CHAPTER I 

 WHAT IS THE AGRICULTURAL BLOC? 



The Agricultural Bloc is that group of Mem- 

 bers of Congress who have recognized that an 

 economic upheavel threatens the Nation if the 

 foundations of our prosperity are weakened. 



They recognize that American welfare de- 

 pends upon the land and upon a permanent and 

 prosperous agriculture. 



They recognize that the American farmer not 

 only feeds and clothes us but that he is also 

 the best customer of our industries. 



They recognize that the American farmer 

 supports commerce, foreign and domestic, by 

 producing over half of our exports; pays over 

 half of the annual cost of transportation and 

 maintains more than half of our public institu- 

 tions. 



They recognize that national prosperity is 

 dependent primarily upon agricultural pros- 

 perity and that unless that third of our popula- 

 tion who live upon the farms prospers the 



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