GENERAL FARM PROGRAM 859 



combined. From 1920 to 1929 we averaged 28,146,000,000 pounds ot hogs and 

 beef cattle combined. From 1930 to 1939 we averaged 28,607,000,000 pounds of 

 hogs and beef cattle combined. 



From the above it is clear that during the 30-year period of 1909 to 1939 our 

 average production of meat increased less than 4 percent. 



During the same 30-vear period our population increased from 91,000,000 to 

 131,000,000. 



Our population increased 44' percent while our meat production increased only 

 4 percent during the same 30-vear period. Our population now has increased to 

 more than 145.000,000. 



The triple A was created in 1933 to limit production of crops in the United 

 States. Those who sponsored the triple A program were not deceived about the 

 facts.- ■, They, knew we had no ovprjiroduction of food but the shortage fitted into 

 their over-all plan to destroy Amerfcan agriculture. Congress was fooled and 

 acted on the misinformation furnished them. Congress was laboring under the 

 terribly mistaken idea that we had overproduction of agricultural products. 



Congress was asked to create the triple A to limit farm production in this 

 country. The same Congress was asked to pass and did pass the law providing 

 for special trade agreements. These special trade agreements were passed to 

 permit the importing into this country of farm products which the American 

 farmers are not allowed to produce in sufficient quantity for our needs. Both, 

 acts were passed in 1933. 



It is hard to understand why Congress would have been so gullible. To pass 

 the Agricultural Adjustment Act in 1933 to reduce and limit the .\merican farm 

 production was bad enough. For the same Congress to flood this country with 

 like agricultural products from all over the world was astounding. 



The proponents of extension of trade treaties have many times pointed out that 

 the limitation of our exports to foreign coiu'itries is American dollars and American 

 credits which those countries have with which to pay the United States for such 

 exports. 



The proponents of trade treaties simply use this involved language to camou- 

 flage facts which could be much better stated in simple words. 



Actually, the limiting factor of our exports to foreign countries is the amount of 

 imports that we will accept from them in payment of our exports. 



In other words, .\rgentina, Brazil, .Vustralia, Canada, and all of the other 

 countries of the world will buy as many automobiles, suits of clothing, dresses^ 

 and gasoline as we will ship them and accept payment in corn, wheat, jute, hogs, 

 cattle, cotton, and other agricultural crops and products. 



The catch is that if we sell automobiles, suits, dresses, and gasoline at American 

 prices and take pay in corn, wheat, cattle, hogs, jute, and cotton, we would soon 

 have all of the corn, wheat, cattle, hogs, jute, and cotton in the world and would 

 have to bury it in the groimd jtist as we had to bury the gold in Kentuckj-, when 

 we got all the gold in the world. 



In the meantime, if they trade their corn, wheat, cattle, hogs, jute, and cotton 

 for atUomobiles, suits, dres.ses, and gasoline then, they like Europe, would be on 

 starvation. The United States would immediately be called up to ship all of this 

 food back to them to keep them from starving. Again the American taxpayer 

 would be called upon to foot the bill for all this foolishness. 



By the time we carried on this kind of trade for a few vears instead of ovu- 

 natibnal debt being $260,000,000,000 it would be 3 trillion dollars. Vou would 

 have to take a wheelbarrow full of dollars to buy a cup of coffee or a loaf of bread. 



When Congress, therefore, is considering extension of reciprocal trade agree- 

 ments, it is in fact considering the question of free trade limited to certain segments 

 of society chosen by the millionaire club called the State Department. 



Suppose that Congre.ss had under consideration a bill to repeal all protection 

 and throw the ports of the United States wide open to imports of all kinds from 

 all countries. 



I do not believe there are very many men or women in Congress who would be 

 willing or radical enovigh to support such a measure. Vet Congress is asked to 

 sanction such a measure, provided it only applies to such segments of society 

 and such commodities as is chosen by the international millionaires who haunt the 

 State Department. 



Under this so-called Reciprocal Trade .\greenienis .\ct, the international 

 millionaires of the State Department not only have authority to select the seg- 

 ments of American society to be destroyed: they not only have the power to select 

 commodities to have free entrance into this country, but above all, these inter- 

 national millionaires have the power to select the country from whLcL sucJn 

 imports are to be made. 



