MDCHDGAN ~I FARM NEWS . THE ACTION PUBLICATION OF THE MICHIGAN FARM BUREAU Vol. 44, No. 7 Published Monthly by Michigan Farm Bureau July 1, 1966 THE FARMING FUTURE-may well be shaped by such youths as Norman Veliquette, this year's winner of the Michigan Farm Bureau Women's scholarship. In this artist's conception, leader- ship qualities are emphasized-the farm scene for his dairy background, Beaumont Tower for studies at Michigan State University, "Christ of the Andes" for his participation in the International Farm Youth Exchange to Brazil-and the Amer- ican flag symbolizing citizenship activities. Norman is the eld- est of 11 children of Mr. and Mrs. Beverly Veliquette, Antrim County Farm Bureau members. His father is former county president. Another outstanding youth, Gerald A. Caron, Es- canaba, has recently been awarded a similar MSU scholarship by the Michigan Farm Bureau. Each year, the Michigan Farm Bureau offers several scholarships to such worthy young people . .. - - -. • I I I \ \ I I \ : ! i \ \ \ \ I " , . Congressional State Farm Come To The Discussion ON THE INSIDE: Vote Record Page 3 Management Tour Page 6 FAIR! Page 10 Topic Page 14 TWO July 1, 1966 MICHIGAN FARM NEWS Editorial President's Column Ring Out The Freedom Bells PROPAGANDA The Administration's propaganda campaign to pin the blame for inflation on the farmer For years following the signing of the Dec- continued full-blast through June. No let up laration of Independence, the bells of freedom in releases to the press and the broadcast sta- pealed across the land on the 4th of July. Not tions. "ft.1. ore wool over the public eyes. until the Civil \Var did the banging of fire- It is an election year. Fair means or foul crackers drown out the bells and cause the are being used to get the monkey of inflation American people to forget them. off the Administration's back - and farmers In 1963, Eric Sloane, a writer on American have a weak vote. customs, appealed to the nation to restore the So there is a good place for the monkey. bells to their historic role. The Liberty Bell Farmers need to help the public ask a ques- sent the first notes of freedom to the American tion. vVhat kind of men wiII jump on a weak people. Its voice is silenced. But let other group when it is down? And if it is down, how bells pick lip the message and proclaim liberty can it be so powerful as to create inflation? throllghollt the land! Government regulations have been insisting Pre~ident Kennedy enthusiastically supported that broadcast media give the public "both sides this proposal, and since 1963, bells have pealed of an issue." It appears that this rule does not forth at 2 p.m., Eastern daylight time in many apply to the pronouncements of certain poli- American communities. The practice is spread- ticians. Real fairness would assure farmers ing. ~'fany radio stations have broadcast the "equal time" in the forum of public opinion. bells followed by a reading of the Declaration But farmers would have to pit their resources of Independence. and influence, against that of the all-powerful The Farm Bureau applauds this rebirth of a government. national symbol. It appeals to everyone con- The job is left up to us, as farmers, to get cerned to make this practice bring forth a new U the truth to the American people - and we birth of freedom" in the hearts of our people. had better give the job both barrels, well aimed. Let those bells ring out more than sweet Thousands of us should be writing letters to and startling music, and more than a signal of the editors, both press and broadcast. We a mere anniversary day! Let our citizens be reminded that tnle freedom means the fullest opportunity for individuals - the best guar- antee that our free government can give to us. Let those bells declare that freedom endures BULL-DOlED FARM SAFETY WEEK, JULY 24-30 shouldn't do it just to yell "foul!" The facts are on our side. We should spread them far, fast and frequently. What are the facts? Today's consumer is spending only about 19~ of his income dollar for food, and that includes . only in a land where citizens assume their civic ,a lot of new built-in preparations. He used, to and personal responsibilities toward the affairs More than one Michi~an fanner has been knocked out spend as much as 25~ to 30~. It bids fair to of their country and their communities. of the picture by a bull. go to less than 19~. The government helps con- Let those bells remind us that we should Usuallv it is a tame bull that does the damage. Or, sumers to get dollars. That help gets votes. "ask not u;hat aliI' country may do for us, but even if th~ owner suspects the animal of a latent streak of There are even "free dollars" for some. rather ask what we may do for our country." viciousness, one unguarded moment is enough. There has been no protest by the Administra- Let them remind us that our responsibility to One man was saved by teamwork between a mongrel tion over the tremendous increases in wage con- our fellow men and to our nation must rest dog and the sharp eye of his wife who heard the frenzied tracts - increases that wiII soon add $2.23 an upon an abiding loyalty of heart and a full dog's barking and looked out the kitchen window to see hour to the pockets of construction workers. No respect for the rights of all citizens even as we the bull pinning her husband against a pasture hummock. accusation of inflation is leveled in that direc- assume those rights for ourselves. tion. But what about food costs? The dog's nipping at the bull's heels caused the great Let them declare to tiS that human rights Look at the USDA's «~1.arket Basket." It is head to momentarily 'swing to\:\,'ard his .tormentor. By cannot be guaranteed to anyone, but must be that time, the wife had loaded the 22 rifle and neatly put what the average urban family buys from u.s. earned by responsible action on the part of a bullet through the bull's eye. farms. It has risen only 17% since 1947-49. But those who enjoy those rights. the farm value of that same amount of food has Let them revive our vision to see that char- The furrows plowed by the farmer's body in soft pas- dropped 71f4 % in the same time. So, except .. ture ground as the bull shoved him uphill, along with the itable action is born in the sincere sympathy of for political reasons, why pick out food and pressure-burst seams of his new denim work pants, were the human heart and that it is no longer char- farmers to be the whipping boy? mute testimony of t;he tremendous force the animal itable if it must be forced upon us by the Farmers know that their incomes, gross or exerted. power of government. Let them ring forth the net, have not kept pace with inflation, itself. tnlth of the Golden Rule. Fortunately, other than badly ruptured leg muscles, the The Administration knows it, too. The VSDA farmer was not too severely injured - thanks to a loyal \Ve appeal that the ringing of these freedom calculates the figures! They know that the dog and a woman's rare sharp-shooting ability. Not all bells shall always mean protection from the costs of production on U.S. farms has risen farmers are so lucky. tyranny of government, however established. by $4.1 billion since 1960. They can study Last year in Michigan, a «tame" cow went beserk when their own figures to see that farm costs have ~1ay they restore our recognition that our her newborn calf was moved and (she thought) threatened. gone up 28% since 1947:-49. They can also U.S. Constitution was born from a long struggle The results were tragic. check to find that farm prices have been only to escape the tyrannies which oppressed man- kind, and that the protections written into it National Farm Safety Week, July 24-30, will again 75% to 82% of parity in 1965-66. They know, were not simply molded for a certain age, but emphasize the fact that accidents - all accidents - are too, that this means that farmers are below the for the eternity of human freedom. caused and therefore can be prevented. average in purchasing power. They know that Obviously, if we can chante, remove or control the farmers have been the hardest hit by inflation. ~1ay each fall of the bell-clapper remind us human and environmental accident factors, we can greatly But they choose to overlook all these facts. of the protections provided individuals by the reduce accidents. National Farm Safety Week is dedi- They must cover up other facts. ten original amendments to our Constitution- cated to this fact. Since 1947-49,government spending has risen our Bill of Hights, for these gave us the right Fanners have it in their own direct personal interests 173%. It has gone up from $76.5 billion in 1960 to think and speak freely as individual citizens, to take safety seriously, everywhere, all of the time. to an estimated $112.5 billion for 1967. The the right to assemble freely, the right to worship according to aliI' own consciences, the right to budget has been overspent every year since the privacy of our home, of our peers, the right 1960. Deficits have run as high as $8.2 billion. to determine the form of our local governments But the government must fill in for the deficits. and the right to earn and possess private property. M Ie H I G A THE ACTION PUBLICATION .r-c, FARM OF THE MICHIGAN FARM NEWS BUREAU So it prints more money and spends them in the economy. Has any government spokesman given this ~fay the bells remind tiS that human rights The MICHIGAN FARM NEWS is DIRECTORS: District I, Francis puhlished monthly, on the first day. Finch, Mattawan. R-I; District 2. Wil- side of the issue to the public? On whose back cannot endure u;ithout full respect for property bv the Michil!an Farm Bureau. at its bur H. Smith, Burlington, R-l; District publication office at 109 N. Lafayette 3. Donald L. Ruhlil!, Dexter; Dis- is the monkey really riding? 'Ve must give the rights. Street. Greenville. Michil!an. trict 4. E I ton R. Smith, Caledonia. public a look behind the scenes. Editorial and l!eneral offices at 4000 R-l; District 5. David Morris, Grand The 4th of July firecrackers that came with :-':orth Grand River Avenue. Lansinl!, Ledl%e, R-3: District 6, Ward G. Hodl!e. There is another thing which we farmers ~fichiJ;tan. Post Office BOlt 960. Tele- the Civil \Var so readily became meaningless phone. Lansing. -185-8121. Extension Snover. R-I: District 7, Kenneth Bull, Bailey, R-l; District 8. Harvey Leuen- should do. Senator McGovern has introduced explosions that created an atmosphere of ex- 317. Established January 12. 1923. Sec- herl!er. Sal!inaw. R-6: District 9. a resolution (Senate Concurrent Hesolution 88) EUl%ene Roberts, Lake City. R-l; Dis- citement. Farm Bureau believes that this day ond Class Postage paid at Greenville. trict 10. Edl!ar Diamond. Alpena. R- which calls on the Administration to stop using ~Iichigan. Subscription price. 50t per 2; District 11. Clayton Ford, Cornell. should be one of thoughtfulness by all Ameri- "ear . the agricultural laws to prevent farm prices . EDITORIAL: Editor. ~felvin L. DIRECTORS AT LARGE: Walter can citizens so that we may transmit to our Woell: Staff Photol!rapher. Charles Frahm. Frankenmut~: Dean Prid'leon. from reaching parity. children the great heritage wrung out for us Bailey; Associate Editor, Mrs. Donna Wilber: Staff Artist. Ray Van IddcKinl!. Montgomery, R-l. R-l; Robert Z,'eb, Bath. Everyone of us shotlld write to our Senators by the sacrifice and toil of those who knew OFFICERS: ~lichigan Farm Bu- WOMEN OF FARM BUREAU: Mrs. and Representatives in support of this resolu- reau: President. Elton R. Smith. Cale- the blight and disappointments suffered under donia. R-I: Vice President. Dean William Scramlin. Holly; FARM BU- tion. \Vhen you come right down to it, the PridJ;teon, Montgomery. R-l; Secretary- REAU YOUNG PEOPLE: Raymond all powerful nllers of the past. ~fanal!er. Clarence E. Prentice. Okemos. Kucharek. Gaylord. dumping of farm commodities on the market Let freedom ring, not simply in the bells, POSTMASTER: In using form 3579, mail to: Michigan Farm News, 4000 N. to lou;er farm prices is cut from the same piece but in the hearts of the people! Grand River, lansing, Michigan. of cloth as the inflation issue. Second class postage paid at Greenville, Michigan M.W. E.S. MICHIGAN FARM NEWS July 1, 1966 THREE "PROPER Vote-Record Ana ysis REPRESENTATION" Melvin L. WoelI, Editor AS RATEDBY- Michigan Fann News 1. A.C.A. (Americans for Constitutional Action), which measures votes having \\a significant bearing on the preservation of the spirits and principles of the Consti- Dear Mr. 'Voell: Being interested in getting proper representation for tution as these were defined by the founding fathers of our Republic." A.C.A. ratings farmers, I was wondering if the Farm News would be are cumulative, going back as far as 1957, if the Congressman has served that long. willing to publish a chart showing the voting records of 2. A.D.A. (Americans for Democratic Action) shows the \\measure of the liberal- our representatives in Washington. ism of a Member of Congress, determined by the percentage of his votes in harmony Most voters just do not know how to go about getting these statistics and go to the polls with only the meager with liberal policies." The A.D.A. rating is based on votes cast in the first, or 1965, information supplied by the candidates, which can be session of the 89th Congress (which is still in session). very misleading. 3. C.O.P.E. (AFL-CIO's Committee on Political Education), which rates Represen- I never could stomach the idea that a fanner couldn't tatives on \\right" or \\wrong" on the basis of how their votes conform to AFL-CIO pol- handle his own' place better than some politician. When a dairyman with ribbons, plaques, citations and trophies icies. The ratings shown are cumulative and go back to 1947 for those who have has to quit - don't tell me it is because he is too dumb served that long. The C.O.P.E. ratings do not cover the first session of the 89th Con- to keep up and I have two friends who have done just. gress. Thus, a freshman Congressman, elected in 1964, does not have any rating by that. C.O.P.E. 1 I have been retired for the past six years. (This analysis also shows the number of terms which each Congressman 1 ; Thank you for a fine job on our paper. has served and the percentage of the vote which each received in the , ,., Jacob J. Maule 1964 election. Percentages for Members who had no significant opposi- 3248 S. Irish Road tion are marked with an "x".) Flint, Michigan Genesee County Percent of District Name Terms Vote, 1964 A.C.A. A.D.A. C.O.P.E. 1 Conyers (D) 1 X 0 100 2 Vivian (D) 1 50.6 4 89 3 Todd (D) 1 52.7 12 74 Tolls on the St. Lawrence Seaway may tag farmers with 4 Hutchinson (R) 2 54.3 94 0 o 5 Ford (R) 9 61.2 82 11 16 added shipping costs. The Michigan Elevator Exchange has 6 Chamberlain (R) 5 56.6 79 0 24 expressed its concern for this fact at a recent hearing held in 7 Mackie (D) 1 65.7 11 84 Chicago. Spokesman for the Exchange was M.E.E:s Traffic ~fanager, G. A. (Bud) Seeley. ------------- 8 Harvey (R) 3 54.7 78 21 5 The proposed increases would 9 Griffin (R) 5 57.4 78 16 18 add % cent per bushel to the 10 Cederberg (R) 7 56.6 90 0 5 cost of shipping grain by the 11 Clevenger (D) 1 53.3 4 95 • ~ waterway. "This may not seem important to anyone not familiar 12 O'Hara (D) 4 74.8 2 89 97 with the grain business," said 13 Diggs (D) 6 x 2 89 98 Seeley,