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Show Kl AaSm off kw Pearson Jit wl -1.. ! - Washington, D. C. PRESIDENT LISTENS The President did the listening, instead in-stead of the talking, when he conferred con-ferred on farm manpower and food with three prominent farm leaders Albert S. Goss, master of the National Na-tional Grange, H. E. Babcock, vice president of the National Council of Farmer Co-operatives, and Ezra T. Nelson, its executive secretary. The farm spokesmen spent about 30 minutes of the 37-minute conference confer-ence expounding their views on what caused the food shortage now facing the country and what has to be done to remedy it. The President confined con-fined his remarks chiefly to asking questions. He began by telling his visitors that the food situation was "extremely "ex-tremely serious." "That's why I invited you gentlemen gentle-men here today to get your opinions opin-ions on what has to be done," the President said. "Go ahead and be as frank as you like." The farm leaders accepted the challenge. They charged the administration ad-ministration with "shortsightedness" in dealing with farm labor deferments defer-ments and contended that government govern-ment price policies also had contributed con-tributed to the farm manpower shortage. Loral Draft Problem. "If you want my views, I'll give them to you, Mr. President," spoke up Ezra Nelson. "Two things have to be done and done immediately. First of all, someone in authority here in Washington must tell these local draft boards where to head in. "They must be told that they have j almost as much responsibility to see to it that we have sufficient manpower man-power to produce food for the war effort as they have to provide men for the fighting forces. Food is Just as important as munitions in my opinion. We can't fight the war without it, and we can't let our civilians civil-ians starve. "A lot of these local draft boards still feel that they must fill their induction quotas," Nelson continued. "The boards have been assigned quotas, but they don't have to meet them, at least not in sections where there is a crying farm labor shortage. short-age. You, or someone else should tell them this." The President pointed out that many young farmers don't want to be deferred. "This isn't the fault of the draft boards," he said. "The young men themselves are so patriotic that they do not want to remain on the farm while a war is going on." It was agreed that steps would have to be taken to convince selectees se-lectees that they could serve their country as well on the farm as in the army. Goss suggested that one "way out" would be to induct farm hands and then "furlough" them back to the farm at prevailing farm wages, instead of army pay. This would require legislation, but the President said it was an idea worth considering. Stop Selling Cows. "The second thing that has to be ione is for the government to step in and stop the widespread selling if dairy cows and other stock and farm equipment by farmers who are jnable to continue in business at present farm price levels," Nelson continued,. "I'm as much opposed to inflation as you are, Mr. President," he added, add-ed, "but we have got to make it oossible for farmers to operate at a 'air profit if we are to lick this hreatcned food shortage. They have ot to be assured fair prices in order to pay wages that will keep their lelp from migrating to Jobs in industry." in-dustry." The co-operative official contended contend-ed that farms had lost two-thirds of their manpower to war Industries because of low farm wages. The President said that he, too, was deeply concerned about this factor, fac-tor, suggested to his callers that thry get together with Secretary of Agriculture Wickard and map out a program embracing their recommendations. recom-mendations. "Then come back and sec me again," urged the President. "I want to continue these discussions." CAPITAL C'HAFH C The super-cabinet's careful consideration con-sideration of how big our armed forces should be was actually a ham battle. FDR has the "old -hitch up" over the size of the armed forces and wouldn't take anybody's ay-so on this point, except the army's own plan, conceived way back In 1038 . . . The army in 1938 had no idea whether we would have the ships in 1043 to transwirt troops broad, but is sticking to its original plan Just the same. And FDR Is 100 per cent behind It. C John McClintock, assistant coordinator coordi-nator of inter-American offairs. is off to the Amazon, to Inspect fond and health programs for rubber tappers. tap-pers. C When General Marshall turned down the rank of "Field Marshal" he also knocked over a carefully laid plan whereby Admiral King would become "Admiral of the Fleet" ... To date ohly three men have won the title "Admiral of the Fleet" Dewey. Farragut and Tor Her . . . Tipoff on the proposal to 1 make King Admiral of the Fleet was so he could outrank Admiral Leahy |