Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-09-02

5000 votes, This year. the Senator
has said he will not bolt.
In addition to the Knoxville
meeting and the final>conference in
Chicago, Mr.. Stevenson and Sena-
tor Kefauver conferred with party
leaders and shook hands assiduously
in Santa Fe, N. Mex; Portland,
Greg, and Sioux CITY. Iowa.
Mr.. Stevenson wound up the week
with a suggestion that, in the in
terest of fair play and national
security, he should receive special
briefings on Government intelli-
gence during the campaign. He
said he needed them in order to
comment intelligently on foreign
policy. The White House. through
Presidential Press Secretary James
Hagerty, Immediately said that
President Eisenhower will offer his
opponent briefings on foreign af-
fairs.
Attention for the Former
On their travels. Mr.. Stevenson
and Senator Kefauver devoted
considerable attention to stirring
the embers under the farm issue.
which promises to remain hot
through election day.
AS a political talking point. the
farm issue has the advantage of
clear-cut difference of position be-
tween the parties-something not
as common this year as before.
Republicans maintain that the
farmer is better off than he has
peen for some time. and that his
lot will improve all along-espe-
cially if he sticks with the Repub-
licans. They point to improved
farm prices since December as
proof, and promise that soil bank
payments. which will begin soon
will bolster the entire agricultural
economy. Further, argue the Re-
publicans. farm assets, now put at
S170,1 billion, are the highest in
history. The Republican National
Committee. cites as evidence of the
lack of farm discomfort the fact
that Agriculture Secretary Ezra
Taft Benson is in great demand as
campaign speaker in farm areas.
Democrats answer that their Re-
ublican opponents are just whis-
ling to keep up courage. The farm
,rice rise, they say. is only slight,
and Furthermore, is seasonal and
will not hold to current levels once
the marketing season begins this
fall. Soil bank payments this
year, they maintain, for the most
part will help only the large farm
operators. many of whom have al
ways been inclined to vote Repub-
lican. The Democrats argue that
the administration own figures
show the farmer is getting short
changed while the rest of the
economy is enjoying unprecedented
prosperity These figures show
that net farm income has dropped
1879 per cent since 1858; that the
farmers share of the food dollar is
down from As cents in 1858 to SO
cents today; that his costs are up
per cent this year. and that his
debts climbed more than a billion
dollars last year and still are rising
President Returns to Town
President Eisenhower returned
on Tuesday from a long week end
at Pebble Beach, Calf, where he
golfed and relaxed from the rigors
of the previous convention week.
Vice President Nixon also was rest
ing in New Jersey and preparing
for the big push ahead, which will
find him doing most of the pushing
The President held a news con-
ference on Friday at which he re-
affirmed his resolve not to go
transforming or whistle stopping
for votes. He said, however. that
he would place his whole record be-
fore the people for a decision.
Earlier in the week Mr.. Hagerty
had revealed that his boss was mo
revealed that his boss was mo
longer a convalescent," and added
that Mr.. Eisenhower will begin his
campaign in mid-September and
definitely win campaign in "areas"
where Republicans might need his
support. Originally the President
had planned only few TV speeches
during the campaign.