IG^—Lancaster Farming, Friday, Aug. 31, 1956 Agriculture Is Not Political, Benson Asserts (Continued from page 1) cultural economy fluid, to keep this God-given right of freedom to choice, so we don’t freeze agnculture in uneconomic pat terns," he added “Price times volume deter- mines your gross income. Price Is just one factor. Your right to produce in abundance is just as important. Some of our commodities have learned this on price alone. The emphasis on price in the case of cotton priced itself right out of world markets. We’ve lost our mar kets abroad, sonic at home, due to all this emphasis on price an artificial price,” Mr. Benson aserted In another ex tension of his script. Secretary Benson’s appearance before the 5000 in the grand stands was important in anoth er way it was his first major speech since conclusion of the major political party campaigns, and caused him to say, “The farm problem has not changed since this is a poltical year. . . . Farm people have problems, seri ous ones. These problems have been bi ought ort in large part by pohtcal maneuvering, unwise government policies They will not be solved by more political maneuvering. They will be solv ed only by facing facts by sound thinking, and sound ac tion ” He complimented President Eisenhower on having the poli tical courage to \ eto, in an elec tion year, the first farm bill pro duced by Congress this year: “That bill was an economic monstrosity ” “American agr i c ulture is neither Republican nor Demo crat Farm people cannot, _ and must not, be thought of as a gioup who may be put on the political auction block Their problems cannot and will not be solved that way ” “At the same time, Mr. Ben son explained, “I am glad this is a presidential election >ear, and I am not unhappy that some people are choosing to ftiake agricultural problems an issue in the campaign Out of all the dis cussion and even controversy will come better understand ing of farm problems than we have had for a long time I am confident of the good judgment of'farm people because they know, perhaps better than most, that ‘as ye sow so shall ye reap ’ We will not resort to nostrums and panaceas for political pres sures ” ’‘Our objective is markets. A government warehouse is not a market. I will not sup port any program which is not to the best interests of the farmers regardless of poli tical pressures,” he said in another added note. The use of government police powers, to restrain farmers in re stricted production, rationed pro duction, “is a sequence of cause and effect that is bitter as gall to me As a permanent condition in our agriculture, it is no more necessary than it is desirable,” he asserted High prices in agricultural products came as a result of “the insatiable demands of war; we have the surpluses primarily be cause we carried wartime incen tive price suppoits too long into the postwar years We didn’t have the political courage to make the change when the war ended ” Mr Benson asserted Wartime price supports stimulat ed all-out. pi eduction, and farm ers responded magnificently, but, “in the end, the farmer must pay the price The Government does not make the price ” “The record is now clear rigid price fixmg shrinks mar kets, it increases taxes, reduces faim income In the past two weeks there have been some who seek a return to rigid price fix ing,” the USDA chief explained “We have proven you can not control production; all you do is chase acres around,” and" as a result, Mr. Benson told his audience, production has increased in many lines the Government sought de creases. Surplus stockpiles have a depress price-depress ing effect upon markets. “There is not satisfactory sub stitute for a market,” he as serted. “We’ve got to fight vigorously but honestly • for markets in the world At last our surpluses are on the run and our prices aie on the rise That’s what we want,” he added in another foot note Speaking of the Soil Bank legislation, Mr. Benson told, “Never before has a piece of farm legislation been put into ef fect as quickly ” “We must avoid, as we would a plague, all price-support schemes or other programs of a kind that would build up sur Admiring fancy work on exhibit during Pennsylvania Dutch Days at Hershey last weekend were- the U.S. Secretary ot Agri culture and Mrs. Ezra Taft Benson, shown plus problems again There is no easy way, no cm e-all, ours is a many-sided attack, sound, prac tical approach “Agriculture is uot going to pot, despite the prophets of doom and gloom,” Mr. Benson told as he neared the end of DAIRY and FEEDERS! in the 1956 FALL FESTIVAL OF BEACON DAIRY and LIVESTOCK FEEDS including t /ft C <• see us for detolls end entry blanks J. M. Bomberger Farmers Supply Co. IS7-S9 E. KING ST., LANCASTER Paul H. Gehma^* DENVER Fred L. & John E. Homslier STRASBURG AND QUARRYVILLE his address, closing with “The positive, constructive programs advocated by this Ad ministration are designed to re tain to farmers their full herit age ol freedom, and to contribute to a soupd and expanding farm prosperity They are programs '~r, ■ VSW^ \ * ELM Wenger’s Feed Mill, Inc. RHEEMS above in the arena where scores ot dis plays caught their eyes. (Lancaster Fann ing Staff Photo by Neill). LIVESTOCK 5 \ > v * A ' , , 100 Pn zeS More than t 0 be given during SeP ,efflb ' i » < __j£w 8-mm, 3*lens Movie Cameras 21-in, Color Television Set CO-lb. Beacon Dairy Scales O. Kenneth McCracken Millport Roller Mills Osceola Flour Mills founded neither on the quick- sand of war nor the entdiH» ments of bureaucracy With God’s help we will carry out our role of dedicated servant, to helo agriculture go foivvard,” he con cluded I * } s. * *. <t> “X » la* * «. ' > V October isSoveflflber < -I 1 „ V < . •» Chevrolet 6-Passenger Station Wagon 21-in. Slack end White Television Sets MANHEIM LITITZ Earl Sander NEW HOLLAND GORDONVILLE v-/. 4 V % * V * i*
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers