Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-01-12

SdLtOn.
fiating the market price level.
The truth Of the matter is
that wage increases have not
substantially increased the per
unit price OF things that farm
ers buy. The cost of things
farmers buy has changed very
little in the past three years.
This is because Of rapid in
crease in output per man-hour
by labor.
Contrary to what Mr.. Fox
reports. farmers do not over
look the economic interde-
pendence between farmers and
city workers. Farmers cannot
prosper unless their major
group Of customers have jobs
at good wages.
We are particularly con-
cerned about Mr.. Foxs story
because it appears deliberately
contrived to give false i'm
preston. For example. Mr..
Fox doesn't even mention the
name of the National Farmers
Union. which is the Nations
fastest growing farm organi-
Zation, which has consistently
faced up to the political and
economic reality that farmers,
labor and small business men
must cooperate for legislation
OF mutual benefit to all. James
G. Patton. president Of the
National Farmers Union, gave
the farmers unions full sup
port to increasing the legal
minimum wage in hearings be-
fore Senator Paul Douglas
subcommittee last year. In
Idaho and other States. the
antilabor right to work laws"
were defeated. with farmers
taking the instrumental role
in their defeat. On the other
side Of the coin, Walter Reu-
ther testified, at the invitation
of Chairman Harold Cooley of
the House Agriculture Com
mittee. in favor Of legislation
to repeal the Benson sliding
scale ttermed flexible" price
supports although it flexes in
only the downward direction
when farmers most need in
come protection and to sub
stitute a program Of adequate
and dependable price supports.
The bill to strengthen farm
price supports passed the
House in 1855 with the affirm
alive votes Of many city Con-
gressmen. 1t could not have
passed without them-which
is a clue TO the administra-
tons motives in provoking
antagonism between farmers
and city people. Improved
farm income that would result
from this bill will mean more
jobs for working people in
the cities.
The increase in the mini
mum wage will be of primary
benefit to farmers and other
elements of the food process
ing and merchandising indus
try through increased pur-
chasing power Of low-income
families who have been unable
to buy adequate diets. AS a
matter Of fact, it won't benefit
organized union members di-
rectly. because their wage
levels are generally above the
minimum wage ALREADY.
l have travelled extensively
throughout farm communities
of the United States during
the past four months. I have
talked with more than a thou
sand farmers during this time.
With hog prices lowering
around IL cents per pound. the
administrations effort to make
labor its scapegoat while
avoiding action to help the
farmers is an undeserved in
suit to the intelligence OF
farm people. Almost without
exception, the farmers have
talked with during the past
four months realize that the
key to their difficulties is a
Secretary of Agriculture who
has supported and executed
depressing agricultural
policies Numerically opposed
to the interests of farmers.
Reuben johnson.
National Farmers Union.
Editors Note--The article
to which Mr.. johnson objects
was a factual presentation re-
fiecting the attitude of the
American Farm Bureau Fed
Grafton and the National
Grange, the country's major
farm groups. as expressed in
resolutions adopted at their
annual conventions. The
article included also the argu-
ments advanced by spokesman
for the viewpoint expressed by
Mr. johnson. notably organ
ICED labor.)