The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1961-03-24
A WASHINGTON "WHO's WHO"

Speakers at the NFU convention
read like a Who's Who in Washing
ton, and they made major pronounce
ments on many foreign and domestic
issues.
4 Besides Freeman, the roster OF
speakers included Food for Peace Di.
rector George McGovern; Chester
Bowles, Undersecretary of State
Kenneth Holum, Assistant Secretary
of Interior; John A. Baker, Director
of Agricultural Services; world-fameo
reporter Marquis Childs; DIR. Juan
Greene, president of the Farmers
Association of Ireland; DR.. L. A.
Wheeler of the international Fedora
ton of Agricultural Producers; NFU
President James Patton; Secretary
Treasurer Tony T. Dechant, and Ed.
Christensen, president of the Mime
sofa Farmers Union.
Vice President Lyndon johnson
dropped in on the convention just be-
fore it adjourned. He said Gin union
there is strength and we're glad there
is Farmers Union"
He said s'This Administration is
determined and dedicated to see that
farmers get their rightful place in
the sum-"
McGovern praised Farmers I'm
ion for helping to make food for
peace reality and refusing to be-
lieve that farm production is ''bur-
densome surplus.
Using food for peace twill return
rich dividends" McGovern said. "But
if these reserves of food and fiber
are used unwisely; indeed, if they
are not used at all, our reputation
abroad will suffer. We will have said
to the world: We have mastered the
technology of production, but we are
baffled by the complexity of distri-
BUTTON
Bowles warned that "the chal-
lenge which confronts us Ameri-
cans as we enter the 1905 is far
greater in terms of its long-term
consequences than anything man
kind has ever known before"
He said America needs a fresh, |
bold approach to world problems, say
ng ''for the first time in history, we
possess the technical means to pro-
luce more meaningful and prosper
Jus life for every human being ON the
planet. Also, for the first time in his
DRY, we have the technical means to
lestroy virtually every human being
m the planet We Americans in
partnership with like-minded peoples
n Asia, Latin America. Europe and
Africa must successfully respond TO
his challenge and this danger"
vATER-POWER CRISIS
RAPIDLY APPROACHING"
Holum, Assistant Secretary for
Water and Power in the Interior De-
'artment, warned of the rapidly
approaching crisis in water and pow
r, deepened by the drift and do
of the past few years,
nd pledged complete reversal of
his attitude. He also stressed the i'm
of the public preference
rinciple in development projects.
Baker, former Legislative direc-
or for Farmers Union in Washing
on, pointed out how closely credit is I
led to a prosperous agriculture. He
aid the Administration has already
how it feels by releas-
1g additional funds for farm credit
pans, but stated more needs to be
one, not only for the good of farm
1g but for a strong financial basis !
or the whole economy.
Patton said the year 1861 marks ,
major turning point in agricultural /
istory. He showed how agriculture I
closely tied TO most world prob ;
ms. !;
He warned that "the prospects for
re survival of our democratic society !;
sst on number of razor-edge diem :
as" and offered a six-point pro- !;
ram to bring to an end the use of :,
ilitary force as an instrument of
ational policy.
Green and Wheeler spoke on the y
lportance of Hap. Dechant pre- ;,
nted his annual progress report TO :,
e delegates. :
Christensen said if farmers remain
ert to their responsibilities there :
III be no need to ever go through :
lother period like the last light years.
-