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The Seaforth News, 1955-12-29, Page 7It Appears that the larmcrs In the United States - unlike dome others I might mention - aren't taking present conditions "lying down." Their United Grange is an ancient, powerful and well-respected body. it has never been even faintly sus- pected of communistic or social- ° istle leanings. And I think that the following report of its re- cent •convention in Cleveland might make profitable reading for many of us. American farmers are strug- gling in a state of emergency, and should receive emergency aid from the government, de- elared the National Grange in a policy statement concluding its 89th annual meeting here, This hard -slugging 23 -page statement on agriculture had been argued out in committee sessions for 10 days and was de- bated for 310 hours by the 74 voting delegates empowered to speak for almost a million rural Americans belonging to the Grange in 37 states. The Grange's demand for aid for the fanner represents no re- treat in its insistence that all government programs should point toward more self-reliance for farmers, but it does put in- creased emphasis on the need for immediate assistance to far- mers who are getting less in- come each year while baying to pay high prices fol everything they buy. "Except for large commercial farming enterprises, American agriculture is in a state of emer- gency," the Grange summed up its view of the situation, and then specifically spelled out the nature of the emergency. To permit agriculture "to de- cline to inequitable ]ow levels of income not only reduces far- mers to the status of second- class citizens, but eventually adds an excessive burden to the total economy," it said. e * ,r It pointed to the decline in agriculture income to prewar levels in a period when "wages, salaries, returns to processors lend manufacturers, commercial trade, transportation, communi- cation, and most other major segments of the economy have risen to their highest levels in the nation's history.. , "Along with the growing dis- parity between farm and non- farm income, there had also been a widening disparity with- in thestructure of agriculture itself. Farms are growing larger end the total number of farms is growing smaller. . . Eco- nomic pressures, often prompt- SALLY'S SALLISS "I'd like some Scotch heels - high for the high road, low for the low road," ed by government policies, are squeezing many family - type farms of moderate size." More than 51 per cent of the farm products used by the nae tion come from 9 per cent of the nation's farmers, said the Grange, and these approximate- ly 500,000 farmers are doing very well, with income possibly averaging above $9,000 a year. But, this detailed statement pointed out, "that at the other. end of the scale, 1,555;000 far- mers are receiving annual in- comes of less than $1,000." * ,;t * Between these groups repre- senting the high and the low in- come, "are nearly 3,300,000 farmers representing the bulk of the bona fide farmers of the nation." These are the farm families, according to the Grange, which "have been bear- ing the brunt of the prolonged postwar income decline which has resulted from steadily in- creasing -farm costs and falling farm prices." The reasons for their predica- ment, the Grange holds, call be found primarily in "government policies, programs, and eco- nomic pressures, Also, it says "family farms have been forced by govern- ment policy decisions to absorb a large part of the price - in terms of restricted export com- modity sales -- of American efforts to rehabilitate or devel- op agriculture in other parts of the world." * is * The Grange criticized the gov- ernment price -support programs and what it termed government failure to sell its surplus agri- culture products competitively abroad. "Neither 90 per cent, 75 per cent, nor 60 per cent price- support levels provide any as- surance against the build-up of surplus stocks of major export crops as long as government policies block the competitive sales of these commodities on the world markets," it stated. It condemned giveaway pro- grams for surplus commodities as providing "no lasting solu- tion," and argued that "only competitive selling in the world market by the United States can be counted On to discourage continued expansion of foreign agriculture production at the expense of American trade" The Grange would even favor direct trade of foodstuffs to Iron Curtain countries "so long as it does not jeopardize our na- tional security." The American Ulmer must •have access to world markets on a competitive basis, it bolds. * * * Strongly reiterating, its faith in the relationship of the family farm to the economy of the United States, the Grange "firmly believes that federal farm programs involving the expenditures of public funds should be directed toward the middle-income group of farm families, which receive all or a major portion of their income from farm operation$ " It favors price supports "only when 'necessary through the use of nonrecourse loans and pur- chases to help achieve and sta- bilize . farm parity income, to meet needed emergency, adjust- ments, to reduce incentives for production of surpluses, and to help keep margins of profits to producers balanced between all farm products." CROSSWORD PUZZLE AC:ttOS$ • 1. Bandied 4, Land measures 9. Finial 13, :Cato halves L4. A square L, London 15. Ilythiesi monster L7. Behave 991. Stake eYee 19, 8 nful'iat e 21. Bow genus 22. Artlele L 'aside 114 bumble 011. 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Ib � ■■ I 0 ■. 40 . ■ENM"' s4 25 20 34 ■■11■■ 31. j7ill 38 III.a9 4.. ■■ 4l ■■ 45 44 fy ns iiiim 47 ••148 ,vii"/.. ■■ . 2, 49 5o III sl ■:•:•)rr r p. rt 55 ..N 54 .. ': 4G ■■ 1■■■®®■® Answer elsewhere en this page. Cloistered Life in a Convent "Too Hard" for Marie Dionne Anemia has probably put an end to hopes that Quintuplet Marie Dionne will become a lawn for life, The frailest of the four sure viving sisters, Marie was forced to leave the convent of the order of the Sisters of the Holy Sacrament in Quebec City, It was the . second time since July, 1954, that her health has taken her from the convent, which she entered in 1953. Now doctors -and Papa Oliva Dionne -says she .probably will never return. They say life in the convent is "ton hard for her frail health," Marie ie being treated for the blood condition at the Notre Dame de 1'Es- perance Hospital near Montreal, At birth and as an infant, Marie was the smallest and frailest of the quilts. Marie's interest in religion showed itself early, as evi- denced by this photo, at 31,a. Here's Marie on her first trip away from home, when she visited New York in 1950. At 19, Marie entered the con- vent of the Sisters of tate Holy Sacrament, Quebec, Change Handwriting -- Cure "Nerves" Doctors with patients suffer- ing from stress and strain brought on by the bustle of modern life are preseribing a change of handwritingl. They say that writing the fashionable Italie hand soothes the nerves. It makes people who've been living too fast, slow down. "Many maintain that the di- scipline of trying to write well is of great psychological value," states Mr. Geoffrey Ebbage, honorary treasurer of the So- ciety for Italic Handwriting. Among the' members are more than twenty doctors, who take their own medicine by writing italic. They're among the few medicos in the country whose writing can be easily read! Writers of this new -old style included many famous folk. Walt Disney is one of the 1,650 members of the Society, along with school-tecahers, lawyers, architects -in fact, people in all professions and jobs. Only a few of them took up italic as a nerve cure, however. Most of them like it because they believe it's rude to send your friends illegibly scribbled letters. It's even claimed that italic's a weapon against crime. One juvenile delinquent was per- suaded to take up italic. He was very good at it, and was' praised by the teacher at the approved school. He'd never been praised by a teacher be- fore, and the new experience began a change of his whole personality. Now his character's as good as his writing. - - Italic's ideal, say enthusiasts, for love -letters. Beautiful words in beautiful writing is bound to make 'em fall! Though the fashion's new and the name of the hand suggests Italy, it's really a very- old. kind of writing invented by an Eng- lishman, Over 1,100 years ago an English monk named Alcuin designed it at the request of Charlemagne, first Floly Roman Emperor. Five hundred years ago it was revived and adopted in the Chancery - the Pope's offices in Rome, in place of hard - to -write, hard -to -rad "Gothic" black letter, Queen Elizabeth rook it up, but William Shakes- peare ,didn't. Perhaps that's why there are so many errors in - the original printings of his plays! There''s a boom in italic to- day, and many books have beert. published on it, including a re- cent popular children's book, The Society for Italic Hand- writing was founded in 1952 and has branches in Canada, and South Africa,, where italic is now the: official writing for the pollee. There are also individual' members in most countries in the world. Some manufacturers are selling special pens and inks f Or writing italic. The fine hand has its critics. They say that changing over to it knocks the individuality out of your writing, that all italic looks alike. They also say that italic signatures are easy meat fax forgers. Italic writers deny this. They say you soon learn to recogize the individual differences in people's italic. And banks aren't worried about the forgery angle. They accept italic signatures for cheques. Going to Mars? A Five Year Trip Astronomers all Over the world are already getting exci- ted about an event that will oc- cur in eleven months' time. For then the red planet Mars will be nearer the Earth than it has been for thirty-two years - it will be only 35,500,000 miles away! (The Sun is 92,900,000 miles from the Earth.) As Mars draws nearer astron- omers will re -check many of the established facts about it. They will re -measure its diameter - 4,125, miles -and re -check its weight, which is just over one- tenth the weight of the Earth. Recent phenomenal progress in the science of rockets and electronics means that almost certainly the comparative close- ness of Mars will enable scien- tists to assess the possibilities Of landing there this century. Dr, Root. S. Richardson, chief astronomer at America's Mount Palomar observatory, says that Mars definitely has a thin at- mosphere of some kind, that water is scarce there, that there is probably some plant life and that men who volunteer to make the rocket journey to Mars must expect to stay there at least five years, He is sure man's insatiable curiosity will eventually take him to Mars. The scientific knowledge gained by accom- plishing this amazing journey will more than justify the vast expense, he thinks. Much more may be learned by astronomers next year about the - two -tiny moons, Phobos and Dei- mos, which revolve around Mars. "Some of us believe that Mars may be inhabited - by living creatures who are not necessar- ily human," he said: "It was- the astronomer, Schiaparelli, who, in 1877, started the notion that there might be living, thinking Martians. Patches of changing shape, observed over the years, suggest some kind et vegetable life, but any Martians would have to be pretty hardy. "During their winter, temper- ature in all but the tropic re- gions is probably near zero and in summer it may tOp eighty degrees Fahrenheit." Some scientists think that Martian vegetation is not multi- coloured, as on earth, 'but ex- clusively blue. They explain that the Mars flora does not reflect infra -red raye or long -wave colours such bs the red, Orange, green an& yellow Of the spectrum, but re- flects Only blue and violet. This happens because blue protector the plants from the harmful ac- tion of ultra -violet rays which can easily penetrate the rare- fied atmosphere On Mars. Bogus Doctors Television starlets and glam- our girls around Paddington poured their secrets into the dusky ears of a doctor in his West -end consulting r o one. Though he charged high fees, ha had a perfect bedside manner. The starlets did not know that the "M.D" after his name stood for "Most Deceptive" They did not dream that the. -doctor" was unqualified. They little knew that, instead of medical train- ing, he flrat came to this country from the Gold Coast ... by hid- ing aboard a cargo ship as a stowaway. So bland was his manner, so glib his medical jargon, that he fooled even the medical profes- sion. Launching himself with forged credentials, he gained appointments at a dozen hospi- tals throughout Britain. Ona hospital even made him its top- notch senior resident M.O. He took part in operations, ad- ministered anaesthetics, was in charge of the wards. During the war he even obtained a com- mission- and served as a doctor in the Army. When the authori- ties discovered his false de, grees, he was court-mantialledt. But within six months he was back in the hospitals. How many other doctors totally unqualified are in prac- tice to -day? The one referred to actually practised medicine for twenty years before being found out. In the end he came to grief - and went to jail - not for writing false prescrip- tions but falss cheques! Following these startling dis- closures, there has recently been a boom in bogus doctors. Des- pite the asurance of a Ministry of Health official -"The chancels of an unqualified man obtain - in an appointment are ex- tremely remote" there's that case of "Dr." Kuong Bo Li, for instance. Kuong was a house surgeon for three years at Leeds Infir- mary, His story was that he had lost his credentials during an air raid on Singapore. Impostor though he was, Kuong Li per- formed operations as. a matter of routine and even carried out a delicate brain operation. Where patients died, he signed the death certificates! Then one day an eminent Montreal professor of surgery, whom Kuong Li claimed to know, happened to visit Leeds. The professor had never heard of him - and inquiries were made. Quietly Kuong Li disappear- ed. He is believed to have travelled home to China via Russia. IOW Upsidedown L9 ?revon l'eekut[d Lean Hogs Reached For Lean by Gaynor Maddox NEA Food and Markets Editor Concern over calories and weight -reducing diets is help- ing to create a serious agrieul- ture problem, A result is a new kind of animal - the lean hog. Pork - once a top table item - is glutting the market as peo- ple are turning their appetites from this fatty meat to lean beef. Last year, for example, the average United States eater consumed only 60 pounds• of pork, and almost 80 of beef. And so today, with. pork prices lower than they have been in live years, pork produc- ers and agriculture experts are worrying themselves' thin. On top of everything else, they find,. the nation this year had a bumper crop of corn - much of it uneated at dieting tables. Unconsumed corn means softer corn prices. And softer corn prices mean more 'teed and thus more pigs. * 4. Joining forces, agriculture experts and pork producers are campaigning to restore pork to its place in the national diet. The -U.S. Department of Agri- culture has been experimenting with methods to produce leaner bacon and pork. So far they have developed the "meat -type hag. At the same time the Ameri- can Meat Institute is urging producers to send leaner pig - products to market.. The AMI is also trying to teach the._ • housewife the high nutritional value of pork, They have tined up some medical backing to teach expectant and nursing mothers that pork is not taboo: The Department of Agricul- ture is urging the armed forces to use more pork and to in-. .crease pork exports, The Da - pertinent has a limited purchas- ing program for using extra pork products in its non-profit eehool lunch program. Some reports on the new pork promotion 'are coming in. J. Morrell Foster, chairman of the board of AMI, explains that many members marketing closely -trimmed pork are finding increased sales, The nation, he says, can expect to see more and more of It in meat stores, This is a departure from tra- ditional methods of marketing pork. Trimming that used to be done by the retailer is now be- ing done at the meat -packing plant. * * * Swift es Co„ the nation's larg- est packers, are already trim- ming fresh pork loins and shoul- der butts to ee inch of fat - the minimum to prevent too -dry cooking. - But the Department el Agri- culture reports that its pork- lalle Fare promoting program has not strengthened the market. A De- partment spokesman says that only with enormous price 'dis- counts does the supply move. Agriculture Secretary Ezra Taft Benson, however, says ha is determined to improve the position of the hog and pork in- dustry. His advice: coordinate a national promotion campaign and improve merchandising methods from farm to. retail store. He does not favor a direct price support program. Meanwhile, a new headache in the pork picture is develop- ing. Since 1947 the entire meat budget among consumers hap declined. It is expected to take another drop before this year is out. This could mean that automo- biles, houses, appliances, travel, entertainment - and the na- tional waistline - are outcome peting the livestock producer. SOME OF THE new .lean hogs look over the market -you;