The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1923-02-02
THE STABILTZA-
ton CONGRESS

IION CONGRESS
In its new columns Wednesday, The
Billings Gazette, in common with
other daily newspapers of the state,
contained the call of the United
Farmers of Montana for the meeting
in that city on February 1917 of a
so-called Sterilization congress.
The Billings Gazette hopes that the
meeting will prove an unqualified sue
cess from every viewpoint, because
the purpose of the gathering is to in
augurate a movement that must ne
cessarily become effective before the
nation will enjoy permanent and en-
during prosperity. In a degree at
least, the movement is not unlike that
instituted by the Montana Develop
ment association, in that the under
lying thought is that of making the
farmers free and independent through
rehabilitating the most important of
all industries by putting it on a firm
financial and scientific basis.
This paper has no hesitancy in quot
ing President Harding to the effect
that the basic industries of the ma
ton must thrive on sound economic
lines before the other enterprises can
secure and enjoy permanent prospect
ty. 1t is on that basis that The Bill
ings Gazette purposes doing all within
its power to make the meeting in this
city on February 1917 an unqualified
success. In other words, this paper
unhesitatingly subscribes to the be-
lief that those engaged in farming
and the raising of livestock, and who
therefore feed and clothe the inhabi-
tants Of the globe, must be afforded
the opportunity to gain a fair return
upon their investment.
While free to admit that it does not
possess intimate acquaintance with all
the details of the plan determined
upon by the United Farmers, it is
convinced that it is step in the right
direction in that it seeks to bring the
farmer and the city resident closer to-
gether by removing the friction and
misunderstanding that exists, and in
this respect the movement is one that
should receive the unqualified support
of the Billings Commercial club, which
organization has long sought that de-
sideratum.
It is conceded that mail order houses
are the bane of local merchants, and
it is likewise a truism that many
farmers are spurred to still greater
patronage of foreign establishments
because of grievances against home
dealers, be they real or fancied If
the movement inaugurated by the
united farmers can improve that stu
alton it will have justified its exist
ence.
But it purposes going a great deal
further. It would, if possible, stabilize
prices of farm products, which in
cludes livestock, to such a degree that
persons thus engaging would be given
all available assurances that their OPP
erations would be crowned with reas-
enable financial success.
It must be manifest to all that the
farmers have been among those hard
est hit in the reconstruction period
Similarly, it must be patent that they
will not continue to feed and clotht
the world when it is indicated thai
each years operations spell losses.
Recently, The Associated Press dis
patches carried item telling of meet
ing in Chicago between representa-
tives of the packing houses, harves-
ter and machinery companies and fin.
anciers with the avowed purpose Of
assisting the farmer to get on his feet
again. The National Dry Goods Deal
ers' association has gone on record
also along similar lines. 1t is the
judgment of this paper at least, thai
while such movements are highly tc
be commended in principle, at the
same time, they are being approached
from the wrong angle In other
words, the farming industry needs not
so much actual loans, but rather the
assurance of a market for its products
which will insure little more than
the cost Of production.
The united frmers movement will
seek to remedy the existing condition