The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1931-07-17


tlnent for the adjustment of the county agent
and the sO-called "hOme-demonstrator" to meas
ure that sentiment, ordered straw vote A ballot
was sent out to every registered voter with
stamped return envelope for its return to the Of
flee Of the Clerk and Recorder
The proposition on the ballot was: "Shall the
County Agent be Abolished" to be voted by pIac-
ing an X in the squares in front of the words'yes"
CT no" The returns showed majority of SO
In favor of adjustment. The farmers voted
strongly for the adjustment while the citv of
Scobey and other villages voted just as strongly
against. In short the farmers did rot want lie
agent but those who farm the farmers did The
voters also, we understand voted in favor of dis
continuing the home demOnstrator, the rural folk
for' the urban against. This fact should be sig
nlt1c&nt to the farmers and their wives
For several weeks before the vote was taken
tne agricultural extension department, headuuart-
ers st the agricultural college at Bozeman, put or
the usual campaign in behalf of the county agent
that 1t alwys does when one of them is threatened
campaign financed by money appropriated by
the taxpayers of the state for the support of the
extension department. Experts keep for the pur-
pose prepared columns of arguments showing the
agents Unreasonable value to the farmers and mr.
tr&y:1>S Tie calamity attendant upon his abolish.
ment. Statistical wizards were rushed in nell
nell to show how little he costs the tax pavers in
rivdually in popotion to the benefits he is to the
same individual farmer The Scobey commercial
organ, the Daniels County Leader, held forth for
the retention of the agent" Main street went r.
the front for him to a man--each one telling how
the agent" had helped him by docsoring his sick
cat or helped his wife thru the ordeal when the
canary bird mOlted. On the other hand the farm
ers supporting the adjustment were without ex-
pets and highly paid ballyhooers, and without or
g9Hzauon or organ. Yet, when the votes were
counted it found that the farmers ard their
wives for whose particular benefit this agent and
demonstration are paid generous salary, had voted
Tor their dlscontinuance by a sufficient majority
70 overcome the almost solid vote case for their
retention by the city folks
Inc commissioners were undone. They did Lot
expect such result. The election had been called
t. get rid of the issue under the notion ,bo+ .ho
agent and home demonstrator would win Thew
were IN dilemma. The board finally concluded
mat 1t just could not dispense with the agent and
dem1nstrator in May-there was so much imnor+-
ant unfinished work that would 20 to waste that
IL would be shame to dismiss them before II was
competed So it was decided to retain them until
Ocotooer FIRST, for which the Leader and the COM
merclal clubs commended it highly. ANYTHING To
gain time "
ana last weekthe Leader came out with \ COL
umnortwo OF Shiny flattery of the splendid Dan
lels county board, suggesting that it. because If
several important recent reasons not existing at
Che time of the referendum, continue the conn+v
agent In spite of the returns of the straw vote.
because the farmers needed him SO badly IN oat
loans for them from Uncle Sam and no doub+ to
nelp Uncle Sam collect what he had already loan
ed to them last spring, this year and last
IL seems that when of these county agent
leeches attaches to the body polite there is ms,
no getting rid of him.
over mere In Sheridan county there has been
lou OF agitation for the abolition of the county
agent as there is everywhere, but the idea inst
coeSn't seem to get anywhere The farmers If
the county are for abolition two to one. but the
pankers' the commercial clubs and few rich farm
0iS WIN sell certltled seed, seem to want him. so
We nave Iulh and Will continue to have him, to
LUZ tnOSe "nom ne work for, on an enyiable
c'''''' anu pleh'y OF expense money, paid by the
is LUZ the most part who don't want or don't
~ n1ni "nlle the same farmers "bely up to a
In OioSS counter and get miserable dole Of
Deans and sowbelly" to feed their HUNGRY Wa.
and babies until we get another cron of 49, ~
sell Tor 70 cents per bushel They will also keon
'nere is to do in his office. and nice warm ana
lighted office for him, all dressed up. to occnnv
While She taxpayers SILVER and freeze The county
agent viii be sucking blood as long as there &c
drop LETT t. suck
S"me time ago the commissioners talked the
matte" over. They decided to hold a straw vote
also 1aey thought first however that it MIGHT be
we'll 10 refer the matter to the TAXPAYERS Associ
alton not that they cared boot for its opinion.
nut with The hope that it might kill the idea. ard
furnish them with excuse for not holding the
referendum The matter came up before the as
ISOLATION at its last meeting The agents ba1lv-
hcoeTs were there with Their reams of figures and
Facts prepared by the agent himself with tho
single purpose of keeping himself on the mbl,c
pa%rol' They argued and beroaneG, but the tax.
payers recommended the referendum But tba+
Va; the last of the propost en-. The commission
ef' had already dispensed with the home de,,,on-
strator but the county agen. and the demonstration
look their cars and on gasoline paid for nv tba
taxpayers at the rate of u Z cents per mile tray
eied over the county with petitions sent out those
ladies when they control by soft soap and hum
bugery with more petitions and ORGANIZED than
into demonstration under The good republican
leadership lows