Milford chronicle., 1957-11-22
Rep. Haskell Says
Mcdowell Gives
Wrong Impression

U. S. Rep. Harry G. Haskell, Jr.,
(R-Del.) charged "wednesday of
this week that former Congress-
man Harris B. Mcdowell, Jr., is
spreading a false picture about the
farm situation here in Delaware
and throughout the country.
Speaking to the Active Young
Republicans of New Castle County
at their weekly meeting in the Ho-
tel Rodney, Mr.. Haskell hit back
at a farm speech made by Mr. Nc
Dowell last week, in Smyrna.
81 have purposely refrained from
answering the political attacks
made by Mr.. Mcdowell" said Mr..
Haskell. 1T is my conviction that
between campaigns there should
be a minimum of political argu-
ment and a maximum of political
unity for the best interests of all
the people.
''Mr. Mcdowell is certainly en-
titled to expires his opinion, but
when he starts spreading untruths
about farmers or any other group,
it is necessary in my judgment to
correct the record. He said in
effect that the farm policies of the
Eisenhower Administration had
wrecked the farmer. Farmers are
certainly not yet receiving their
full share of the national prosper
ity.
In his speech, Mr.. Mcdowell said
80 nf
culture Benson caused % per
cent loss o. income to the farmer
from 1852 to 1857.
There is one thing that should
be clearly understood right here,
said Mr.. Haskell. 1.-The agricultural
policies OF the present administra-
tion are based on laws that were
not passed until 1854, and they did
not go into effect until the crop
year of 1855.
"It is therefore completely in
accurate for anyone to state that
the policies of Mr.. Benson caused
a 25 per cent loss of income to
the farmer from 1852 to 1857. Both
the percentage figure and the dates
are in error.
Actually, farm income in the
United States and especially in
Delaware has been constantly on
the, rise since the present admin
stration's policies went into effect in
1855, Mr.. Haskell stated.
Referring to the national scene,
the Delaware Congressman. point
ed out that in 1855 the realized net
farm income was 81, ,6O0,000,000. In
1857, he said citing figures from the
United States Department of Agri-
culture, the stimated figure is
$12, 100, 100000, or an increase of
so per cent.
"And that's a far cry from a loss
of % per cent.
Delaware Jared even better than
the national average, the Con-
gressman pointed out. "In 1866, the
net income Delaware farms was
about $22,0OO,000. In 1856, it was
up to $27,00O,0O0. The Delaware
figures for 1857 in this category
are not yet available" he con-
tinued, "but based on the gross
farm income for the State, the
trend will continue upward.
"In the United States as A whole,
the gross farm income rose from
$33, 200, 100000 in 1856 to an esti-
mated $35, 100, 100000 in 1857. That's
an increase of almost per cent.
And this is the third highest gross
income year on record for the ma
ton. The only years that exceeded
it were 1851 and 1852, Korean War
years.
"The gross farm income for Del
aware farms, meanwhile" he con-
tinued, "rose from $101, 100000 in
1856 to S112,OO0,0O0 in 1856"
Mr.. Haskell explained that the
1857 figures for gross farm income
in Delaware are incomplete.
But in the period between jan
uary and July of this year." Mr..
Haskell said, "Delaware's gross