Editorial 



Vote Tuesday, April 14 



FARMERS have a vital interest in government. Eco- 

 nomic policies and laws adopted by those in control 

 cf public offices, affect th" farmer's prices, his taxes, 

 the cost of things he buys and his opportunities for carry- 

 ing on a successful farming enterprise. 



In this issue an effort has been made to bring you of- 

 ficial legislative records and authentic information about 

 candidates for office. As stated from time to time, the Illinois 

 Agricultural Association has never engaged in partisan 

 politics. It is vitally interested, however, in issues and the 

 records and views of candidates for public office on such 

 issues, regardless of party. 



Because the governor of the state wields great influence 

 in deciding questions of state policy on important issues, 

 the Association submitted a series of ten questions to the 

 eleven candidates for this office in the primaries. The 

 replies received are set forth on pages 6-9. 



The record vote in Congress en the recently enacted Soil 

 Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act, likewise, is 

 given. These voting records »re an index to the manner 

 in which you and your neighbors have been represented in 

 the legislature and congress. 



We recommend your careful study of these records and 

 statements. If you don't do anything else on April 14 go to 

 the polls and vote. Weigh carefully the information avail- 

 able, then cast your ballots for those who in your judg- 

 ment are most worthy of farm support. 



Government Obli9afion 



IfiT HOPE farmers hold on to this approach to the farm 



^ problem until the industrial tariff and the corporate 



form of organization are taken away from the 'big 



boys'." Secretary Henry A. Wallace said in addressing the 



recent Chicago conference on soil conservation. 



He compared the Chicago meeting and the three other 

 regional conferences to the Constitutional Convention 149 

 years ago. "'Some went away from that convention dis- 

 consolate, too," he said, "but the majority ruled. All of 

 you may not be pleased with the final decision and methods 

 cf working out this program. But that should not prevent 

 the adoption of a plan any more than objections raised to 

 the constitution of the United States prevented its adoption. 

 The spirit of unity predominated then, and I know it pre- 

 dominates here. 



"It is the broadest kind of statesmanship to conserve our 

 soils with the world trade conditions and relationships what 

 they are. With ordinary weather and no act such as this, 

 we can conceive a restoration of 1932 conditions within two 

 years. A government that is responsible for our high tariff 

 pKjlicy which made us a creditor nation also is responsible 

 for the problems created by it." 



All Under Control 



K 



O the control of prices is in your hands"? ques- 

 tioned Samuel Becker, counsel for the government 

 in the investigation of the telephone monopoly and 

 the reasonableness of telephone rates. 



"Yes, I think so," answered Walter S. Gifford, president 

 of the American Telephone and Telegraph Company. 



Previously Gifford had testified that the telephone com- 

 pany acquired Western Electric Co. 50 years ago "to have 

 a source of supply for highly standard equipment and not 



to have the telephone industry at the mercy of the manufac- 

 turer." 



"Wasn't it also to control the price of equipment"? 



"It was to see that the price was reasonable," Gifford said 

 smiling wryly. "I don't mean we want ever to boost prices 

 or make an unreasonable profit." 



All of which shows that industry lays great stress on 

 PRICES and COSTS. Wholesale buying, controlled pro- 

 duction, and "organized" selling are standard business prac- 

 tices. Farmers have learned that they, too, must have some- 

 thing to say about their prices and costs. It's the only way 

 they can be assured of a fair net return on their invest- 

 ment. 



From The Financial Page -> . 



NOTE from the financial page: "Lack of confidence is 

 clearly demonstrated by the general apathy of wheat 

 and flour buyers. Extravagant crop ideas are not 

 conducive to encouraging a broader demand for immediate 

 needs, let alone anticipation of future needs." 



Here is a whole sermon on the relation of crop acreage 

 to price. In short, the millers think grain prices are going 

 lower because the outlook is for increased acreage and 

 bigger crops. So they are slow about buying. A substantial 

 sh'^t from small grain and corn acreage to grass this spring 

 w.jI change this situation. 



Let's Have Some Fun 



jg ^^^ONSEKVING the soil and making the farm pay is 

 ( ^ serious business," says Eb. Harris, president of the 

 ^■^ Illinois Farm Bureau Baseball League, "but while 

 we are doing that let's also have a little fun. 



"Ek-.inomic conditions on the farm are easier today than 

 they were a few years ago. So let's knock off work the end 

 of the week and encourage our boys to play ball. Maybe 

 we can learn something about team play and sportsmanship 

 on the baseball diamond that will help us succeed in jur 

 more serious undertakings." 



Well said, Mr. Harris. Most of us take life too seriously. 

 Few people achieve that balance between work and play 

 which makes for the happier life. Why not take a little 

 time this year to enjoy wholesome games and contests. Let's 

 revive baseball, soft ball, horseshoe pitching, boxing, tug- 

 of-war. and cornhusking contests. Clifford Gregory, Edi- 

 tor of Prairie Farmer, suggests a state-wide "Field Day" 

 after harvest for the finals of baseball, soft ball and other 

 contests. Why not? What do you think about it? 



As A Minister Sees It 



THE board of directors of the Eldgar County Farm Bu- 

 reau recently entertained 14 ministers of the county 

 and their wives. In discussing the subject, "Some Ob- 

 jectives of A Long Time County Program," Rev. L. R. Sut- 

 ton, First Methodist Episcopal Church of Chrisman, said: 

 "In theory, I am an avowed disciple of an economy of 

 abundance. But only a fool would insist that the farmer 

 practice such a policy where the prices existing are main- 

 tained in every other field of industry by controlled pro- 

 duction. 



"Recently, I was in one of the newly opened oil fields 

 of west central Kansas, and I found that production was 

 limited to 22 per cent to maintain a price system. For Agri- 

 culture to follow any other plan than outlined in the pres- 

 ent program means only suicide for the farmer." 



34 



I. A. A. RECORD 



