Show e 0 esrock iv situation si W vw los angeles march 11 1936 probably the most moat tar ro reaching aching legislation islat lon ever proposed in the untied united states or any other country for or that matter is the amendment to the agricultural ri adjustment act proposed by senator smith this legislation would grant to tho the secretary of agriculture ri the powers of an absolute dictator over all agricultural production marketing and distribution indirectly the administration of 0 the measure would affect the lives and fortunes of many millions of our people both on farms and in cities considering the broad nature of tho the legislation it seems to me that e very every por ducer owes it to himself to make a thorough study of 0 the proposed act a copy of which may be obtained from any senator or congressman it seems to me that discussion of the matter must center around the idea as to whether or not agriculture la Is ready tor for so called regimentation are farmers and stockmen stoc kmen willing to leave to the secretary of agriculture usually a political appointee poin tee the matter of determining just what each individual farmer and stockman may raise even the man who recognizes the possibility of an improved price structure might feel that he would still be better oft off it if he retains his right to utilize his own land in the mariner manner he through past experience and first hand knowledge teela feels to be in his own best interests rather than leaving such matters to bureau heads and government agents it is entirely possible that many farmers and stockmen stoc kmen would consider the present secretary of agriculture capable of using the vast powers 1 which would be conferred upon him under the measure but the matter cannot be considered from that angle the legislation would be of permanent nature and history shows us that members of the cabinet are anything but permanent very few secretaries of agriculture having ever served more than tour four years what it means irn aab is i that the secretary of agriculture would be a dictator who could not under any reasoning have sufficient knowledge arid and ability to understand all of the complex problems ot of agricultural and livestock production processing and distribution trib ution it must not be considered that the processors and handlers of agricultural products are entirely selfish in their opposition to such legislation when the buyer of 0 rana farm products must act under a strict federal it license system it goes without saying that producers of agricultural commodities modi ties have also been restricted in precisely the same degree and just as effectively as if they themselves had been licensed and after all is said the country had very definite proof last year that nature must be reckoned with in any scheme to adjust production |