Tabor City tribune. (Tabor City, N.C.) 1946-1991, 1956-02-08
Bankers Magazine
Concerned BY Farm,
Income Decrease

RALEIGH - Democrats and
Republicans may be at each 9TH
crS' threats in this hot election
lyear-but there's one thing or
which they apparently agree
Americas farmers are in baG
shape
They disagree to some extent
however, on just how bad the
farmers plight really is.
The February issue of The
Tarheel Banker, official publ
cation of the North Carolina
Bankers Association, carries
articles written by a host OF
farm leaders, State and national
The comments range from thai
OF Secretary of Agriculture
Benson, who pledges a study OF
the price margins between the
producer and the consumer" tc
that of NJ. G.. Mann, head Of the
n. c. Cotton Growers Coopera-
tive Association, who says that
the nation needs a new doctor
to cure the nations farm illness
Here are some of the views as
voiced by the farm leaders in
1.-The bankers magazine:
Secretary Benson: Farm in
ICCmc nd national income
should move in the same direc-
uon American farmers pro-
duced a record volume of crops
CAST year, The purchasing
power of farmers must not be
ALLOWED to continue its down
ward course"
BenSen charged that the far
EmerS' plight was emphasized by
a round of wage increases lin
Industry and an increase in the
cost of machinery and other
equipment" Benson said that he
would like to determine "how
well these were justified in
view OF diminishing farm in
come"
Benson advanced the "soil
bank program, coupled with
increased use of farm products
as ways which the Administra-
ton seeks to head off the down
ward economic trend of the far
IrlerS. Said he: I'VE are inflexi-
bic in our determination to re-
store the purchasing power OF
agriculture through sound polio
les which will remain valid over
1.-The long pull"
| U. S. Senator Allen J. Ellend-
Ter (D-LaD, chairman of the
Senate Agriculture Committee
says that American agricult-
,urc. especially the small farmer
is in a dangerous situation" He
sees the possibility of another
IgrCat depression if something
isn't done to curb the decline ir
farm income.
/ Ellendcr promises that the
S. nate will receive three.
'.p ung"d farm bill which woulc
.|CD expand the program of sur.
Plus disposal. (2) stimulate tn,
production Of "high-quality
readily salablc commodities. :
END 81 some form of soil fcrt.
.|ility bank"
But Ellcnder says the job can.
OF be done entirely by lcgisla.
ion. He calls for labor and in.
.dIstry TO Join hands with agri.
.ICLlturc in seeking the causes o.
.,,day's farm depression"
I Rep. Harold y. Cooley o. NC
says that eve find ourselves
forced 10 act IN an atmosphcr,
.oi emergency" Cooley. chair.
man Of the House Agricuitur,
Committee. began by saying
'hat Hard times have settled
,a"ain on the farms Of America.
Then he proceeds with criticism
',of Secretary Benson and dc.
tense of mandatory rigid sup.
lDortS. Cooley charges that Sec.
rctary Benson's program "ha.
.ail-d utterly He put hi,
IwnolC reliance on flexible OF
ever prices for farmers"
Said Cooley: The President
/ us present d Mr.. Benson,
new program to the Congress
1T there is little that is new in
e.. That makes the job bcforr
,ongr,. v.rv difficult" Coolc,
$50 called for all scgmcnts O
Q American economy to COOP
rate in helping solve the farm
problem.
L. Y. Ballcntina, N. c. Com
missioner Of Agriculture, secs
little room for optimism in thie
years agricultural outlools -