506 GENERAL FARM PROGRAM 



the honorable H. L. Wingate, president of the Farm Bureau of 

 Georgia. 



STATEMENT OE H. L. WINGATE, PRESIDENT, EARM BUREAU OF 



GEORGIA 



Mr. WiNGATE. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and gentlemen of the 

 committee. 



I appreciate very much this opportunity to appear before the com- 

 mittee and especiallj^ since one of our most beloved Congressmen is 

 chairman of this subcommittee. 



We think a lot of him down in Georgia. I was just sitting back thei'e 

 thinking a moment ago, if he is for this Aiken bill, I was wondering 

 how quickly things could change down there. 



They have been very nice to me down there and if I was for it, it 

 would change very quickly on me. The farmers of Georgia are not 

 for it. They are opposed to it. 



Mr. PoAGE. Do I understand you to suggest that the farmers of 

 Georgia did not go up there to Atlantic City and cry out that they 

 wanted the Aiken bill to control the cotton situation that they might 

 control it like they wanted it? 



Mr. WiNGATE. They rose np on the other side. 



Mr. PoAGE. I had an idea that happened, Mr. Wingate. 



Mr. AViNGATE. Gentlemen. I do want to say that I am very sorry 

 that I do have to appear in opposition to the Aiken bill which the 

 American Farm Bureau is supporting. I want you to know that I 

 believe I have worked as hard as anj^one for the Farm Bureau for 

 the past 8 years and this is the first time during the 8-year period 

 that we have had a program before us where the difference has been 

 so keen that I would have to appear in opposition to the Farm Bureau's 

 thinking. 



Certainly it is not a pleasure in that respect. I believe in working 

 out things and putting up a solid front. I feel that this would be 

 very detrimental to the farmers and for that reason I am appearing 

 in opposition to the Aiken bill. 



First, I Avould like to call your attention to the fact that Ave had a 

 farm program in 1933 and 1934. Some people talk about less govern- 

 ment in the programs. We had all the government in the world in 

 the program right then. We had controls then. 



Our guarantee was a sliding scale then, 52 to 75. The trouble was 

 that it did not slide. It was 52 and it stayed there and finally after 

 many struggles we got cotton up to 56 percent of parity. 



We had controls on then and there was government in it then. 

 ^Regardless of what price protection we have, whether it is 50 percent, 

 75, or 90. 1 doubt that there will be very much difference in the amount 

 of control that w^ould enter into it. 



When you set price guaranties automatically you have to accept 

 controls. 



Mr. Pace. Let me point out right there that that is the peculiar 

 thing in the Aiken bill. Even when the farmers have voted against 

 quotas they are still controlled. 



Mr. Wingate. Absolutely. 



Mr. Pace. Under the present program if the farmers voted against 

 quotas they were free men, but they have written a control provision 



