The Farmville herald. (Farmville, Va.) 1957-current, 1957-11-01
Farm SURPRISES Remain Prime
Question In National Elections
t. D. WHITAKER.

Washington. Oct. 29-Probably the
most undereshmated problem fac
ing the Administration today is the
farm problem. Because business has
been enjoying good times. the farm
problem has seemed less acute than
it Is. But it is very real.
| Voters will hear lot about il in
the 1858 congressional elections and
| in the 1860 presidential election.
The Democrats are all for returning
to high parity price support. and
they have an impressive case. when
you listen to their side.
A Hand for the Farmer
Now that business is beginning to
slow a bit. conditions on the farms
will become even more important
to the economy as a whole. Yet the
farmer isn't getting his share of the
national income and everyone knows
it Democrats and Republicans.
The opposition party today is the
Democratic Party and it Is only
natural that the bulk Of the criti-
cism Of the Department of Agricul-
lures policies would come from
Democrats. However. there is also
criticism from Republicans. A n d
there is support from Republicans.
too
Chairman Harold Cooley tD-NCi
Of the House Agriculture Committee
put his finger on the problem re-
Gently. both in speeches and \in
written arguments. by pointing out
that for l years in succession. prior
to 1858 when the Democrats were
in power average prices paid to
farmers were at or above 100 per
cent Of Parity.
Cooley Versus Benson
Yet since the Republicans have
been IN control Of the government.
Cooley says farm prices have been
as follows: 1858 ~ per cent: 1854
80 per cent. 1855 "a per cent.
1856 SO per cent Of parity This is
what is wrong with the farm econ
ony Democrats argue. Price sup
ports must be brought up so that
the farmer viii get more Of the
national income.
Certainly the farmer is the IN
fortunate element of the population.
The per capita income of people
living On farms was 1889 in 1856.
The average for those not living on
farms was 5000. And whereas farm
people constituted 1872 per cent OF
the population in 1856. they received
only 6-3 per cent of the national
income.
Secretary Of Agriculture Benson
that all is peachy on the farm these
days. But they differ on what can
be done about it and how. The atti-
tude Of some in the department. that
the little independent farm is
thing Of the past. disturbs Demo
Gratis and some Republicans and is
a hot point of controversy-even in
Washington. and even sometimes in
the department itself.
But Benson blames Democratic
policies over the years for the huge
surplus OF food products which the
government has bought and holds,
which ID turn holds down the prices
Of farm products, accoring to his
theory.
Benson is. however, guilty OF some
undue optimism in the past. especi-
ally IN the 1856 election. when be
predicted that the corner had been
turned and the farmers plight was
getting better now that COP poll
cies had been tried.
The 1858 Election
Jill short, it seems that Benson
and the Republican Administration S
farm program will come under
heavy fire in the 1853 elections and
If the farmers share OF the national
income is not increased and prices
paid him brought nearer to the
parity price. serious effects might
be felt 10 the agricultural sections OF
the country BY the Republicans.
The sou hank program Is adlnt
tedly not working like II had bern
hope and Congress seemed inclined,
at TIE last session tn do away With
II II the future II the soil bank pro
gram. rhlch costs lot Of money.
Is eliminated. something else viii
probably take its place.
Some body Is Wrong
democrats claim that they held
prices Up for the farmers for eleven
years prior 70 1858 BY spending very
little money and that they spent less
in these years than the Republicans
have spent since 1859 So the farm