GENERAL FARM PROGRAM 811 



preparedness. We don't hesitate in spending money for soil conserva- 

 tion because we know for years we have been writing the death 

 warrant to future prosperity by dissipating our soil. Now we are 

 preparing to restore that soil, but it is our belief that if the farmer is 

 to secure a minimum wage, he is best qualified to protect that soil. 



Now in the circulation of these petitions we have found that all 

 farmers that we have contacted, as well as businessmen, have insisted 

 on one point, and that point is there must be control of acreage. We 

 know what is going to happen to cotton in Texas this year because 

 we have got too much of it, and we know what is going to happen to 

 parity elsewhere because they will have to drop it down. 



I think that the majority of the people, if they will look instead of 

 listen, they will find out that the farmer will back some plan along 

 the lines suggested by Mr. Brannan. It is not a cure-all but a plan 

 can be worked out that will give the farmer a minimum wage, will 

 insure compensation for the high cost of agriculture, will insure food 

 for national defense and buying power. Without that buying power 

 for the farmer, the city factories are going to close. I believe that 

 would conclude my remarks. 



Mr. Pace. Mr. Willis, I am quite sure your views wOl be very 

 helpful to the committee. 



The committee will hear next from the distinguished representative 

 from Wyoming, the Hon. Frank A. Barrett, who will have a short 

 statement to make for the record. 



STATEMENT OF HON. FRANK A. BARRETT, A REPRESENTATIVE 

 IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF WYOMING 



Mr. Barrett. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate 

 the opportunity to appear at this time as I must attend a meeting 

 very shortly in the Interior Department and so, Mr. Chahman, I 

 ask unanimous consent to extend and revise my remarks. 



Mr. Pace. Without objection that courtesy will be extended. 



Mr. Barrett. Mr. Chairman, livestock is the basic industry of 

 Wyoming. We produce more wool than any other State of the 

 Union, with the exception of Texas. Accordingly, we are deeply 

 interested in the welfare of the sheep industry. 



At the outset let me say, Mr. Chairman, that the sheep industry 

 of Wyoming and of the West is deeply appreciative of the splendid 

 cooperation it has received from you and the former chairman of 

 this committee, Mr. Hope, and in fact from all of the members of 

 this committee on both sides. I want it to be distinctly understood, 

 that the industry feels that it has been accorded splendid treatment 

 at the hands of this committee and by the Congress during war 

 years and since. There are, however, Mr. Chairman, some matters 

 that I would like to call to your attention today. 



The sheep industry has been subjected to rather difficult problems 

 during the past 7 years. The sheep population of this country has 

 been reduced during that time to the point where it is the lowest of 

 any period in the past 80 years. That is not good for the West, nor 

 for the country as a whole. We would like to have a concrete and 

 stable policy in regard to wool. 



I want to call your attention to the fact that when the war was 

 declared on December 8, 1941, the price of wool was frozen at the 



