davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1925-11-20

Power, that marvellous weapon
which is daily dissipated through lack
of organization.
1t puts me in mind of the crowded
car, where a large man tired of
standing on his own feet, sat on an
old lady's lap. Her pleadings seemed
to avail nothing until she reached for
her woman'S weapon, the hat pin, and
after administering it on the feshy
part of his anatomy, two hundred
pounds of flesh and howl lit into the
air, with the old lady smiling and
still grasping her hat pin.
The farmers have been forgetting
their hat pins and when the riders
howl, they get nervous and feel that
they should not be so harsh.
How ridiculous it would have been,
had the old lady instead of smiling,
put her hat pin away and said, I'm
sorry, come and sit on half my knee.
If we, as an organization lift that
great mass of exploiters off our
backs, the so-called farm papers,
dailies, band wagon politicians and
job seekers will certainly howl. We
have felt sorry, will we again?
What is our weapon?
Organized, intelligent boycott.
This drifting Of farm lands into the
hands of land hogs and swivel chair
farmers would be mighty unproft-
able
Think of it: from 1910 to 1920, peo-
pie painfully employed at agriculture
decreased 1,705,9 24,until within the
last 10 years not less than 6,5OO,OOO
have left the farms for the cities
Americas population in the last de-
cade increased 1876 per cent, while
agriculture decreased 1876 per cent
Why? If they used the hat pin, they
certainly put it back again instead OF
holding it in their hands and Smiling
Let our slogan be: 'Land for the
Landless, Profitable Contracts or M
Contracts at All"
A powerful legal department with
every red-blooded farmer with hic
back to it and the hat pin in his hand
He'll have power to burn.
Selecting our law makers and un
makers, not as has been done in The
past because is is everybody's friend
/ that did no one any harm Cor gooC
either)-that coward that's afraid O.
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1925-11-20

peared, and while we await his COM
ing we should use our precious NOM
ents in discussion and in an attempt
to find the true answer.
One point under discussion now is
the founding of a new state paper.
That was tried under the administra-
ton of the State N. P. L. and failed.
Why? To say lack of financial sup
port, does not answer. Why this lack =?
Were the farmers too poor to support
| it? No. That is not the answer.
We're they too boneheaded? I DO not
think so. Some fundamental thing
was lacking in the program and they
felt it. AS a result, disgust. What
was the thing lacking? It was the
thing that failed to bring relief quick
enough, or at all. What is that thing =?
That is the fundamental question. Let
US look for an answer. Some dav we
may find it. 1t is worth the search.
With this disgust the state paper
had to fail with all the rest. With
this disgust another cannot be start
ed. Members of any successful orga-
nization must experience material re-
| lief from their wrongs, or material
gain from their investment, in a
reasonable time, or disappointment
will shortly take possession of them
requiring more than a state paper OF
any amount of well written propa-
ganda to overcome it. Disruption anC
failure are sure to follow.
My suggestion is, first to have
something real and practical in op-
Grafton on a small scale to demon.
strate an idea, using the demonstrate
ed idea or ideas as a foundation upor
which to base propaganda. Wher
these ideas have grown important
enough to justify a state paper, es
tablish it by all means, for then vii
be real reason for its existence. II
the meantime use the little ALREADY
possessed as a practical start. Thu
PRODUCERS News is a successful farm
erS paper now established. WHY no
use 1t as a start, and through it worl
up to the state idea, as practical con
ditions justify it. In time the Produc
ers News could be made the state pa
per as well as the county paper /
now is. In individual effort the prac
teal plant is to take what little on,
has and build upon it as a foundation
to something larger. We should no
try to build from to top down, bu
from the bottom up. Suppose we star
: with the county as a unit in our pa
per idea, as well as other ideas. tn
E county is a large enough unit for com
z paratively inexperienced men to wor
! with. The county is not so large a
; to become so complex and complicate
I That ordinary men would beconr
a swamped by difficult operation. Tn
y would do away with the necessity Z
, having to go into the enemy's countr
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1925-11-20

the storm. Enough of him, but the
militant fighter that knows how to
fight and for whom he was sent there
to fight.
I often thought a long time ago
how easy it weuld be (and it isl to
take a farmers holdings away from
him. The money trust simply forces
you to pay 10 per cent more for what
you buy and giving 10 per cent less
for what you sell, then you have to
come to me (mcney trust) and make
loan Give caught you).
We want power to reverse it and
we have it (organized boycott).
If the spectators land in this great
west laid idle for one year, what
would you get for your wheat?
If you had men in the legislative
halls that would repeal vicious laws
and indorse sane ones. Would it help
wonder how many farmers re
member the bitter experience of 1915
to 1921 especially 1919 when we I'M
suspectingly hauled our all to market
giving it to the mortgage holder and
banker, innocently believing that
when farm operations began in the
spring we could go to the bank anC
get enough to "carry on" Bang, the
lid was on. The big money trust SEM
the good word to their servants, the
county bank, and left us destitute.
I met a man at that time, a "faith.
full mortgage slave" and he said thai
if there was a bounty On bankers
hides of so cents each, 90 per cen
of the farmers would be out hunting
He came pretty near the truth.
Seldom nowadays do you meet thu
farmer that does not want to see thu
merchant make enough to keep hin
comfortable in his cid age, but W,
want to draw the line somewhere.
Look at the Morgans, Rockefelle
and other large financial group
welding that immense power all ov
er the world, through loans. Tina
power the workers and farmers il
this great nation have placed in hi
hands and are still placing it there.
The lamp is about gone out and I'v
said enough. Let's all go 100 pc
cent-that is: be 100 per centers o
our own.
Yours for Industrial Farming,
A. N. WANKEL.
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1925-11-20
PONDERA COUNTY
Is HEARD FROM
OLD WARHORSE WRITES

Conrad, Nov. z, 1926.
Friend Wallace:
Your communication received. Am
at a loss what to say. l threw nv
self soul and body into the Populist,
Socialist, Nonpartisan and Progre
sive movements.
Have been waylaid and beat up,
hung and burned in effigy, threatened
with death, mobbed-and am now
discouraged which is worse than all
the above put together. l am not
discouraged because of any expert
ence I have had but because we have
not got anywhere. l have Joined ev-
erything except the Wheat Growers
and the X. K K. I would have Joined
the Wheat Growers had net I heard
them say that they did not AIM TO
CONTROL THE PRICE OF WHEAT
There is no way that we can get
together and control the price of oul
labor in our products, if the same fel-
low that sets the price on what we
consume on our farms, is also going
to continue to set the price on what
we raise, we are forever lost.
don't feel like suggesting any
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1925-11-20

the same crop to the same farmers
for twenty-five or thirty billions of
dollars. Unless this system is de-
stroyed, the farmer himself must be
destroyed.
TAXATION SHOULD
BE EQUAL
AS a third plank in the program
of the organized farmers, they should
demand the complete and lasting
equalization of the tax burden. If
taxes are levied on property, they
must be both uniform and universal.
That is to say, all property of every
kind and description must be taxed
exactly alike. Likewise, if taxes are
levied on incomes, they also must be
uniform and universal.
Finally, the organized farmers
must demand and secure equitable
rates of transportation.
ATTACK ALL
ALONG LINE
Needless to say, all these demands
must of necessity stand or fall to-
gether. In my opinion nothing what
ever is to be gained by securing some
and not the others. Why? Here is
the answer. When the California
fruit growers began making fortunes
by the organized control of the fruit
market, the transcontinental roads
Immediately raised their rates anC
thereby absorbed all the gains the
farmers had hoped to command. The
bankers might have done the very
same thing if the railroads had not
beaten them to it. In Montana the
tax collector is now empowered to rot
the farmer of everything that the
robbers have left him. That is the
reason why the farmers must attacl
all along the line.
1t is for the purpose of making
such an attack that l desire to see tn,
farmers in some form of militant or
ganizaticn. To this end we must o
necessity not only have a state pape
/ devoted to the promotion of such a.
organization, but every winter w
} must also have an annual get-togeth
er meeting for the same purpose.
J If there are any farmers in you
section OF the state who are read
for a comprehensive program alon
the foregoing lines, by all means lie
us assemble somewhere in the nea
! future and undertake to perfect sue
I an organization.
Yours very respectfully,
S i D. J. HANNAH.
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1925-11-20

Antelope, Mont, Nov. IL, 1925.
Editor of the Producers News,
Plentywood, Mont.
Please print this letter in your
next number Of the Producers News.
If my name had not been mention
ed in an article signet by Robert
Larsen in the. Producers News of
November 6, 1925. 1 would not have
made any protest at this time; but
when Robert Larsen writes in regard
to-" The need for expert assistance
at Helena" and write this in part.
"The need for some one to be at
Helena to help the farmer members
of the Legislature is imperative, for
it is impossible for member to be in
his seat and at the same time be out
looking for information / know that
I received a great deal of help from
different members of our party, such
as McGlynn. Frank Edwads helped
me on the Board of Railroad Com
missioners Bill and even Wellington
D. Rankin, former attorney general
helped me a great deal on that bill
and P. J. Wallace helped me as well
as helped Aage on the Banking bills
Harlow Pease of Butte helped on
some of my other bills as well as the
American Civil Liberty Union and if
/ it had not been for the help that
get / would to a great extent have
been the same as a dead letter in
Helena. I will state very briefly
that don't know of a single case
where I have ever received any help
of any kind from any of the above
mentioned gentlemen, with the excep-
ton of Mr.. Rankin while he was At
torney General.
I have always been able to get all
the information decired in the differ
ent State Departments in the State
Capitol. In the three differens ses-
siOns 1 have been in the legislature
have found I could get all the legal
advise 1 needed at the Attorney Gen
erals Office.
If member of the Legislature
blouse or Senat) have a bill to in
troduce and don't know how to draw
it up, in all its technicalitys, all any
one have to do is to go down in the
Attorney General Office, as there is {
deputy fer that purpose to help any
member of the Assembly, he is paiC
by the State Of Montana.
I have found the State Official are
very accommodating they will spend {
, whole day on you to work aut sta
tistics and rapports of all kinds. Thi!
is not a matter of curtysy or of poll
tic, it is a matter of duty as an!
member of the legislature is intitlt
to know all abaut the conduct of oul
State Government if he only know
enough to go where he can get it.
Sencerely Yours,
A. T. LARSEN.
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1925-11-20

1t is net difficult to answer the in
trOductOry question. My answer is:
l am. l am in favor of a farmers
organization because no industrial
class can succeed without it. This
statement is self-evident, and needs
&c proof. The agricultural industry
financially fails because it has never
had an adequate organization; an
other statement requiring no argu-
ment. A fact so often demonstrated
becomes self-evident.
To say I believe in an organiza-
ton fer afrmers, and that failure
comes through lack of it, gets me
nowhere and enlightens no one. But
to formulate a working program as
a sure foundation on which to build
is where all confusion and conflicting
emotions, and all difficulty begins.
If l cannot formulate program
that will work, one that will do as a
foundation for my faith, l am as use
less as one with no faith at all. and
for the reason that "faith without
work is dead"
The most noticeable lack in the dis
cusslons on page two is the uncertain
ty as to the specific points to be
stressed In the program. In uncer1
tainty is sown all the seeds of fail
ure from the start to the f,ish of
any organization.
Until some one is wise enough to
uevlse a program so clear, SO funda-
mental and practical as to eliminate
suspicion and uncertainty as to its
universal justice and workabiIitv
nothing can be expected but confu-
sion, conflict, and failure from the
very start to the very end of the
movement.
I think that no question has ever
tormented my mind more than why
the N. P. L., as the political organiza,
ton, failed. The program seemed
clear, just, and fundamental But
what was lacking? Where was the
dlihculty? Why, in the end, wa.
there lack of harmony? Were mer
to blame in the leadership, or in the
mass? Are farmers so boneheadeC
that they cannot stick? Are compet
ent leaders always dishonest? Wa!
the program as a whole or in anv on,
Of its parts, bunk? Is the powe
IN the opposing organization to,
great to be overcome? Is it lust t.
make such an attempt? Is it bette
to neutralize it than to attempt it
destruction? These are a few cues
lions, like imps of darkness, tor
menting my reason whenever th
thought of organization appears. tn
genius, correctly answering the que;
uon, why did the N. P. L. fail 20
Vne one called to write a program
WIN all bunk eliminated. To hi
VIII go all honor, praise and glor
forever and ever. He has not yet al
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1925-11-20
~ OF HYPOCRTTEs

Editor Producers News.
When Senator Ralston of Indiana
died it seems to me you missed an
opportunity of showing, by the OBJ
iect lesson method, the kind OF men
the big interests use to fool them.
Ralston was a big man in the Demo-
cratic party and would probably have
got the nomination instead Of DAVIS
but for Bryan wanting it for himself.
The time to expose bell wethers IKE
Ralston is when they die and when
the attention of the public is focused
on them. When the capitalist papers
laud them then is the time to educate
the people to the insincerity of the
whole rotten system of convention
and fraud rife in this age. OF course
there are some people in Montana
who do not like to have these old hy-
pocrites shown up until the historian
goes to work. These people as rule
have a skeleton in their own closet
they do not wish to have dragged be
fore the eyes of their neighbors when
they quit this planet.
l am glad to see the Producers
News increasing in power and intiu'
ence. I hope it will continue to teal
the mask off hypocricy from living
and dead shams.
Yours,
JAS. B. FOSSUM.
Plentywocd, Nov. 16
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1925-11-20

EDUCATION
In my opinion the very first plank
in the program of the organized
farmers should demand the immediate
and lasting control of the farmers of
all rural education, of all the county
free high schools and of the state
college of agriculture. Although
many people are not yet aware of
the fact, all these institutions of
learning are now under the complete
domination eff people whose interests
are in direct and perpetual conflict
with the interests of the farmer. In
all these, as well as in all other
schools of Montana, it is literally
burned and blistered into the minds
of our children that under the sys-
tenn as it now prevails, every man
is already getting just exactly what
he deserves. If this contention is
true, then there is no reason fer an
organization of farmers. IF this
contention is false, then the very
first step of the organized farmers
must be to abolish the teaching of
the unconscionable lie. I have no
hope whatever Of getting anything of
permanent and lasting worth for the
IcllAlC1o SO lOllS do IIlC OIllCI 1GllOWS
absolutely dictate the education of
the children of the farmers.
MARKETING
AND CREDIT
A second plank in the program of
the farmers must demand the abso-
lutte and lasting control, by the farm
ers themselves, of the marketing OF
their credit and their products. I'm.
der the credit system as it now pre-
walls, the farmers of Montana are
loaning both their wealth and theil
credit to the fnanciers at less thar
two per cent, and then the fnancier'
face about and loan the very sam,
wealth and credit back to the farm
ers for ten per cent. And becaus
the farmers cannot pay this outrage
Gus rate of interest on their ow
wealth and credit, that wealth an
credit are taken from him. Let it b
understood, once and for all, that un
less this system is destroyed, tn
farming industry itself must be de
stroyed.
Under the system of marketin
farm products as it now obtain.
business purchases our annual faT
crop from the farmers for abou
eight billion dollars, and then bus
ness merely faces about and offer
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1925-11-20
CORN FIELD PHILOSOPHER WRITES
By J. w. Witham, Spicer, Mimi.

rom the people as to how to better
been in this battle for a full half
from every angle.
When the farmers follow their ex-
ample and use their government to
get their products from their farms
to the consumers at the actual cost
of the service, then they will gel
about two-thirds of what the consum-
ers pay. Here in Minnesota, we are
beginning to see this and the "fat
boys" are scared out of their boots.
THE CoRNFIELD PHILOSOPHER
Spicer, MINI.
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1925-11-20
PIentywood School Notes
Crowded cut last week.


Eileen and Albert Pullen from
Glasgow enrolled in the third and
fourth grades on Monday.
Miss Darkenwold spent last week
end at Medicine Lake visiting Mrs.
Higgins.
Helen Stoner is absent from school
sick with Scarlet Fever.
The fifth grade have finished their
South American booklets.
Ada Carlson has returned to school
after an absence of three weeks.
Marion Kelly entered the seventh
grade Monday morning. The present
enrolment of the class is thirty-six.
The total enrolment for the Seventh
and Eighth grade is seventy-six.
Charles Bennett, manager of the
Great Falls Office of the Wells Dickey
Bond House of Minneapolis, spoke
very interestingly to the class in Oc-
cupation last Wednesday. He explain
! ed the need and purpose Of bonds and
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1925-11-20

crepe frOcks that reached
to their knees. And VIVA, :O' quite
name, ne asked, indicating II. YOU
on the left. Slowly he wre,o me child
as she spoke. And what i yd Il down
sisters name? Sir, spoke thur tSo ~ twin
IN a husky voice? I An me Other
CHILD'S MOTHER. AN THIS
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1925-11-20

thing. I certainly will not throw cold
water on any fire that may be kindled.
But if you younger men inaugurate
any movement that has any promise
in it, you will find the old man right
behind you with the ballot or any 9TH
er weapon that the occasion may de-
mand.
F. L. BUZZELL..
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1925-11-20
PRIZE STORY

The stern school principal frOwned
over his glasses at the two girlish
figures before him. They must De
twins. they looked alike, acted and
dressed the same. Each was bObbed
Of hair and both were dressed in pink
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1925-11-20
E5@6aRo5

Letters intended for publication N
this column should reach the FrOoS 41Zsa :
News the fore part Of the week. They
should not be long and should bear the
name and address Of the writer. COM
munications written over nom oe
plume will be published only If accom-
panied with the name Of the author.
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1925-11-20
SENATOR HANNAH APPROVES MOVE
Farmers Should Control Marketing and Credit Of Their Pro
ducts and Demand Control of Rural Education.
By D. J. Hannah Big Timber, Sweetgrass County.
Big Timber, Mont, Nov. 6, 1922

Big Timber
of Montana certainly gadness
impossible situation
in
S a ifeless
that is not in the from position
Leagunot because farb because opinion
went half far enouph
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1925-11-20

told of his work in selling them.
Mr.. Horn is incapacitated with a
very bad cold. He is attending class
es but is unable to speak above a
whisper.
The seventh grade wrote some let
tiers to Miss Mckenzie, the sixth
grade teacher Of last year. The
eighth grade wrote to Miss Duffy dur
ing a Language period.
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1925-11-20
SHALL FARMERS REMAIN DOCLE UNDER TFIE.
LASH?
By A. N. Wankle, Dooley, Mont.

Reading published brings
the this smOudering
western farmers
flicker thing the
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1925-11-20

(Note: The spelling, grammar and
punctuation in the above are repro
duced exactly from the original letter
sent in by Aage, who claims he needs
no help from anyone).
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1925-11-20
ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS

"a COmertOwn Residents" Look at
the top of this column. Communica-
lions must be accompanied by the
name of the sender.
"Stadeberg:" This letter is suppos-
ed to be written by a nonresident
who took the precaution of failing to
append his name and address to same.
viii the person who did not hand the
letter directly to this paper call at
the Producers News Office and answer
some questions pertaining to its orig
in and career subsequent to the time
he received it.
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1925-11-20

/ see you are publishing letters
the condition of the farmers. have
century and have studied the subject
The main trouble with the farmer
is this: Owing to our system of dis
tribution it takes about twcrthirds of
all he grows to get the other third to
the ultimate consumer.
So long as this condition prevails,
there is little hope of any real pros
perity for the tillers of the soil.
The manufacturing interests knew
how to get rich. They went into pol
itics and established the great pro-
tective tariff system.
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1925-11-20
AM IN FAVOR OF A FARMERS ORGANIZATION
By John E. Arthaud, McCone County

have just read the letters from
of Producers
result The thoughts
conflicting that
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1925-11-20
is SUNDAY DANCING
GOOD OR BAD?


Dear Editor:
would like to take some space in
your valuable paper to protest against
the decision of the Supreme Court in
closing down Sunday dances. I I'M
derstand the law was not clear on the
subject and that there is another
case coming but and yet to be decided
on.
What do they want to make out of
this country-a graveyard. There is
no harm in dancing when conducted
under proper conditions. But the
blue noses seem to want to take all
the pleasure away from the young
because they are too cid or incom-
petent to enjoying dancing them
selves.
1 enclose my name but not for pub
LEGATION.
ANTI-BLUE LAWS.
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1925-11-20
AAGE KNEW 1T ALL HE SAYS

ANTI-BLUE LAWS.