3 C I ETY
t o a i c
- to'-, t
o r z g o
p B L I c
Volume 52, Number 7.
HEPPNER, OREGON, THURSDAY, Apr. 23, 1936
Subscription $2.00 a Year
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MUSIC FESTIVAL
EUBNHY PETE
County Schools Slate Big
Day Here May 1 ; Many
Pupils to Take Part.
SPELLERS WILL VIE
Combined Bands, Choruses Big At
traction; Track Meet Set; En
tertainment Arranged.
May Day, Friday, May 1, will be
a red letter day for Heppner when
most of the school children and
teachers in the county assemble
here for the annual spelling contest,
track meet and music festival.
Special emphasis is being placed on
the music fete, to be presented free
of charge in the evening. Mrs. E.
F. Bloom is directing the event,
and has personally visited all
schools participating, and had ont
practice with each.
All schools of the county but one
will take part, and the high schools
especially are evidencing much in
terest, announces Mrs. Lucy E.
Rodgers, county school superin
tendent Included, on the program
will be chorus numbers by com
bined choruses from all schools.
The grade schools are split into
three sections, primary, interme
diate and upper, and from the high
school will be combined boys', com
bined girls' and mixed choruses.
A grand finale chorus will be the
combined grade and high school
choruses.
Another big attraction will be
the combined playing of the Hepp
ner and Irrigon school bands with
a total of 60 pieces, with Stan At
kin, Irrigon director, and Harold
W. Buhman, Heppner director, al
ternating in the direction. Special
numbers will include folk dancing
from the Boardman grade school,
tap dancing from Lexington school,
rhythm band and fairy dance from
the Heppner school.
Chorus numbers include "March
ing Star," Yosan, "Piggie Wig and
Piggie Wee," by primary division;
"Sea Song from the Shore," "Which
Is the Way to Somewhere Town,"
"Lady Bird," by intermediates;
"The Nightingale," "Dawn at Car
mel," "Music in the Air," upper
grades; "The Weaver," "Happy
Song," "The Old Refrain," high
school girls; "Ragged Vagabond,"
"The Heart of You," high school
boys; 'The Owl and the Pussy Cat,"
"The Brownies," "Thanks be to
God," high school mixed chorus;
"Home on the Range," "Oregon,
My Oregon," combined high school
and grade choruses.
The band numbers will be "Jap
anese Sunset," "Harmony King,"
and a selected march. The bands
will appear between the grade and
high school divisions of the pro
gram. Committees of teachers have been
appointed to see that the children
are in their places at the proper
time, and to take care of the ush
ering. Teachers with usher badges
will have authority to preserve quiet
throughout.
The day's activities will begin
with ensemble band rehearsal from
9 to 10 a. m. High school choruses
will rehearse from 10 to 11, and the
grade choruses from 11 to 12.
Beginning at 9 in the morning
also will be the spelling contest,
with the lower division assembling
in Miss Doherty's room, and the up
per division in Mr. Buhman's room
on the lower floor of the school.
The Lions and Phelps cups will be
awarded respectively to schools
winning the upper and lower di
visions, with pennants awarded
second and third place winners.
Both cups are now held by Lex
ington. Each must be won three
times by ono school for permanent
possession.
For the luncheon hour, children
are requested to bring their own
lunches to the school where hot
chocolate will be served. For the
dinner hour Mrs. Tenney has ar
ranged a special 25-cent dinner at
Hotel Heppner for the school cnll'
dren. A special entertaiiunest fea
ture of the afternoon following the
track meet will be the matinee
showing of "Gentle Julia," popular
Booth Tarkington play, at the Star
theater.
ACTION NOT EXPECTED.
The Pettlngill bill which would
knock out the long and short haul
clause for railroad transportation
will not come before this session of
congress, according to telegraphic
word received this week by Bert
Johnson, transportation committee
chairman for the Eastern Oregon
Wheat league, from Senator Mc
Nary. The league committee re
quested congressmen from this dis
trict to ask for a roll call vote In
case the bill came up, so that home
folk might know how each voted.
Mr. Johnson was in the city yes
terday. PRESIDENT TO BE GUEST.
Mrs. Ira Staggs of Keating, pres
ident Oregon Woolgrowers auxil
iary, will be guest of honor at the
local auxiliary meeting, Friday,
May 1. Luncheon is slated at 12:30
sharp at the Lucas Place, and It
is requested that members make
reservations for themselves and
guests by 10 o'clock that morning.
Reservations should be phoned to
either Mrs. Glenn Jones or Mrs.
Ralph I. Thompson.
LOCALS TROUNCE
INDIANS, 10 TO 3
Blankenship Holds Down Mound
Nicely; Turner, Massey Swing
Heavy Bats for Leaguers.
Coach Alden Blankenship of the
high school turned in a nice pitch
ing performance for ' Heppner's
Wheatland leaguers at Rodeo field
Sunday afternoon, when the locals
trimmed the Umatilla Indians, lU-i,
in their only appearance before the
opener next Sunday. Blankenship
allowed but one hit in each inning
except the second, when he gave
two unresultful bingles. The In
dians scored twice in the third on
a hot drive into center field that
took a bad hop and hit Al Massey,
its protector, in the face. Their
other run came in the sixth on a
home run by Cy Webb.
The locals scored in each inning
except the second and fourth, hit
ting both M. Webb and Cy Webb
freely. Lowell Turner, who hit
safely in three out of five trips to
bat, poled out a double and a triple
for the longest hits by the locals.
Al Massey singled thrice in five
trips. Some nice fielding plays
were turned in, with Gordon Buck
num looking especially good on a
hard ohance at short which he han
dled in professional style. John
Miller and Jackson umpired.
Box score and summary:
Heppner AB R H
McRoberts, 3 4 3 2
Bucknum, s 4 12
R. Massey, r 5 11
A. Massey, m 5 2 3
Thomson, 1 4 2 1
Turner, 1 5 13
Farley, 2 3 0 0
Akers, c 3 0 0
Blankenship, p 4 0 0
Totals -.37 10 12
Indians
Hadger, c -Bettles,
m -M.
Webb, r
Makay, s
- 4
.. 4
.. 4
4
.. 4
.. 4
.. 3
.. 4
.. 4
1
.. 1
..37
Wahsie, 1 ..
Cy Webb,
James, 3
Unpelt, 2
Shenshlp,
Hodgens
Dempsey
Totals -
3 10
Home run, Cy Webb; three base
hit, Turner; two base hit, Turner;
struck out by Blankenship, 10, by
Cy Webb 5, by M. Webb 7. Umpires
Miller and Jackson.
Morrow Farmers Make
Large Interest Saving
Refinancing debts through the
Farm Credit administration has
saved Morrow county farmers more
than $12,000 a year on interest
alone, according to figures from the
central office of the Farm Credit
administration in Washington.
Over $508,000 of farm debts with
interest rates that averaged 6.7 per
cent a year have been refinanced
with long-term mortgage loans car
rying interest rates of 5 per cent a
year or less.
The figures show that the local
National Farm Loan association
has been a big factor in making
these long-term mortgages avail
able at low interest rates. The as
sociation guarantees loans to the
Federal land bank.
From May 1933, when the Farm
Credit administration was organ
ized, to the end of last year, 80
Morrow county farmers obtained
$441,000 for the specific purpose of
refinancing old debts.
The Federal Land bank made 51
first mortgage loans and the Land
Bank Commission 67 loans. Many
of the Commissioner's loans were
made on second mortgage security
to farmers who also obtained first
mortgage loans. Most land bank
loans are endorsed by associations
and advanced from funds obtained
by selling farm loan bonds. The
Commissioner lends from funds
provided by the Federal govern
ment. Legion Post Entertains
Dist. Commander Todd
Accompanied by four members
of his post, Jas. D. Todd of Her
miston, district commander for the
6th district, American Legion, at
tended the regular meeting of Hepp
ner post Monday evening. A large
number of local post members
turned out to greet the visitors.
During the course of the evening
Commander Todd enlightened the
group regarding recent develop
ments in the organization, stressing
particularly the joint meeting of
the 6th and 7th districts to be held
in La Grande April 30. At this
meeting Oscar W. Worthwine of
Boise, Idaho, national vice-com
mander, will be the principal speak
er, and the program calls for con
ference meetings in the afternoon,
a banquet at the Sacajawea Inn,
and a large evening meeting. Geo.
L. Koehn, state department com
mander, will be present, as will be
other department officials of the
Legion and auxiliary. Following
Monday evening's meeting, refresh
ments were served, with C. J. D.
Bauman and E. L. pox presiding as
cooks.
O. E. S. TO MEET.
Regular meeting of Ruth chap
ter, Order of Eastern Star, will be
held at Masonic hall tomorrow (Fri
day) evening.
For Sale All kinds of home fur
nishings. Inquire at L. D. Hale
home, lone, Ore, 7-8
FETES
bid inioe
E.
L. Morton, Chairman
Mayor's Committee
Is Toastmaster.
LAUDATION GIVEN
Mahoney Speaks for Mayor; Buh
man, Bloom, Crawford Talk;
Musical Numbers Enjoyed.
One hundred sixty plates were
laid for members, director and
friends of the Heppner school band
at the Christian church basement
last Thursday evening in celebra
tion of the band's victory at Cor
vallis when it won first place n the
class D divsion of the state con
test the week end previous. Ar
rangements were In charge of May
or Jeff Jones' committee, E. L. Mor
ton, chairman; R. C. Phelps, D. A.
Wilson, Mrs. Lucy E. Rodgers and
Mrs. Earl W. Gordon, and ladies of
the church prepared and served the
meal.
Mr. Morton as toastmaster di
rected the program after voicing
the community's appreciation of
the band's good work. He intro
duced P. W. Mahoney, who repre
sented Mayor Jones and the ctiy
government, in further lauding the
achievement. Harold W. Buhman,
director, modestly gave the mem
bers the large share of credit, com
mending the excellent cooperation
received both from members and
parents, and adding special thanks
to the community for generous fi
nancial support which made at
tendance at the contest possible.
Speaking for the parents, and as
one accompanying the band to Cor
vallis, Spencer Crawford added
commendation for Mr. Buhman's
work, reflected among other ways
by the fine discipline displayed by
the band members on the trip. With
one exception, when a group stayed
in the swimming tank over long,
the boys and girls were entirely
above reproach in their conduct,
he said. Edward F. Bloom, super
intendent, voiced the elation of the
school and faculty over the victory.
Entertainment features included
an appropriate reading by Mrs.
Paul M. Gemmell, accordion solo
by Boyd Redding, piano solo by Mrs.
Virginia Amorelli, and a trio num
ber by Mrs. Crocket Sprouls, Mrs.
John Turner and Mrs. Hubert Gaily
with Mrs. Amorelli accompanying.
The trio number was a parody com
posed by Mrs. Amorelli giving spec
ial recognition for the occasion.
Gala League Opener
Planned for Sunday
Plans are set for a gala opening
of the Wheatland Jeague season
here Sunday when lone comes to
cross bats with the locals. A pep
concert by the school band will be
staged on Main street Saturday af
ternoon when tickets for the game
will be on sale, and the band will
also play at the game. A feature
will be the giving away of a new
Chevrolet car.
Tentative local line-up for the
opener is given by Fred Hoskins,
playing manager, as follows: Alden
Blankenship, pitcher; Kenneth Ak
ers, catcher; Lowell Turner, first
base; James Farley os Millard Rod
man, second base; William Mc
Roberts, third base; Gordon Buck
num, short stop; Rod Thomson, left
field; Al Massey, center field; Ray
Massey, right field.
Heppner Has Its Own
Cat and Chicken Pals
Instance of a warm friendship
between a cat and a chicken was
thought unusual enough recently
to make Ripley's "Believe II or Not"
feature in the dally press. Cats
and chickens, certainly, are not us
ually amicable companions and the
neighborhood torn cat is often
blessed when a distressed housewife
discovers the eggs scrambled in
the hen's nest.
Ripley's report, however, was not
an entirely unique instance. Hepp
ner has its own pals of this sort,
as reported by none other than the
editor s wife. She espied a cat and
a chicken chumming around to
gether in a neighbor's chicken lot
the other day. They playfully at
tacked each other, and the one
would chase the other for a time, all
in friendliest mien. Then they
would walk around side by side.
The only time any trouble was ap
parent was when the cat would at
tempt to pick up some of the chick
en's food, on which occasion the
feathered companion would veul
displcasuro in no misunderstand
able manner.
Spveral local Endeavorers drove
to Eugene today to attend the an
nual State C. E. convention, which
opens tonight and continues thru
Sunday. The opening address will
be given by Chancellor Frederick
M. iHunter of the state system of
higher education. Those making
the trip are Irene Beamer, Marie
Barlow, Kathryn Parker, William
Lee McCaleb, Jr., and Mr. and Mrs.
Alvln Klclnfeldt.
Mrs. Mattie Adkins returned
home Tuesday from Wallace, Idaho,
where she spent the winter with her
son-in-law and daughter, Mr, and
Mrs. Fred Elder.
COMMUNITY
When Spring
Run-OffBegan
on Ditch Creek
if -- . v
: .
Above Mack Smith, knee
deep in the newly bulldozed
ditch which this week brought
the flow of Ditch creek into
Willow creek, augmenting the
latter creek's flow to provide
irrigation water for lower creek
farmers.
Below George Peck, county
commissioner, on the trail taken
to Ditch creek last Thursday
by the Investigating party.
There's still snow in them tnar
hills.
DURAN LAND SELLS
FOR $18 PER ACRE
Jos. T. Peters, Portland Financier,
Makes Cash Deal for 880
A roes in Blackhorse.
Transfer of 880 ax--9, of Morrow
county farm land this week at $18
an acre, cash, was recorded when
Jos. T. Peters, Portland financier,
purchased holdings of Mose and
William Duran in Blackhorse. Both
the Mose Duran place of 720 acres
and the Wm. Duran place of 160
acres moved at the$18 cash price.
The newly acquired land will be
farmed by H. L. Duvall, the deal
being reported by Mrs. Duvall when
in the city yesterday. Duvall will
operate it in connection with ad
jacent land which he is already
farming.
Peters is a large holder of Mor
row county lands, having recently
purchased other farming land in the
lone and Lexington districts as an
investment
In addition to the farm land, he
recently purchased the business
property of the Fannie O. Rood es
tate at the corner of Main and Wil
low streets in this city, on which
he expects to start building opera
tions May 1.
LOCAL NEMROLS GAIN.
With a perfect three-man score
of 75, Heppner won four and tied
two of its matches in Sunday's
round of the Oregonlan telegraphic
trapshooting tournament, putting
it in fifth or sixth place among the
teams competing. Individual scores
for the day included L. Van Marter
25, Earl Warner 25, Dr. A. D. Mc
Murdo 25, Dr. J. H. McCrady 24,
Phil Mahoney 24, Luke Bibby 23,
Lester Doolittle 23, Chas. Vaughn
23, Rod Thomson 21, Ambrose Cha
pin 21, Judge Carmichael 21.
Miss Teresa Breslin, daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. Ed Breslin, is report
ed as doing nicely after undergoing
an operation in a Portland hospital
last week.
2 Million Gallons Daily
Added to
By JOSEPH BELANGEB
Two and one-half million gallons
of water per day are pouring Into
Willow creek for Morrow county
farmers that would formerly have
gone down Ditch creek into the
North Fork of the John Day as a
result of the newly bulldozed ditch.
This measurement was taken yes
terday by Earl Fulkerson, soil con
servation service engineer.
The Ditch creek diversion canal
is the realization of the twenty-
year-old dream of Oscar Minor,
who died before its fulfillment Vis
loning the possibilities of pouring
the waters of Ditch creek Into the
Willow creek watershed, Mr. Minor
plowed a small ditch 4800 feet long
which did carry a small stream of
water. Later the city of Heppner
laid an eight-inch pipe along the
course of this old furrow to replace
the water taken out of Willow creek
for city use.
In the spring of 1935 the ranchers
along the creek were again faced
with a severe water shortage. Many
creek ranchers were forced to haul
HOSKINS VIEWS
GOOD PROSPECT
Lions Told Baseball Boys
to Go Strong; Support
for Team Asked.
DONKEY GAMES SET
To Appear June 2-3; Morton Re
ports Banquet; Will H. Dutton
of Portland is Guest
About this time every year the
baseball fever begins to rise, em
phasized Fred Hoskins, playing
manager and coach of the town
team, in an appeal for support of
the community, made before the
Monday Lions luncheon. Hoskins
announced the prospect of a good
ball club in Heppner this year, one
that should be in the running strong
when the season end3. He hoped
that purchase of tickets for the
opening game with lone Sunday
would provide sufficient funds to
see the team comfortably through
the season.
The club gave the manager its
good will, and announced dates for
the donkey baseball games here
June 2-3, arrangements for which
were made by the club with pro
ceeds to be given the baseball team.
Introduced to the club by M. L.
Case was John Franzen, who Mr.
Case announced, would take over
active management of the Case
business enterprises along with
Gustaf Nikander. Mr. Case an
nounced that Mrs. Case's health
was such as to necessitate spend
ing much time in another climate,
and that he was retiring from act
ive management of the business,
though he expected a considerable
part of his time would be spent
here. He voiced appreciation of the
many friendships made in his long
business career here, and bespoke
a bright future for the young men
succeeding to the management Mr.
Franzen expressed appreciation of
the opportunity afforded, and asked
the good will of the community
toward the new management
Will H. Dutton, another guest,
brought greetings to the club as a
resident of the city in by-gone days,
and amused with a story. He ac
companied John Wightman, at
whose home he is a guest Recalled
were the days when Garfield Craw
ford, Percy Garrigues, Heppner
Blackman and Mr. Dutton, along
with some others still residing here
were young men about town.
Estes L. Morton, chairman of the
band benefit .banquet, gave a finan
cial report on the event which
showed receipts of $71.65, and ex
penses: 160 plates at 40c, $64; flow
ers, $1.50; tickets, $1.50; paper doil
ies, 20c; a total of $67.20, leaving a
balance of $4.45. He extended
thanks for the cooperation received
by the committee.
An entertainment feature on the
program was a trombone solo by
Norton King, accompanied by Mrs.
J. V. Crawford.
2160 Voters Eligible
To Ballot at Primary
At the close of registration books
in the clerk's office last week, an
increase of 49 registrations had been
recorded over the number' that had
been listed for the last primary elec
tion in 1934. Th total number of
voters eligible to participate in the
May 15 primary is 2160.
Republicans lead the democrats
.almost three to one, totalling 1502
against o9 lor the democrats, utn
er registration Include 2 progress
ives, 6 prohibitionists, 13 socialists
and 38 all others. Copy for the bal
lots was placed in the hands of the
printer yesterday by Clerk Barlow.
Nat Kimball, salesman for Fed
eral Land bank, was in the city
this morning from Pendelton.
W. H. French was in the city
yesterday from his Blue Mountain
farm south of Hardman.
Willow Creek
even their stock water. Realizing
this serious situation, the county
court sent a crew of men to dig a
ditch capable of carrying a consid
erable flow of water along the line
of Mr. Minor's old ditch. This new
ditch was dug two feet deep and
three feet wide and followed close
ly the old ditch line. Last fall the
Soil Conservation service sent its
big bulldozer to the mountains with
a crew of men and slashed and
gouged a real canal along the line
of the county's ditch. Early this
spring a small crew shovelled a path
along the canal for the water to
follow. As the snow melted the
ditch was cleaned out and the
maintenance crew, under Mack
Smith, has kept busy working on
the new and unsettled ditch banks.
During the past week Harry
Tamblyn, county engineer and wa-
termaster, has been busy regulatin,
the use of the water on Willow and
Rhea creeks. The hope of the
county court Is that by judicious
use all of the land along the creek
will receive Its share of water this
year.
MEETINGS ON FOR
NEW FARM SET-UP
Lexington and North Heppner
Committees Named; Jackman
Explains New Control Act.
The first community meeting for
discussion of the soil conservation
and domestic allotment plan was
held at the Lexington grange hall
last night. E. R. Jackman, exten
sion specialist in crops, explained
the workings of the new program.
Inevitably, with a program so wide
in scope many details will require
clarification. Enough information
is available, however, so that each
man may get a fairly clear picture
of what the program aims to ac
complish and how he can take ad
vantage of the act on his own farm.
Even though we still lack definite
information on several essential
points, the program is probably
more complete at this time than
was the old AAA set-up at the time
the original applications were sign
ed. Even though conditions may be
such that it is impractical for a man
to participate in the program for
1936, it is still important that each
farmer understands just what the
program is.
At last night's meeting the North
Heppner and Lexington districts
elected their community commit
tees. For North Heppner, E. H.
Miller, Lexington, was elected chair
man with Harry Turner as vice
chairman. Sam Turner was elect
ed the third committeeman, with F.
S. Parker, Heppner, as alternate.
For Lexington. George N. Peck
was elected chairman, with L. A.
Palmer, vice - chairman. Orville
Cutsf orth was the third- committee
man, with Harvey Bauman alter
nate. The next community meeting
will be held this evennig at lone
with the lone and Morgan districts
meeting jointly. On Friday night
at 7:30 the South Heppner and
Hardman districts will meet at the
Rhea Creek grange hall. On Mon
day, April 27, at 7:30 the Eightmile
district will meet at the Eightmile
school house. On Tuesday, April
28, at 7:30 the Alpine district will
meet at the Alpine school house.
On Wednesday, April 29, at 2:00 p.
m., Boardman will meet at the
Boardman grange hall, and at 7:30
the same day Irrigon will meet at
the Irrigon high school.
The same districts into which the
county was divided for the old AAA
program will be maintained under
the new set-up except that Board-
man and Irrigon will be added as
separate districts.
District Librarians
Coming Here April 29
Heppner will be host Wednesday,
April 29, to the district library con
ference comprising Arlington, Con
don, Fossil, Grass Valley, lone,
Moro, The Dalles and Heppner 11
brariea Miss Harriet C. Long,
state librarian,' is on the staff of
Instructors for the event which
starts at 9:30 in the morning. All
persons interested in library work
are invited to attend.
At 9:30 sharp will be held a two-
minute roll call, to which each li
brarian will respond by telling the
outstanding achievement of the
year. The librarian will then in
troduce the members of the library
board who have accompanied her.
Other numbers on the morning pro-
gram will be John Citizen Looks at.
the Public Library," Spencer Craw
ford, of the Gazette Times; "The
library Looks to the Future," Miss
Elizabeth Olson, librarian, Uma
tilla county library, Pendleton, and
question box.
Luncheon will be served at Hotel
Heppner at 12:15, with Chester A.
Fee of Pendleton as speaker. Mr.
Fee's book on Chief Joseph will bi
published in the spring. At 2 o'clock
"Reading for the Teen Age" will be
discussed by Miss Jean Sim, Wasco
county library, The Dalles, to be
followed by Recent Books for Pub
lic Libraries" by Miss Long, the
state librarian. Adjournment is
set for 4 o'clock sharp.
QL'ICK ACTION SHOWN.
The city fire department respond
ed quickly to the alarm Tuesday
morning when someone inadver
tently dropped a match Into the
waste gasoline at John Skuzeski's
cleaning establishment. Luckily
the names were extinguished be
fore the building caught, and no
damage was done. John Keyes and
a few others were on the job with
shovels before the fire department
arrived, and are also entitled to
crdit for allaying the flames next
to the building.
Mrs. Lucy E. Rodgers, county
school superintendent and vice
president Oregon State Teachers'
association, was in Portland Satur
day to attend an executive com
mittee meeting of the association.
Plans were discussed for the an
nual meeting to be held in the
Christmas holidays and reports
were heard on the American Edu
cation association convention to
be held in Portland June 28-July 3.
E. R. Jackman, extension special
1st from Oregon State college, ar
rived in the city yesterday to assist
in staging the series of organization
meetings under the new soil con
servation crop adjustment act, be
Ing held this week end. First of
the meetings was held at Lexington
last night
George Schwartz was up from
Portland yesterday looking after
local business interests.
L
Spokane Meeting Seeks
Action from Wallace
on Wheat Supply.
PRICE DROP SEEN
Decline to World Level Cited by
Secretary; Growers Want
Sound Export Policy.
Taking exception to a recently
published statement of Secretary
Wallace that northwest wheat
prices "slide as smoothly as possi
ble" to a world basis, to which he
said they are destined, leaders of
northwest farm organizations meet
ing in Spokane Tuesday asked Mr.
Wallace if something cannot be
done about this section's exportable
surplus.
Harvey Miller, president Eastern
Oregon Wheat league, was among
those in attendance. He returned
home that night Other organiza
tions represented were North Pa
cific Grain Growers, Farmers Edu
cational Cooperative Union of
Washington and Idaho, and Wash
ington State grange.
Government statistics show a
large exportable wheat surplus im
minent in the United States this
year, in the face of which the group
cited Mr. Wallace as being quoted
"Considering the present relative
strength of the world wheat mar
ket it is to be expected that Pa
cific Northwest wheat prices will
trend toward an export level dur
ing 1936-37. It is important there
fore, that this transition from the
domestic basis of the last few years
be made as smoothly as possible,
and it is believed this program may
facilitate such transition." The
program referred to is the new soil
conservation act for production
control.
Addressing themselves to Mr.
Wallace, the group said: "Being
representative of all of the wheat
growers of the Pacific Northwest
states, we are concerned as to the
implication contained in the state
ment that you are reported to have. .
made. The wheat growers are nat
urally alarmed as to the inescapable
results of such transition.
"All other principal wheat ex
porting countries provide, by gov
ernment regulation, large measures
of protection for the producer, and
American agriculture would . be
forced to compete because of such
measures at price disadvantage, to
say nothing of its higher labor and
other costs of production. If
American agriculture by such tran
sition is compelled to sell on what
is commonly referred to as a "world
market,' the farmer will be subject
to conditions far more serious than
those faced by the growers in com
peting countries, which will greatly
lessen his purchasing power, lower
his living standards and materially
retard national economic recovery.
Forcing uncontrolled exportation
of the American wheat surplus Into
world market channels, through
numerous export agencies, would,
as invariably has been the case, re
sult in further depression of the
price level in both foreign and do
mestic markets.
"Therefore, as we approach the
problem of American wheat ex
ports, consideration must be given
a plan that will assure distribution
of our wheat exports in such man
ner as to give the maximum sup
port to the wrold market and have
a stabilizing influence on the do
mestic price level, resulting in a
fair profit to the American produ
cer.
All argicultural legislation since
the enactment of the Agricultural
Marketing act has been designed to
reflect profitable prices for the
commodities raised by the Ameri
can farmer. Moreover, the wheat
producers have cooperated to the
fullest degree in making effective
the purpose of each and every leg
islative act. The large majority are
no less determined in their sup
port of the Soil Conservation and
Domestic Allotment act.
'The wisdom of the conservation
of American soil is fully approved
by the wheat producers of the Pa
cific Northwest. However, they
are unable to see in its application
any possibility of price support on
a level that will reflect a reason
able remuneration unless the wheat
surplus is controlled and marketed
through measures that will mater
ially advance and support the Am
erican price level considerably above
the present Indicated world level,
all of which is provided for under
the Soil Conservation act. The va
rious agricultural acts passed by
Congress empower the Department
of Agriculture to improve the prices
or farm commodities and we believe
such legislation to be economically
3ound. The Administration, under
Its policy of reciprocal trade agree
ments, and its desire to promote
foreign commerce, must realize the
imperative necessity of orderly re
moval of normal surpluses of wheat
from the Pacific Northwest area,
which is an even crop production
section. It produces a valuable
export variety of wheat and its re
moval into export channels, under
favorable conditions to the farmer,
comes within the Intent of the law.
Such removal Is us necessary lit
the protection of the price struc-
(Continuxt on fig Four)
Al
EDS
SURPLUS