The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1924-01-18

organizations Have Been Trying
to Do in Montana for Years: Aid
Diversification.
That the Coulter plan of federal
farm relief is the exact complement
of the export corporation plan is the
opinion of Montana's representatives
in congress, according to communi-
cation received from Washington by
w. A. Selvidge, president of the Mon
tana Development association. In
this letter, it is stated that in order
for one plan to succeed, it is neces-
sary that the other be advanced at
the same time.
From the information contained in
statements of the best agricultural
authorities in Montana, Mr.. Selvidge
believes that this state can use from
$10,000,000 to $20,000,000 in the
way outlined by the provisions of the
Coulter plan and the resulting Burt
ness bill now before congress-.
Cut Wheat Acreage
"The Coulter plan seeks to in
crease diversification and to some ex-
tent reduce wheat acreage in Mon
tana," says Mr.. Selvidge. ''It will help
to reduce the surplus of wheat and
will materially aid the export cor
poration system which seeks to care
for the surplus by placing it on the
world market through protective
measures"
The letter from Montana's repres-
entative was in part as follows:
"There seems to be some fear that
it's consideration will interfere with
the agricultural export corporation
movement, but my own opinion is
that consideration of the Coulter plan
pointing the way to greater diversifi-
cation, will greatly strengthen us in
securing favorable consideration for
the export plan. The Coulter plan
would seem to be pointing the way
toward some reduction of the wheat
areas through diversification. I have
had two or three inquiries from those
especially interested in the export
corporation plan, and have replied to
all in the following way:
''The effect of introducing a bill |
to forward the Coulter plan was dis
cussed very fully in special commit
tee of Minnesota, Montana, North and |
South Dakota representatives before |
it was decided to introduce the bill
While Kva1e of Minnesota, who was
in attendance at the first meeting be-
fore the smaller committee to draw
up the measure was appointed, was
of the opinion that it might interfere
with other emergency legislation. it
was otherwise the unanimous opin-
ion that it would help rather than
handler.
Its Advantages
The opinion of such old-timers in
congress as Sidney Anderson of Min
nesota and Young of North Dakota
was that it would be of the greatest
advantage because we could show to
those opposed to emergency legisla-
ton, as such, that constructive steps
were being taken to increase diversi-
fication. One of the objections to '
emergency wheat legislation, for ex- ;
ample, which I hear in Washington.
is that it will tend to encourage a
greater acreage and increase rather I
than decrease the problem.
"'The Coulter plan, showing that !,
diversification will gradually be
brought about, is considered one of {
the best replies to that, in connec-] S
ton with the fact that losses on each :
years export crop will be assessed
against the next years crop under the
export plan
Might Do Harm
ga great deal of harm can be done r
in Montana by attacking the Coulter -
plan instead of advancing the export :,
plan with every possible degree of
force. In my opinion the only way q
the Coulter plan could damage the Il
of attack just at this time, thereby n
giving those we must convince down
here the wrong impression. On the =
other hand If we will let the Coulter /
plan go along, as was talked of by the q
committee with those of us who were :,
most intensely interested in the ag- u
ricultural problem of the northwest.
it's presence in the field here in con- II
gress will greatly assist us. tt is not t.
to take the place of the ex- a
port corporation measure or salve the n
agricultural problem of Montana, ex-
,ept that it will help to do what many. 6;
ocal organizations have been trying :
% do in Montana for a number of -
years, namely to help some to greater y
who are otherwise not n
lble to go ahead" ~
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