The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1926-03-26
DOOM
DECAY OF FARMING INDUSTRY SPELLS NATIONS
DOOM

The appalling spectacle of this age is the reverend
ing procession Of farmers moving away from the farms into
the cities and ONE MILLION of them according to
Government Statistics abandoned the farms in 92425-I
compelled to by the failure make living. Their
lands Observation-Disclosures their crops their stock their
machinery, their household furniture pawned in last
desperate struggle to cling to the old home.
Broken with toll spossessed of their lands, weighted
down with the burden of encouragement and debt the evcted
farmers find in the cities but road open livelihood
they become wage-orkers competitors for jobs with
the workers who already there-and finding their
row that there not jobs enough to go round
Next year the procession of evicted farmers moving city
ward will grow still longer for there scarcely the
Union where the mortgage Indebtedness of the farmers
increasing state in which farmers class not
sinking deeper and deeper into debt Also these dsnhert
ed farmers fall into the ranks of the wagewoker must the
struggle for city jobs become hercer and tragic The
unsked farmer seeking merely to exist will come into COM
petition with the skilled aboer struggling maintain higher
standard OF vngand both suffer because of the
hiCt.
What happening before our eyes in the United States
precisely what has happened in every previous civilization
history which has down to decay and extncOn Farm
who begin reehoders gradually driven from the
land by the increasing inequality wealth distribution and the
heavy burden of debt piled upon them by those who possess
the political and economic power AS land values increase
taxes interest and costs of living increase still On every
side the farmer beset by powerful combinations of capt.
which control the price of all he sells and all he buys Helpless
IN his economic weakness the farmer last falls broken and
crushed beneath the burden.
Among the voIuminous statistics indicating the plight
OF the farmer the report of the Massachusetts Bureau La
Dor 9ZZ the situation in the following tragic para
graph:
Out of a population of IS OOOOOO on the farms
only 3o0,IoI are rated as being in comfortable
circumstances" That is an average of in 90 Of
the farm population family out of everv
twentyhvel In other words about "a families out
OF = are fighting perjury, hardships and poverty"
Is wonder young turning away from this
gloomy outlook and refuse to become farmers? Is it any
wonder that IN many western than onehalf the
farms are already occupied by and their numbers rap
idly increasing?
Can the farming industry be saved?
Only the farmers that question This much
IS certain if the farmer saved he himself must be the savior
he cannot entrust that job those who fleece him and
fatten upon his toll
must set MS face determlnedy toward day of liberation
he must his blind following of blind leaders, political
Juggers and destepPers who knowing nothing of his real
problems are incapable of providing any solution He must
ABANDON his unonted optimism and realize that there
IS no prosperity ahead for him until fundamental chances are
made IN our industrial system which will prevent Private
Greed from exploiting and pundering him And these
Cnange the tanners must themselves initiate and with the aid
OF sympathizers, carry forward to frulion
Turhermore the farmers realize that they have been
mlsled by unvise councillors and deceived ,, brat I
demagogues and they cease to be merely sonoeon f
lower but must resolve to LEAD TEMSEI IVES ont of The
wqefnesS by studying Causes and Effects cuvatng their
intelligence and seeking understand the Economic Fo
which shape and control their lives
10 such farmers, and Others this LITTLE r,aoaz; 49,.
ITS greeting and its help 1t is free voice 7JJna1veJ b
fear unbribed by gain pleads for Justice H,it ~
the Common Good.-From Humanity