis
Itribution. preservation and mar.
keting of farm products to serve
both producers and consumers
land promote increased indus.
trial use of farm SURPRISES;
Provide for an increased res.
ervoir of farm credit at lowei
rates. designed particularly tt
accommodate small family type
farmers, and extend crop in.
surance to maximum coverage
and protection;
Return the Administration Of
farm programs to'farmer- elected
committeeman, eliminate the de.
plorable political abuses II
Federal employment in man!
agricultural counties as practice(
lby the Eisenhower administra.
ton, and restore leadership II
the administration, and restori
leadership to the administration
Of soil conservation districts;
Insure reliable and low-coS
rural electric and telephone serv
ice;
Exercise authority in existini
law relating to imports Of price.
supported agricultural commodi
ties in raw, manufactured o.
processed form, as part Of ow
national policy to minimize dam.
age to our domestic economy;
Encourage bona fide farm co
operatives which help farmer
reduce the cost-price squeeze
and protect such cooperative
against punitive taxation;
Expand farm forestry market
ing research and price reporting
on timber products. and provid
adequate credit designed to NEE
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