The Timaru Herald TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1933. “THE FORGOTTEN MAN."

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19640, 7 November 1933, Page 6

The Timaru Herald TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1933. “THE FORGOTTEN MAN. "

Facing the possibility of a widespread farmers’ strike, the Roosevelt Administration is making almost frantic endeavours to lift the rural Industry of the United States out of the slough of economic difficulties, and place the man on the land on the high road of stable conditions. The failure of the State Governors’ Conference with President Roosevelt prompted one champion of the farmer to suggest that fair treatment had not been accorded the producers because of the failure of the State to tackle the problem of farm produce prices. The crisis was precipitated by the issue of a statement revealing the President’s doubts concerning the legality or effectiveness of the farmers’ proposals for price fixing, quotas, etc. The friends of the men on the land loudly denounced the alleged unsympathetic attitude of the Administration. “The farmer is the forgotten man,” declared Governor Langar of North Dakota, when the failure of the Conference with the President was announced. “Everybody else has been to Washington before him and got all the money. There is nothing left for the farmer.” It is plain that the farmer is becoming a little impatient at the slow moving machinery designed to afford relief to rural industry. The new deal in the United States in its relation to agriculture, does not satisfy the farmers; indeed, it is plain that while the agrarian nationalism is making slow progress the farmer is growing restless, and is demanding more spectacular methods in the direction of inflation. But the farmer has revealed himself in a new role. The cable messages report this morning that violence broke out in many sections on Sunday night, as the farm strikers started the intensive picketing of the highways and railways to prevent the transportation of food. Outbreaks of lawlessness are in evidence, but it is doubtful if such excesses will further the cause of the farmer. So serious has become the rural situation," however, that the State Governor threatened stern reprisals. The main feature of the rural policy of the Roosevelt Administration is the strengthening of the part the State will play in the control of industry. Control of the production of cotton is under way, with control of tobacco and corn and dairy produce in the offing. The Agricultural Adjustment Act, the new Magna Charta for the American husbandman is being administered forcibly and widely, with certain definite accomplishments already to its credit. Yet the farmer is restless, and his champions persist in describing him as the forgotten man in the scheme of things. For months the man on the land has been talking of new marches and new strikes, and is demanding inflation with louder voice than ever. Governors, senators and representatives who look to the farmer for votes have been rushing into Washington for the last few months to urge the President to inflate and to print greenbacks, if need be. In some agrarian centres—notably Desmoines as the cable messages indicate this morning—the professional farm leader is either sullenly silent or bitterly critical. In places where dissatisfaction has been evident from the start, it continues to grow, while in others, where there is hope and the spirit of co-operation, it is developing and some progress is being made towards less difficult times. It is generally recognised, of course, that the immediate need in the United States is to restore parity price to the farmer, and Mr Wallace (Secretary for Agriculture) is addressing himself to it. This parity price represents the balance between the farmer’s prices and his costs for other products. As industrial costs advance, then the parity prices advance. That is just what has happened as the N.R.A. codes have begun to translate increased costs into increased prices. Wheat, in the early weeks of the programme, actually exceeded parity price, but not for long. The July tumble carried both wheat and cotton down again, though they still are materially above the low point of February. But the general farmer, with other products to sell, finds the price level far too low for him. It is a difficult problem Mr Wallace faces, and at the moment there seems little he can do about it, for other forces must begin operating before he can accomplish much. The only comfort he has is that the problem is as much President Roosevelt’s and General Johnson’s as his, for they must find some way of keeping industrial prices from getting out of line with agricultural prices, or rather getting them back in line. President Roosevelt’s confession, revealed in tlie cable messages this morning, that everything possible has been done to assist the farmer, seems to disprove the allegation that those engaged in rural pursuits have been forgotten in the struggle to restore the economic and financial equili brium of the country.