'^/ Orr in Cbif'ago Tribune 



/. . Cheap Food and Poverty 



UTTER ignorance or wanton disregard of truth? Call 

 it what you may. In, the cartoon above is a flagrant 

 example of the propaganda which, if it achieves its 

 end, would restore the bitter conditions of 1932. 



The lower food prices of that year were out of reach of 

 far more people than the higher prices of today. Factories 

 closed and jobs vanished as farmers — their income all but 

 gone — quit buying. 



Price fixing and price protection for every one but agri- 

 culture! That is the school of thought farmers must combat 

 not only to save themselves, but the nation itself. 



There is a powerful minority in this country that definite- 

 ly wants unlimited production of farm crops. Cheap food 

 and cheap raw materials! And at the expense of the farmer. 

 This group cares not for the long-time consequences of 

 such a policy. It gives no heed to the farmer's invested 

 capital, to soil conservation, to the social and economic 

 problems attending ruinous farm prices. It would im- 

 poverish the soil and the people on it. Sacrifice the national 

 welfare to serve their own selfish and immediate ends. 



The Supreme Court's 6 to 3 decision has temporarily de- 

 stroyed the farmer's tariff and the opportunity afforded 

 under AAA to maintain fair prices for farm products. That 

 is just another incident in the long fight of organized farm- 

 ers for justice. Meanwhile production control price fixing 

 behind high tariff walls and arbitrary fixing of fees, wages 

 and salaries go on in other walks of life. Nothing has been 

 done about that, yet they all affect the farmer's costs of 

 doing business. 



But a new farm program is in the making. Organized 

 farmers again are seeing to that. It is being written to meet 

 court objections imder the guidance of a friendly admin- 

 istration. It will have the support of the fair-minded mem- 

 bers of both major parties in Congress. 



Meanwhile consumers are learning that food prices have 

 come down little if any. Nor has the amount of the federal 

 processing taxes been added to the prices of farm products 

 as meat packer representatives testified would happen. 

 Distribution costs, it appears, have absorbed most of the 

 taxes. But farmers are not discouraged. The temporary 

 setback has only made them more determined to go for- 

 ward. There may be strange bridges yet to cross. The 

 problem will not be settled until it is settled right. 



34 



It Got Results 



SIX Supreme Court judges called the Agricultural Ad- 

 justment Act unconstitutional but it got results. 

 Price-depressing surpluses, the orge of the Federal 

 Farm Board, are no longer an immediate problem. AAA, 

 the drouth, and dollar devaluation have brought agricultural 

 prices and income into reasonable balance with those of 

 other groups. 



"The year 1935 closed wih business activity at the high- 

 est level in more than five years and with signs of recovery 

 more widespread than at any time since the turn of the 

 depression was reached in 1932," comments the National 

 City Bank bulletin. It lists 16 important industries such as 

 electric power, rayon, shoes, wool consumption, radios, 

 electric refrigerators, gasoline consumption and others 

 which set all time high records in production or sales — even 

 exceeding 1929 — last year. 



"It is hardly deniable that the trade improvements, from 

 1933 through 1935, originated on the farms, for the trade 

 figures themselves show that the gains began, and have 

 been largest in the rural states," the bulletin contniues. "It 

 is certain that the absorption of the surplus of farm prod- 

 ucts is a genuine gain, vastly improving their market posi- 

 tion as compared with two or three years ago. . . . The out- 

 look for the farmer gives hope of still another year of im- 

 provement in income." 



The crisis in agriculture is over. Now the problem is to 

 hold the gains made. A repetition of conditions respon- 

 sible for the depression must be avoided. The national wel- 

 fare demands that this be done. It is incumbent on all 

 political parties and representatives in congress and state 

 legislature to support a policy for agriculture that accom- 

 plishes this purpose. 



Hiclcman-Lanti Bills Pass 



BY passing the Hickman-Lantz poor relief bills, the 

 Illinois legislature again has taken a courageous step 

 toward establishing uniformity, efficiency, and 

 honesty in handling one of our greatest state and national 

 problems. Bitterly opposed by the Kelly-Nash political 

 machine in Cook county, these bills would require a 

 moderate tax levy by each township or other local unit of 

 government including Chicago, of 30 cents per $100 on 

 property before becoming eligible for poor relief grants 

 from the state. This time we hope the governor will sign 

 these bills. Fairness to all sections of the state demands it. 



The Sequel to Low Farm Prices 



