American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1918-01-22

In lots OF places We have been 50
strong in numbers that we have torn
down wire fences. In other places We
have been 50 good at growing that
last summer some trainers could not
cut their wheat because we had kept
II down sc low that it was not worth
cutting.
But l must admit that we also have
some good friends among the people.
For instance. there is the fellow who
gets title to some land and then hikes
off TO some town or other instead Of
~cultivating his farm. The day he
leaves we take possession and in q few
months we are master. You see, We
can grow our seed on such a
place unmolested and can easily
spread it all over the country from
this base. Such abandoned ranches
are found in lots of places, and We
travel far and wide. l have been all
over the county myself. l vas raised
on an abandoned ranch west Of Paul
inc and have been as far east as the
depot platform at Pocatello, but that
outfit that owns that place have got a
floor so hard that it was useless TO
have any seed there. I did the next
best thing, from my point of view,
and rolled to American Falls along
the railroad track, and if you want
70 see what did on the way just take
a stroll along the track in the spring.
About a mile or so east of American
Falls you will see a bare spot about a
yard square; nothing will eve grow
there, because a fellow dropped a suit
case and broke every bottle in il. l
don't know what the stuff in the bot
ties was, but I noticed that the fellow
drank some Of it before it all ran out
Of the one he grabbed, and that after
that he rolled worse than I did.
Il took a roll down the Clifton creek
road from Crystal one day. but didn't
waste much time there; two of these
abandoned ranches are on that road
and my cousins are working overtime
on them. But I did stop long enough
TO hear a farmer say that he was
willing 10 bet his last war savings
stamp that these blankety-blank
ranches will be taken care Of the com
ing season. and when ne said it he
had a look in his eye that BODIES no
good for my tribe. II seems that a
bunch Of fellows over in Boise-that's
the place where a crowd meets every
wv sEaA0 ~ say HndA the JULIET AtA-
low must and must not dO-put some
printing on a paper and that another
fellow, whom they call the governor,
put his name at the bottom of it, and
that this paper says that any bunch
OF farmers a get together and com
pei the owner of any piece of land
who let's US grow unhindered TO clean
US out and destroy US. and that if he
does not do so the county officials
will see TO il that it is done and make
our friend pay for il. too. That's a
fine way to treat our friends, isn't it?
And then they talk OF liberty and free
dom and such. Well, I listened TO that
talk and then I beat il over to Little
creek and got in ONE fine work there
for awhile. After that l rolled over
some hills and tarried awhile on
Cold creek. and on my way TO Neeley
l came acress the place where the
Warm Springs reservoir used to be
and found il SO nice that I rolled
around there quite awhile. Next
spring the evidence OF my visit will be
seen on every hand over there.
But I can tell the whole bunch OF
you c~onfederates that We are All
doomed if the farmers get together and
do what those fellows in Boise said
they can do. And l want TO say far
Their. that in my travels all over this
and other counties l have found that
the only real friend we've got is the
fellow who leaves his farm to US.
Now that they have got after him with
one Of those papers signed by the
governor I don't see how We can sur
vive much longer. You pikers can
gotten rid of by poison and traps and
YOU are entitled TO much glory. no
one ever gave a whole ranch for you
TO grow up in by the million. and not
one of you can travel as rapidly and as
far as I have done, and all of you to-
sether have % done as much damage
as | have. But until the farmers all
get after me and my tribe. until then.
l say, l insist that I am the chief
guy in the ranks of the farmers enc
mics. and you fellows can't even get
a place in my cabinet. I am an auto
crat. and get along without a cabinet.
Get that"
Just as the mustard plant delivered
this ultimatum a merry laugh was
heard without. and then q Russian
thistle plant came tumbling in.
You are quite a guy. TO hear you say
it." said the Russian thistle. but I
want you to know that my hats in the
ring when it comes 10 being the chief
guy in the army of the farmers enc
mics. I am here with seeds on. just as
many as you have. and l don't intend
to stand for your going it alone as the
chief guy. l roll on forever and ever.
the same as you do; and. like YOU. l
fear nothing but ire or the concerted
action of the farmers. I am willing
10 try conclusions with you in any way
you say; am even willing TO go with
you TO one~of these abandoned ranches
and grow side by side with you. and
then we will see who will smother out
the other fellow
How foolish you talk" said the
mustard. Cant you see the folly of
your proposition? Suppose I kill you
out. or you kill me out. That. in either
event. would leave only one of Us