Show F D R Steps Into Farm Price Row With Slap at Senate Bill WASHINGTON Feb 25 AP President AP-President President Roosevelt stepped directly into the senate dispute over farm prices Wednesday with witha a letter protesting that a pending bill represented selfish interests interests interests inter inter- ests at a time the ver very verj- existence of the country try was at t stake take The chief executive in a letter 1 read at the opening of the senate session said that a proposal to restrict sales of held government-held stocks of farm commodities would do irreparable damage to the war effort and farmers of the country coun coun- try I Declaring that the production of American foodstuffs was vital to allied nations the president said that the two most important needs at this time were livestock and oil producing products Expansion of production in these fields would be impeded by proposed proposed proposed pro pro- posed restrictions on on the sale of corn wheat and other commodities ties by the Commodity Credit corporation corporation cor cor- he declared I Mr Roosevelt pointed out that Ithe the government had taken large stocks of corn wheat and cotton off the market marlet in past years in order to keep prices up any anc insure Continued Column on SIx Page U f Two PRESIDENT HITS FARM MEASURE Continued from Page One a fair return for the farmers He said it was generally understood that these stocks would be available available avail avail- available able in time of emergency That emergency is now upon us he declared The letter directed to Vice President President President Pres Pres- ident Wallace opposed a pending bill that would prohibit any sales of government stocks now held bythe by bythe bythe the Commodity Credit corporation at less than pa parity ity prices price Mr Roosevelt said that that in order OJ to expand the production of livestock livestock livestock live live- stock and oil producing commodities ties it would be necessary to maintain maintain maintain main main- tain a favorable ratio of prices between feed and livestock The rhe good will created for the farmer in the past the president said should not be shattered by grasping for a few dollars in the name of the farmer Administration leaders leader have offered offered offered of of- a compromise to the farm bloc and called for a showdown vote The bill the president said could not be defended as a war measure or on on the ground that it is necessary to give the farmers parity |