The Department of Agriculture had 25 million bushels of hot potatoes on its hands. It had already, at a total cost of $35 million, given away all it could to deserving institutions, school-lunch programs and overseas relief. To give the rest away, complained Agriculture Secretary Charles F. Brannan dolorously, would cost the Government another $15 million.
Putting the problem to Congress, Char lie Brannan was too politic to remind its members of what they already knew too well: the potato glut was its baby. The Senate Agriculture Committee handed it back to Brannan, who decided to save the $15...