davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1931-03-27
Farmers Union President
Opposes Debentures Bond
and 10 Cent Gasoline Tax

President Keely Of the Montana
Farmers Union, speaking at the
Farmers Union County Convention
at Antelope last week and at the
Daniels County Convention the fol-
lowing day, denounced the S6,000s-
600 debenture bond issue, and as
serted boldly that House Bill $50,
being Referendum No. S., without
doubt provided for an extra and
separate Scent gas tax, for a diff
ferent and separate purpose, than
the scent gas tax already law in
this state, and more, If this bill
was approved, it would estop the
legislature from repeating the
present tax, as provided by Section
Four.
Kelly, in a radio speech from
Wolf Point, also bitterly condemn
ed the referendum. Speaking on
the 18th March, at tina Roose-
Welt County convention he again
reiterated his former statements
as reported to the Producers News
as follows:
"KelIy at Cu1bertson yesterday
at Farmers Union meeting backs
your statement in unmistakab1e
terms that the debentur means loo
gas tax.
GTG6 G1A16 OA4UGEbSOA 0ORCs
The Antelope convention of
Sheridan county Farmers Union
in resolutions denounced the de-
benture act and called upon the
farmers to vote against it.
"Unc1e" Sam Hampton, now edt-
tor of the Belgrade Journal. well
known in this section has publish
ed a broadside against the deben-
ture act.
Sen. Thomas Kane for tina two
last sessions of the state senate,
president pro tenn of that body
with IL years experience in state
senate denounces the measure as a
double Scent gas tax.
Sen. Donovan, the best lawyer
in the state senate, in whose class
Toomey, Too1e or Davidson does
not grade, says referendum No. 81
provides for a six million dollar
bond issue at five per cent pay
able semi-annua11y but also plain
1y and in so many words provides
for another Scent gas tax for ;
different purpose than the pres
emit law.
A. Parker veazey, formerly tn
| q, n. railway attorney for Mon
i tana, a distinguished Montana at
torney, says the tax is anothe
gas tax and the debentures a BON
issue.
Not one lawyer of any eminenc
in Montana has sustained the con
tentions of z. q. Toomey, Howar
Too1e, and Davidson, all third rate
lawyers who drew the debentur
bill.
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1931-03-27
THE WEATHER

Until Wednesday of this week
this section of Montana has been
treated to the finest winter wealth
er in the history of white men.
The thermometer reached the zero
mark once i'm the early fall and
possibly on one other occasion sew
eral weeks ago. Monday and Tues
day of this week were beautiful
days with the temperature rang
ing up to 55 above. Wednesday a
high wind was blowing and the
mercury dropped being at 10 below
at 8 o'clock Thursday morning.
The wind brought a light snow
but the sun is shining brightly
and no doubt straw hats will be
making their appearance in a day
or two.
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1931-03-27
HOOVER ORDERS
FARM BOARD TO
HOLD ITS WHEAT
No Dumping Contemplated
Government VIII Take
Loss If Necessary

Washington, March u.s. The
federal farm board is prepared to
hold indefinitely its pile of more
than 200 million bushels of wheat,
an administration spokesman re-
vea1ed here today.
There is no intention of unload
ing the cache in any spot which
would depress existing prices, the
authority declared.
If it can be marketed from time
to time without adversely affect
ing prices, the administration will
permit such action, it is said. But
there is no foundation for the
fears among traders, bankers or
farmers that the huge supply the
government obtained in last years
market will be permitted to affect
the existing market, according to
those in a position to know.
The administration feels so
strongly on this point that it IS
prepared to charge the whole a.
mount up to experience, if need
be, it is said. The closest advis-
ers of President Hoover believe
that the amount of upward of
two hundred million dollars in
vo1ved is not too costly If It viii
prove the futility OF attempting
TO IuGor1eEe Will Iue law OF sup
ply and demand"
NO HOPE OF SPECIAL SESSION
Likewise these sources place no
hopes in an extra session OF con-
gress or Id any substitute scheme
to lift prices above their normal
level. Mr.. Hoover's associates, in
his absence, are unanimous in the
opinion that there will not be an
extra session. Apparently reflect
ing his views, they also interpret
the failure of the effort to pes
the market last year as an argu
ment against either the equaliza
ton fee or the export debentur'
plan.
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1931-03-27
LIVESTOCK MEET
WELL ATTENDED

One of the most interesting live
stock meetings ever held in the
county was that which was held
at the Ruegsegger and LELAND
farms on March IA Many farm
ers and stockmen from all sections
of the county were there to get
first hand information in regard TO
fattening stock on home grown
feeds.
Mr.. Ruegsegger has had a car
load of cattle on feed for several
months and they were in excellent
condition. Some of the important
points that were discussed in re-
gard to feeding livestock was the
necessity of having the proper e.
quipment such as shelter, feed
racks, water so that the work
could be carried on conveniently
and so tire would be no waste of
feed.
D. E. Richards, livestock spe-
cialist of the Montana State Col
lege, pointed out the necessity Of
particular care in starting the
stock on feed as there was consid-
cradle loss from bloat where moi
properly handled. He advised thai
in putting cattle on feed to fatter
they first should be started or
whole oats which should be gradu-
ally increased until they are con
Stunning in the neighborhoOd of
pounds per day for yearling steers
and nine pounds per day for two
years old steers. After the stocl
has been on full feed of whole oats
wheat or barley could be substi
tuted for the oats and gradually
changed until the stock were con
Stunning from IL to 10 pounds o.
wheat or barley per day. Thil
would eliminate the possibility o.
bloat. Mr.. Richards also discuss
ed the value of feeding differen
kinds of grain for feeding stock
He pointed out the fact that year
ling steers fed 158 days consumin,
in the neighborhood of 10 pound
of wheat per day Melted a profit
of S8.45 per head. Mr.. Ruegsegge
explained to the farmers the ne
cessitv of keeping the feed bunk
and troughs clean and not allow
ing feed that has become must,
CONTINUED on last page.)
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1931-03-27
Wheat Prices Collapse when
+ arm Board Withh0Ids Support
Attorney General Rules on
Interest on County Money
Deposited With Banks

Helena, March 49, So long as
they do not ask for more than the
legal maximum of 2 per cent, the
boards of county commissioners
are entitled to fix the rate of in
terest to be paid by banks on coun-
ty deposits, Attorney General L.
A. Foot ruled today.
He also held that any bank de-
Ginning to pay the rate of interest
asked by the boards should be re-
fused designation as a county de-
pository.
The attorney generals ruling
was requested by George M. Rob-
ertsOn, state superintendent of
banks.
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1931-03-27
COUNTY WILL PAY A
BOUNTY ON GOPHERS

The boys and girls of Sheridan
county will again have the OppOr-
tunity of earning some spending
money as well as doing some con-
structive work of Kidding the
county of a pest that does thouS-
ands of dollars worth of damage
to growing crops and range grass
es.
The county commissioners at
their meeting on March 81 author
lied that bounty be paid on go
pher tail at the rate Of one cent
per tail for the months Of April,
May and June only. The bounty
will be paid through the office OF
C. B. Peterson, clerk of court. An
gopher tails should be sent to Mr..
Peterson on or before June 80 as
no bounty will be paid after that
date.
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1931-03-27
All CLUBS GET
1890 AWARDS

Seven charters, one Silver
Achievement Seal, six gol Achieve
ment Seals, two All Club flags
and two leaders pins reads the
list of awards for accomplishments
of the All Girls Clubs of Sheri-
dan County for 1880.
Those receiving charters for
standard clubs are: The Nimble
Finger Club, Archer, Mrs. Harder
sen, leader; the Busy Breakfast
Bee Juniors of North Dagmar,
Mrs. VIM. Johnson, leader; the
Busy Breakfast Bee Seniors, Mrs,
Chris. Johansen, leader; the Sum
ny Smile Club of Raymond, Mrs
A. B. Collins, leader. This club al
so received a Silver Seal.
For a still higher standard Of
work the clubs receive Cole
Achievement Seals. Those receiv'
ing both charger and Gold Seals
are: the Lone Tree Hustlers, West
by, Mrs. Harold Griffin, leader
the All Glover Club, Plentywood
Mrs. M. S. Nelson. leader; thu
Busy Needle Club, Antelope, Mrs
Jess Hedges, leader.
Some of the clubs have at an
other time received charters ant
this year will receive gold seals
The All Juniors, Wolf Greek, Mrs
D. M. Machines, leader; the Up 4
Coming Club, Dagmar, Mrs. Oh
Boo, leader; and the Antelop,
Thimble Club, Mrs. A. R. Berg
leader, will receive gold seals thi
year.
The Antelope Thimble Club an,
Busy Needle Clothing Club o
Antelope and their very competen
leaders are to be complimented o.
their standard of work as thes
: two clubs will this year each re
ceive a All Club Flag and thei
leaders, Mrs. Berg and Mrs. Hedg
es will receive leader pins.
2 Each club is scored as to enroll
E ment, attendance, completion, lead
ership of members, ETC., and tn
awards made on the final score c
S the complete club. Every girl
!. responsible for the standing of til
club and helps win the charter an
n seals.
s It is indeed a pleasure to al
: nounce these awards for they al
|, emblems of work we'll done. Ma
d they encourage better work for ii
e year 1881.
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1931-03-27
Celebrates S7th Birthday

A birthday party was given on
Wednesday, March % in honor of
Isaac Rays S7th birthday by Mr.. and
Mrs. Lewis Pierce and Mrs. Ray.
A bounteous dinner was served by
Mrs. Pierce and Mrs. Harvey Mich
OILS. Those present included Mr.. and
Mrs. Geo. Pierce, Mr.. and Mrs. Hen
ry Sacho, Mr.. and Mrs. Harvey
Nichols and son Alden, Mr.. and Mrs.
Robert Wheeler and Irwin Sacho.
After spending a very pleasant
evening the guests departed wishing
Mr.. Ray many returns of the day
Mr.. Ray was the recipient of several
useful gifts. Mr.. Ray is a veteran
of the civil war and he takes great
pride in relating events of his close
association and friendship with Gen
U. S. Grant.
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1931-03-27

The Producers News is in re-
ceipt of the following letter sent
to the press of Montana by Attor-
ney Jesse H. Stevens, a widely
known lawyer of Shelby. The let
ter is quite a complete report OF
the passing of House Bill 400, be-
ing the debenture referendum pro-
viding for the issuance OF S6,OUO,--
600 in debenture warrants against
a special fund to be provided by an
extra and special gas tax OF five
cents per gallon, to be voted on by
the people of Montana at a special
election called for May 9th.
In spite of what the eminent at
torneys who drew the debenture
bill say, it seems that Parker
Veazey, the outstanding attorney
of Great Falls, for a number OF
years the Montana counsel OF the
Great Northern Railroad, says that
the referendum does levy an extra
5 cent gas tax, thus placing a Tax
of 10 cents on gasoline. Veazey
refers to the proposed law as un,
ineligible. !,
Attorney Stevens hints that the
election order may be taken tc
the supreme court to stop same.
THE LETTER
Great Falls, Mont,
March II, 1881.
Dear Editor:
One of the officials of ou
Montana oil refineries yesterda!
told me that if Fl. B. $50, the SO
called highway debenture oil
provides an ADDITIONAL five
cent gas tax, that 1t meant tn
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1931-03-27
LAST OF BILLS
SIGNED BY GOV.

Helena, March 21.- Governor J.
e. Erickson last night completed
the work left him by the 22nd leg
islative assembly when he signed
seven of the remaining bills before
him and vetoed one. The bill We
toed, the only one to meet death
m this fashion during the session,
was H. B. 200, relating to anaIys-
is and inspection of commercial
feed stuffs. The governor said
the bill made no appropriation for
it's enforcement and would require
setting up of a laboratory and en-
plOyment of several inspectors.
He pointed out the legislature.
mad already appropriated about
$350,000 more than the most lib
eral estimate of the states in
come for the next two years and
had failed to pass any revenue
measures although it could easily
have done so without increasing
che burden of property taxation.
The governor also issued state
ment in connection with his ap-
proval of house substitute for s.
B. 81, which allows manufacture
of brick at the state prison and
allows inmate labor to construct
buildings at the prison and state
hospital. He said the bill did not
establish a new precedent, but is
followed in principle by the federal
government and by other states.
GAS long as the work is TO ,bs
done and the brick lis to be madf
inside the prison walls, theEE
would seem to be no Legitimate
cause for objection" he said.
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1931-03-27
Squirrel Food

"Alo, John Farmer, what brings
You to our great city? Spose you ap-
Piled for some Of that government
money to feed the pigs and put In
Some more wheat to sell for t1fty
cents a buShel next fall, II TINS
Hoover prosperity don't boost II
GOWN TO thirty.
Yep, I got my applicashun in.
heerd sum of the fellerS got tnar
Checks already, but haint got mine
ylt. See as how Legge has resign
"a and got back to the Harvester
trust agin, as Morgan needed MIN
aOW to manufacture farm machinery
1or the ROOShins who Legge would
NJ let have cotton on tick cause ne
SEE as how that would ha raized the
Plee of cotton to American manu-
4acturers an as how they couldn
SstIord TO pay eny more men what
Shey pay now, and men he tellz US
farmers to raize less wheat because
! We rae too much the RooShlnS
MONT have a good market so they
mn pay fer his machinery which he
sOlu EN- on tick! HeeZ spent all
Sle money unkle Sam Civ him buy
tus Wheat off Speculaters aftern
tH'e farmers had dun sold and when
eot TO going up wunce he sold sc
many opshuns as made it fall agiI
SSause he SEE if the farmers get toe
a price they'd raiz more'n they
reckon as how lot of 'em farm
t s union fellers who hez been boos
Sns Legge feel monty sick 'bou
nav naw When they kent get no mor'
i,ohey. These farmers union fellert
NV as how we mustn't seed so mucl
~ meat an oughter cut out wun AXE
Sour Iour and plant bananas on tina
WI MI, and men feed part of tina
tbaeol TO shoats and men I seed hov
e ere price Of pigs dun slumped low
an az - wheat, an men I wunderd if w
Tea 1e .i wheel to pigs what we will
III eu me korn to. SEE I, why not fee
IN wheet to the kids what are star
lot an hungry fer they say thar b
rtt r 81 EN- hungry an this woul
Sea- ria OF a heap of wheel but
bad b Ss now Hoover seq at would b
sure sur psisness fer it is a dole and W
be st uont want no dole even If W
9,arVin-fer a dole would hay
W0ntinued on Page Two)
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1931-03-27

ruination of the oil industry in
Montana. l advised him that If
II. B. $50 means anything, 1t
means a 1Oc tax. and that / in
vited any lawyer in the state to
study that bill and state in writ
ing his conclusions to the con-
trary.
PRINTED BILLS NOT DIS
TRIBUTED
When II. B. $50 was first print
ed l asked one of the clerks of
the House for "a large number
of these bills, and was Informed
that the highway commission
wanted them, and they were not
even being sent out on the House
mailing list, but l secured the
ones desired. Hence, althO you
were probably on the mailing list
doubtless you have not seen TINS
legislative mOnstrOsity HI. b. 45O
PARKER VEAZEY SPEAKS
Among other lawyers to whom
I sent copies of this bill, was
Parker Veazey, and when Veazey
says a law is unconstitutional
all of us lawyers stop look anC
listen, and while we may hav'
decided ideas to the contrary, on
of abundant caution we feel WI
should check and double check oil
our views.
DEBENTURE BILL UNINTEL
LIGIBLE
Tn a communication to me tn
other day he states:
GAS actually drawn Fl. B. 45
is strictly an unintelligible piec
of LEGISLATION except as 1t may D
CContinued on page Three)
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1931-03-27
Congregational Ladies Aid
To Hold Their Second
Building Fund Bazaar

This week the ladies of the Con-
gregational church have been dis
tributing their sacks for articles to
put on sale on Saturday of next
week, April A. A number of useful
articles have been carried over
from last month and others are ex-
pected from the collection which
will be made. Once again you are
advised to benefit yourself and
the building fund" by patronizing
the Congregational Church Build
ing Fund Bazaar, Saturday, April
4th.
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1931-03-27

at the suggestion of a farm board
over night"
Stone Is Cheerful
Gloomy predictions of 50-cent
wheat and heavy financial losses
to growers and the government
failed to have any apparent effect
on the boards chairman, James G.
Stone. Stone was his usual cheer
full self as he walked into a press
conference late Tuesday.
"Well," he said, smiling, 81 can
see you're just loaded with dyna-
mite for me today"
Stone Watches Market
Stone followed the market thru
out the day, saw wheat prices
break from 2 to IL cents on the
Chicago board of trade, and saw
July wheat drop into the 50-cent
class for the first time sine 1895
Denies WatsOn's Statement
Stone denied a statement by Sen
James Watson of Indiana that the
senator understood a third of the
J 200, 100000 bushels of wheat pur-
chased with federal funds had de,
Perforated until it was no longer
fit for human consumption.
No Deterioration
"That isn't true" Stone said
"None that we know of has deter
iorated. At the last report it wa.
all in excellent condition"
Not Short of Funds
He also denied the boards fl
nances forced it 30 retire from tn
market. eve still have more thai
one hundred million from the so
million dollars revolving fund tina
is urcommitted," he said.
eve made the announcement be
cause we felt the farmers were en-
titled to the information befor
> they begin their spring planting'
!. : and in the hope it would reduce tn
!. planted acreage"
Cotton Thought Next
: There was a feeling that the pol
! lev of the board with wheat woul
= be followed in cotton as well, a
I though Stone declined to verif
G this Interpretation. The cotton pc
: icy for the next crop has not bee
e discussed, he said. CoCtton future
? declined on the market today at
r er the break in wheat.
Equalization Fee
: Watson suggested the equalizs
o ton fee system of farm relief g
r, "the only remedy" for the agricu
W tural situation. This method Wa
4. embodied in the McNary-Hauge
farm relief bill which Pres. Coo
idge vetoed twice, in 1927 an
n 1928. It provides for exportatio
n of surplus crops to maintain d.
lie nestle levels.
p Breaks World Market
20 Stone agreed with G. A. Collie
a. department of agriculture mark
m expert, that the natural effect
at the boards new policy would
1t to cause a decline in Chicago pri
es of July wheat to the Liverpo
he or world level. This would amour
i'd 10 a drop of about Is cents bus
st ell and in turn might cause Il
it world price to drop still lower.
Or Fifty Cent Wheat
;" The prediction of 50-cent whe
by next fall came from Chest
to H. Gray, Washington represent
e. tive of the American Farm Bure;
n. Federation.
in The president of Gray's organ
ne cation, Sam H. Thompson, was a
TO pointed to the farm board la
to week. It was assumed his vieV
lis conceded with those expressed
ID. Gray. Thompson is expected he
ne late this week or early next wee
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1931-03-27
Is We See 1t
nv Tom o'FIaherty

Clevelanh. - No sooner had
puo.Ioent Hoover bOar0ed his bat
tIesoIp Tor the southern seas to
&c our colonial possessions
90 once over tnan his secretary
~ commerce, Lamont, mace pub
Gc special report on mempBOy-
u,ent mat hoover had in ms peck
=. ,or several months. Accord
mo to the report there are ap-
nrOximately SIX million unemplOy-
~ in this land of the tair and
the rich and the free. Well truth
Gems to be gaining all the time.
The metropolitan Insurance Com
nany collected the data on which
The report is based. Twenty-Five
thousand agents of the great
.lracket" secured As cities for the
done anl the statisticians of
sMother Metropolitan" filled in
the rest.
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1931-03-27
Gandhi Agrees to Attend
Confab on British Affairs

New Delhi, India, March FL
Mahatma Gandhi agreed today 10
participate in the second round
table conference In London this
fall if he succeeds i'm settling the
Hindu-Moslem communal question
He told Viceroy Irwin today he
believed this question could be
solved by granting universal adult
franchise.
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1931-03-27
Idaho Legislature Special
Session Passes Power and
Income Tax Measures

Boise, IdahO.-The special ses-
sion of the Idaho legislature adj
jOurned after passing the entire
program of tax legislation ask
ed by Governor c. Ben Ross.
The measures included the in
come tax bill, the power tax
bill and an amendment to the
constitution to permit incomes
to be taxed.
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1931-03-27
school,. ELECTION ON
SATURDAY. APRIL 9TH

The annual school election will
occur Saturday. April Two trus-
tees will be elected. Walter Raess
and Anton Nelson are candidates for
reelection.
All freeholders will vote on a spe-
cia1 20 mill levy. Polls will be open
from noon till six p. m. Get out and
vote!
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1931-03-27
Referendum Measure
No. IS Is UnintelligibIe
Saws A. Parker VeaZey

Reports Attorney Jesse H. Stevens Letter to the Press
In Regard to Debenture Referendum = Also Reports
an Official of Oil Refinery Saying that lucent Gas
Tax VIII Mean Ruination of Oil Industry of the State
Measure is MonstroSity.
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1931-03-27
Washington, D. c.
" N-S41111k 8 t0115 Y ~
Wednesday March Is 1881

NIdTCn III.
Wheat farmers, Sunday, were notified by the Farm
Board thru Chairman Stone who recently succeeded Al
exander Legge, who resigned from the board effective
March 4th that government sterilization would be
dertaken for the 1881 wheat crop.
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1931-03-27
Stone Serves Notice on Far
mers no StabalizatiOn for 81

Borah Says Sterilization End was Inevitable as it Lead
Nowhere and Came Out for Debentmes-No Change
In 1880 Policy-Ffty Cent Wheat at Chicago Predict
ed-No mention of Cotton in Sunday Statement
S. Policy VIII Likely Depress the World Market.