The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-06-13
WASHINGTON MAN
SEES ST. PAUL AS
FARM ERS' HOPE.
Shows Ranchers' Misery
Under Old Party Rule
BY JOEL SHOEMAKER.
FarmerLabor Candidate for Governor
in Washington.

ton at st. Paul, June 18th, is the
most important meeting ever called
by the farmers and workers Of the
northwest. 1t points to a beginning
of nationwide campaign for a
change in the ways of doing business
that will keep the farmers on the
farms. The success of that conven-
ton is the farmers only hope.
In fifteen grain-growing states of
the west there is poverty and woe
almost everywhere that the land has
been cultivated Entire sections Of
the bread producing fields show moth
ing but abandonment. Houses are
tumbling down. Barns are mere
empty rookeries. The relics of for
mer days stand out as sad monuments
to the reign of capitalism.
Back in Washington where the rec
ords are kept, there is an official de-
partment given over to the work of
handling agricultural questions. From
that bureau comes the information
that 100000 farmers, or 20 per cent
of the rural population in the fifteen
states where cereals are the chief
crops, have become bankrupts in the
past four years.
80 Per Cent Virtually Bankrupt.
A glance at the bulletins brings out
the information that such states as
Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota,
South Dakota and Colorado are suffer
ing for the reason that an average
of about so per cent of the farmers
are virtually bankrupt And the end
is not yet, for the wave of destruc-
ton continues to blow the sands of
desolation.
The only signs of prosperity in the
districts where the farmers are being
forged to leave their homes, are mo-
tieed in the extravagant displays Of
wealth made by those who profit
from the salvaging Of wrecks, pro-
duced by their own hands. 1t is a
bad painting of depraved humanity
and the works of money-lenders and
profteers on the farmers.
Big crops-For Spectators.
Prosperity? Yes, there is a sem
blance of prosperity in all of the
western wheat-growing states. The
fields have produced good crops in
the past four years. The grain has
gone from the farms into the hands
of the millers, gamblers, dealers and
others who boast Of wonderful bust
ness results because of the crops that
destroyed the farmers.
The newspaper writer who desires
to learn the truth and get real ro-
nance for western stories,i can find
pages of material in any of the cities
where the business of farming the
farmers forms the basis of prosperity.
Tales of agricultural wealth come
from the bankers and chambers of
commerce while the farmers pace the
pave seeking work.
Misery for Rancher.
In a dark and stuffy old room of
an ancient lodging house, the tempo
rary residence of many down and
cutters. talked with a woman, who
was trying to gain fame and secure
food and clothing by writing for mag
azines. She had been a school teach
or in city not many miles west of
Chicago, her birthplace.
The man of the house, if such a
title could be suggested, under the
circumstances, was the sole owner
of more than one thousand acres Of
wheat land. He had it stocked with
horses and cattle and possessed mod
ern farm implements and machinery.
His fair crop of wheat was sold in
the usual way, to buyer. The re-
turns just paid for the hauling from
the thresher to the railroad station.
Prosperity for Business Man.
Two blocks from the little den of
poverty, where woman hoped to
work her way to a square meal and
a new dress. met and conversed
with man of the commercial type.
He was loud in his comments on the
wonderful era of prosperity being en-
joyed by the farmers because of big
prices for all kinds Of farm products.
The man knew better.
What is to become Of the country
towns, crossroads stores and rural gas
stations when the farmers are gone
and the fields grown over with weeds
and thistles? That question is not
given any thought by the political
tricksters of today. They are stepped
in the foul-smelling, se-breeding
pools Of greed and corporate capital
ism.
No Horse In Old Parties.
II is out of the question for any
sane person to entertain even a re-
mote idea OF change for the better
coming from the acts of either of
the old political parties. They have
had ample time to work out plans TO
save the farmers and thereby save
the country depending on the farmers
for future existence and have failed
TO- do anything.
The Farmer-Labor party has mis-
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