Green Pastures

"This bill has in its language the power to help nine-tenths of my people . . . because we are largely an agricultural people. . . ." So, last week, declared the Representative of the First District of Illinois, many of whose constituents live in the slum wards of Chicago, as he made his maiden speech in Congress. The House applauded him, for this is an election year, and all parties want the support of his people. The speaker was Arthur W. Mitchell, lone Negro member of Congress.

Not, however, because of Representative Mitchell's people alone did the House pass the New Deal's "Conservation" Crop Control Bill by a thumping vote of 267-to-97. Two other groups were considered by the House in adding amendments to the measure the Senate passed fortnight ago: 1) for the South's tenants and share croppers, a clause requiring that they receive a fair proportion of the benefits paid land owners; 2) for consumers, a clause prohibiting the Secretary of Agriculture from practicing any kind of conservation that would reduce farm production below the 1920-29 average.

Less fond of croppers and consumers, the Senate sent the farm bill to conference to be quarreled over.

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