The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1919-09-26

sponslnle Tor the high cost Of living,
is made by George P. Hampton, man.
aging director of the Farmers Ma
tional council.
The seriousness of the farm stu
ation," Mr.. Hampton says, requires
most careful consideration of the
economic factors of production. It is
most unfortunate that some farm
leaders have seized upon the present
situation to attack labor as respon-
sible for the high cost of living. Such
action necessarily plays into the
hands of the privileged classes of the
country which have always striven
to drive wedge between the farmers
and the other labor forces of Ameri-
ca. 1t is testing time for American
farmers. The predatory interests are
working overtime to divide the farm
ers and to get them to go off on false
leads"
Pointing out that nothing fuda-
mentally can be done in solving the
, cost-of- living problem and it's accom-
panying industrial unrest until there
is state ownership and democratic
operation of natural resources, Mr..
Hampton continues:
'The natural resources of America
j basic raw material for all industries,
are largely monopolized in private
ownership. while the United States
congress is attempting practically to
give away its resources yet remain
| ing under public ownership" CA ref
erence to the Infamous oil and min
eral leasing bill recently passed by
I the senate).
A STRANGE FARMER
There is a new assistant secretary
of agriculture in Mr.. Houston's pri-
vate cabinet and if any farmer in the
United States knows more about him
!, than the department of agriculture
. has so far been disposed to make pub
| lie, they know more than any of the
farmer representatives now in Wash
; ington.
, The name of the gentleman is
James R. Riggs, and he succeeds the
lamented Clarence Ousley, who re
Gently graduated from the depart.
ment of agriculture to the post OF
FIST vice president of the Navy league
q and editor of it's publication, "Ses
n Power" From -tth this, lofty position
$ Mr.. Ousley is now urging the Unite
f States to build the biggest navy i
;. e world and damn the expense.
e The office of information of the de
: partment of agriculture tells the
k world that Mr.. Riggs ''is farmer b
O heredity," as proof of which it state
that ''his grandmother, Hezekia
j. Riggs, was born on a farm in Lon
e doun, county, Va, in 1871. A fe'
; significant hints about the presen
= Mr.. Riggs are, however, allowed t
Isl escape. For instance, the departmer
admits:
q "While devoting his energies pr
marily to farming operations M
t. Riggs has found time both for othe
business enterprises and for publ
il affairs. For a number of years b
was active in the development of tn
,el coal, oil and gas inustries of his SCI
be ton. For IL years he was pres
l. dent of a trust company. Since lSl
" he has been engaged in the mann
r. facture of drain tile"
az THE DRoUTH AID BILL
~ Secretary of Agriculture Houstt
Or 5. definitely and finally refused
tie give any support whatsoever 70 "
or Sinclair drouth relief bill.
At a conference between Hous1f
NJ and the Nonpartisan congressman th
Ia week the secretary of agriculture 7
Nv iterated his sympathy" with e
~ nroblems of the drouth-stricken far1
o. ers of the Northwest, but assert
nt that it was not for him to attem
or 70 influence congress in this matt'
eel Without the Endorsement of the Sc
70 retary of agriculture the Sinclair o.
,s+ CARRYING an appropriation OF So'oo
NC ooo to be loaned for seed gram a
ed feed purchase, will not be raVofa1
reported from the appropriate
M committee.
he Former Congressman Lever no"
IT member of the federal farm ~
ed hoard, who is an enthusiastic Supp
~ ~ Of the Sinclair bill, accompanl
49, tbe North Dakota congressman on
visit to Houston. );
Nv In the course of his conssrsasl
-ha with Sinclair and Lever oecre':
,af Houston observed that a nasty y :
no he made to Montana year ago !.
,es month had shaken his fal'h ~
:, e.,;oo possibilities OF tiia0 os''