AGRICULTURAL RELIEF 161
and farmer of South Carolina, and who could not appear before the
committee on this particular bill.

Mr. CrairMaAN. Without objection it is so ordered.
(The statement in question follows.)
Corton AND THE McNaRY-HAUGEN BinL—IN WORKING FOR
TIONSHIPS WITH THE FARMER IT 1s NECESSARY TO KNoOow
His Economic ProBLEM
(Bv Leon L. Rice, Member, Kiwanis Club of Anderson. 8S. C.)
There has been much speculation as to the probable effect of the so-called
McNary-Haugen bill as applied to cotton. This is largely due to the fact that
there is no tariff on cotton. The inclusion of cotton as one of the basic agri-
cultural crops in the bill has been called a “bait” to catch southern votes.
Therefore, in view of the honest differences of opinion among southern Congress-
men and leaders, it is well to consider both sides of the question as it might affect
the cotton growers of the Nation.

It is perfectly reasonable to ask, that if the tariff yardstick is to be applied
directly or indirectly, what possible benefit could come to cotton upon which
there is no tariff. Of course, a tariff on short staple cotton could not be effective
for the reason that we import practically no short staple cotton. On the other
hand we export millions of bales of cotton and it is a large factor in our world
balance of trade. And when we consider that a majority of the cotton grown
in the world is produced in the United States. the question becomes national in
its scope.

Since there is no tariff on cotton, the world price and the domestic price is the
same. We do not therefore dump cotton abroad at a price less than the domestic
price, and will not do so if‘the Government by surplus legislation sees fit to save
us from our surplus. The farmers can not control their production by limitation
of acrcage alone, because of the many elements entering into production over
which the grower has no control. There are droughts, insect pests, hail, rain
and floods, and many other elements that enter into production, over which the
grower has no control whatsoever. The surplus question is too often attributed
to acreage alone.

During the World War our farmers were told that “Food Will Win the War,”
and with this patriotic slogan the farmers set about to extend their acres and
increase their production in an effort to do their bit. Then came the end of the
war and in its wake the backwash that swept the farmers of the Nation off their
feet, and into debt that will take more than a decade to repay. While the farmers
were struggling under the burdens of deflation, and the pressure of their surplus
of farm products, they naturally turned to the Government for some kind of

relief. The only answer they got was advice to curtail their acreage, and an offer
to make them another loan.” Thus deeper and deeper the farmers went into debt,
until they realized that it was not more loans they needed, but some way to pay
off the loans they already had. In this atmoshphere was born the so-called
MecNary-Haugen bill. Its principal aim is to assist the farmers in keeping their
surplus from breaking their prices.
A GOVERNMENT FUNCTION
It seemed a proper Governmental function to help agriculture save itself from
ts surplus production. It also seems that the Government can ill afford to
do less than this, when it has aided manufacturers with a protective tariff; it
has subsidized the merchant marine, and guaranteed railroads an income. It
has aided labor with stringent immigration laws and given to banks the assistance
of the Federal reserve system. About all they have done for the farmers has been
to show them how to produce more; and to make them loans. Then when the
loans or interest come due, if disaster has overtaken the farmer and he is unable
bo pay, they will neither defer interest nor reduce the principal. These concessions
are only for foreign debtor nations.

SUPPOSING THE BILL HAD BECOME LAW
It was my privilege to appear before the agricultural committee of the South
Carolina House of Representatives and advocate the passage of a joint resolution
asking Congress to pass this bill. And now in view of the passage of the bill
and its veto by the President, let us analyze the situation as to cotton if the bill
had become law. The farm board would have declared the surplus. and let us