GENERAL FARM PROGRAM 793 



Americans for 200 years have fought, bled, and died to establish the only foot- 

 hold of freedom in all the world; has this generation grown so soft and weak 

 that we willingly sell our birthright for a mess of pottage? 



Do the farmers of America really want a bunch of commissars and Uttle peewee 

 dictators telling us how and how not to run our affairs? 



Lets start swinging before it's too late, Americans? 



Robert McEwan, 



Farmer City, III, 



April 28, 1949. 

 Dear Mark: I think all that could be done against the Brannan agricultural 

 program should be done. 



We have enough socialism as it is. The farmers don't want this kind of aid 

 and thus more Government control. 



Was sorry I could not attend the DeKalb meeting but had another engagement 

 planned ahead when I received letter from Mr. Watson. 

 Very trulv yours, 



Rot E. Wright. 



PiTTSFiELD National Farm Loan Association, 



Pittsfield, III, April, 29, 1949. 

 Corn Belt Livestock Association, 



Chicago, III. 

 Gentleman: Enclosed my vote. 



I think the Brannan proposals are going too far and I know the farmers do not 

 want that kind of program. We have got to beat it down. It is another crackpot 

 idea. 



Very truly yours, 



L. E. Newman. 



Mr. PicKELL. As I say, some of these men expressed their own 

 views in writing. I have their letters which I will make part of the 

 record, mth your permission. Some of them are particularly interest- 

 ing. For instance, Ed Hollenbeck of Dixon, 111., president of the Lee 

 County Livestock Feeders Association, wrote: 



My ancestors came to America in 1620 aboard the Mayflower. They were the 

 famous John and Priscilla. I don't know if that makes me any better than the 

 ones coming now, or not; but I do know that they came here to be free from op- 

 pression from government and church. They and the others who came really 

 made a wonderful country for us and now w^e should see to it that communistic 

 and socialistic ideas are not allowed to destroy the free enterprise. The Corn 

 Belt Livestock Feeders Association should fight this idea of Mr. Brannan's to the 

 last ditch. I am quite sure you will have nearly 100 percent cooperation from the 

 members. 



One of the largest livestock feeding counties of the Nation is 

 Clinton County, Iowa. And it contains one of the largest livestock 

 feeders associations of the country, over 600 members. The president 

 of that association is Will H. Jargo. He writes: 



Just a few lines to let you know we here in Clinton County are very much op- 

 posed to Brannan's program. We are with you in what can be done to defeat 

 it. 



Hugh Hermes, of Harmon, 111., puts his objection specifically. He 

 writes: 



The ballot you sent is enclosed and is in opposition to the Brannan proposal. 



Three things or stop signs stand out in this new program. 



(1) Lower farm prices; (2) increased taxation; (3) rigid control of farm products 

 and land used. Actually along with this goes the control of our way of life. 



My answer to this attempt is, ''No farm program at all rather than one of this 

 kind." 



