The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1918-07-26
THOUSANDS OF FARMERS
NEED GOVERNMENT AID
GOVERNOR STEWART WILL GO TO WASHINGTON
IMMEDIATELY SOMETHING MUST BE DONE
BEFORE AUGUST TO INSURE
NEXT YEARS CROP.

1t will take ten million dollars to
crop two million acres in Montana
which otherwise will lie idle next
year, according to the report adopted
by the state council of defense at the
meeting in Helena Tuesday.
Valley county was represented at
this meeting by Peter Peterson, pres
ident of the Farm bureau; DR.. Rogers,
representative from the North coun-
try and Fred Truscott of the cham
ber of commerce and agriculture.
There are 24,0O0 Montana farmers
who need federal aid to the extent
of $1O,0O0,OOO if 100000 acres of
ground are to be seeded that other
year. This in brief, is the report of
wise will remain idle in the next crop
the special committee of seven select
ed at the conference in Helena Tues
day Of bankers, elevator men, farm
bureau presidents, business men and
others with the state council of de-
fense to consider ways and means of
keeping settlers on the farms.
The state council of defense adopted
the report and recommendations of
the special committee named at the
federal farm aid conference, and in
consequence Governor Stewart goes
to Washington this week to place the
matter before the authorities there.
He will be accompanied by represen-
tatives of the farm bureau.
at is our opinion" says the report,
"that 20 per cent or more will actually
leave the land for want of food and
seed if they are not given positive
assurance Of relief immediately"
The recommendation is made that
Governor S. V. Stewart go to Wash
ington at once to lay the matter be-
fore the proper authorities, and to
appoint one or more men to accom-
pany him if he deems it necessary.
Have Gone the Limit.
From all parts of northern Mon
tana and from districts in eastern
Montana where the drouth has pre-
vailed, came the same reports as made
by members of the conference. Bank
ers and merchants have gone the linn
it in backing the farmers and can as
sist them no further. The farmers
have mortgaged their stock, their
farm implements and their land and
have nothing left that can be mort
gagged as security. Consequently the
dispatch from Washington announc-
ing that the war finance corporation
is prepared to lend relief to drouth
sufferers through local banks, is not
to Montana at all if it
means that the local banks must guar
antee the loans, because the local
banks are already carrying as many
farmers loans as they possibly can.
The unanimous opinion was that to
be effective here in Montana, the
money must be loaned without the
guarantee of the local banks. Among
others who discussed the matter were
Messrs. Mccormick of Flathead, Con-
molly of Hill, Davis of Teton, Wilson
of Bozeman, Pemberton of Bozeman,
Everett of Blaine, Bernard of Flat
head and Ramsey of Helena.
Governor Stewart Presides.
Governor Stewart, who presided at
the conference appointed a commit
tee of seven to consider the formula
tion of a report for obtaining relief
for the drouth-stricken farmers and
t osend immediate information to
Senator T. J. Walsh and the war
finance corporation. The governor
named T. A. NARROW of Helena, Sam
uel Sansburn of Dawson county,
Scarce of Donan, Will A. Campbell
of Helena, NJ. L. Wilson of Bozeman,
Charles Davis of Teton and T. NJ.
Everett of Harlem. The committee