THE NATION: The Farmers' Decision

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Echoes to Come. Inevitably, the wheat quota vote will send political echoes bouncing all through 1954. Some Republicans believe that the vote was politically good for them. Their theory: wheat farmers, with their crop still firmly supported will have little cause to be angry at the party in power. The loudest and probably the most important echoes will be heard when Congress comes to grips with farm policy next year. The vote undoubtedly will be used as an argument for continuing the rigid 90%-of-parity supports, instead f adopting a sliding scale which would lower the support level when surpluses pile up.

As Congress faces the farm problem next year, all but one of the six basic farm crops will be under some form of federal control (see BUSINESS). The U.S. will be looking to the Administration and Congress for a plan that will curtail surpluses in the granary and deficits in the treasury. Finding such a plan will be no easy task, and the farmers' decision last week made it no easier.