The journal. (Caldwell, Ohio) 1934-1961, 1958-11-06
with Rep. John Henderson


tinuation of the battle of philoso-
phies for national agriculture
policy. The number of agricul-
ture bills introduced in the House
of Representatives scared to 897,
all intending to improve the lot
of the American farmer. Partisan
debates was by no means limit
ed to the Congress itself with
the Committees on Agriculture
of the House and Senate serving
as forum for the expression of
opinions by farm organizations,
individual farmers, the Depart
ment Of Agriculture, and other
interested persons and groups
In the last two years, the Agri-
culture Committee Of the House
was divided into 19 subcom-
mittees which conducted 543
hearings and study session listen
ing to testimony running into
millions of words.
The contending points of view
involved the arguments from
those who felt that the Federal
government should loosen its
control over American farmers
as opposed to those who would
provide stronger price supports
for basic crops even though it
involved the necessity of tighten
ing regulations and controls by
Washington. 1t was argued that
small farmers were entangled in
controls which left them little
freedom to run their own affairs
and, in return, received little or
no direct benefits from price
supports. The opponents Of this
point of view countered that
with crop prices held high by
government supports, all farm
ers profited, even though the
profit might be indirect.
Last years battles were fought
fiercely on each side, reducing
the possibility of clear and bene-
ficial legislation. A presidential
veto stopped one bill which
would have reduced Federal
authority to lower price supports.
Subsequently a new version of
this bill was enacted maintain
ing the non-controversial fea-
lures and providing additional
authority to cut supports on cot
ton, corn, and rice in future
years.
Throughout the debate, it ap-
peared that Congressional action
this year was dress rehearsal
for farm legislation next year.
These arguments seem to reflect
the differences of opinion among
farmers themselves since at
titudes very markedly among
different sections of the country.
Those differences have powerful
and articulate spokesmen in
Washington assuring that the
great conflict over the direction
agriculture policy should go is
assured of continuing into 1859.
Un-American Activities
The Un-American Activities
lCommittee of the House has been
characterized in terms of praise
and criticism for its investiga-
tions of activities which would
impair or overthrow our form
of government. Since World War
III, the Committee has concentrat-
ed much of its work on the
operation Of the Communist
| party in America. It's aim is larg-
ely to alert the people of tn
continuing dangers by constant
study and publication Of its find
ings.
During the past year, the COM
mittee has issued a series Of
studies showing how the Com
munist party is working to col
onize" many segments of Ameri-
can life. With the party operat-
ing underground more than ever
before, witnesses before the COM
mittee have pointed out that the
conspiracy is strong. Although
the party has fewer members
today, those that remain are the
hard core of dedicated revolu-
tionarieS. The movement is made
stronger by the wedding out of
weaklings, less dedicated per-
sons, as well as those who do not
readily accept Communist party
dicipline DICTATED by Moscow.
The committees publications
are particularly enlightening,
especially those devoted to the
backgrounds of some of the
members of World Communism's
second team" operating today
behind the iron curtain and in
the free world. The intrigues,
double dealing, and ruthlessness
of these leaders describe in
graphic terms the moral malign-
ancy of Communism. For those
who might wish to read any of
these publications, l have a
limited supply of them which I
will be pleased to furnish on re-
quest.