davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1931-09-18
Friday, September l8, 1881.
OUR SEED DEMAND
By HANS RASMUSSEN

The question of seed for next year is
something which must be solved between
now and next spring. Not only this
county but the whole northern part of
the state of Montana and the west half
of North Dakota is face to face with sit
uation where the great big majority of
the farmers have no seed whatever,
many of them not even grain enough
left to feed a chicken.
Here and there well to do farmer
has stacked up on wheat from years
past and held it for better prices. Ele-
vators are also holding whatever they
have in their bins, hoping for better
prices. This grain is held for the pur-
pose of selling it next spring at fancy
figures for seed. Some people are al
ways taking advantage of other peoples
misfortune. (What the price of seed is
going to be is not hard to guess. 1t will
be: local market price, plus freight to
Minneapolis, plus freight back, plus
handling charges and handsome profit,
which will bring seed up to probably
SIPS bushel. This would mean the
farmers would have to sell probably
four bushels in the fall in order to pay
for the one bushel bought in the spring.
In that case the farmer would be better
off to lie down and go to sleep.
Practically all the farmers who need
seed have no money to buy it with.
Some provision must be made so they
can get seed, otherwise we would not be
surprised to see the farmers next spring
in punches back their trucks and wagons
up to the filled graneries and elevators
and help themselves. More than the
writer can see things like that coming
but the people in power are not going to
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1931-09-18
GOVERNOR! WHAT IS YOUR REPLY?

there no remedy to be expected
other than that which must come
from our united and determined
efforts?"
Were l alone in calling your at
tention to this state of conditions
I would indeed consider myself
captious. But countless others cry
out against the absolute indiffer-
ence to their needs and the incom-
parable inefficiency of an admin
instration which lacks not only the
will TO intelligent effort to relieve
the present distress but contem-
I tuously asserts that "the people
are more scared than hurt" Such
is the statement attributed to Sec
rotary Hyde by the public press
during his recent junketing in this
part of the country; and since l
have waited in vain for a scath-
ing refutation of such a sinful
SANDER from your eloquent lips, ]
am forced 10 the conclusion that
you are, by inference, of the same
heartless opinion.
| Perhaps you might consider it
presumptuous of me were to Of
fer you few suggestions calcu-
lated to extricate you from your
present economic perplexity; anC
in doing so 1 fully realize that
many great men like yourself are
painfully jealous of their authori
! tative wisdom. However, there
: are many eminent figures in his
/ tory who, when sensing the pauci
: ty of their mental equipment b
: grapple successfully with a dis
, tracing problem, were ready IRE
luctantly, admit), to give ear t,
the counsel of some individual out
S side of the sanctuary of politics
: who also felt deeply interested i
n the solution of the problem a
t hand. 1 tender my services her
; in all good faith and wholly FIRE
S from tn eslightest design of dim
= ming the halo of patriarchial be
e nevolence which encircles your nc
} BILE head. In accepting some &C
y vice you must not regard yoursel
% as being subjected to even a sma
t. degree of humiliation. You hay
d before you the shining example {
l. our enterprising engineer who,
e spite of all the advisory commi
re sions surrounding him, has, neve
)r theless succeeded in preserving h
er identity, and is still gracefully r
~ ferred TO as Presidnt of the Uni
re ed States of America. This gentl
ly man, so it is said, has the hapl
en- faculty of lavishing money in t
n matter of appointing commission
- to investigate this, that, and {
&C. other thing. And when he recei
at es their reports it is malicious
es rumered that he spends more mo
ny ey in the appointment of a supe
20 commission to ascertain how di
'e- gently the lower order of comm
VI sions have refrained from revei
~ ing anything of practical value
res him. In thi srespect Mr.. Hooy
on our president of the commissic
I'm complex, differs from you. VIII
av- ne possesses the gift of spendi
me money freely where it will do I
'ed least amount of good, you are
M puted to have the happy facu
Of Tightening the purse strir
by fearing that you might spend
Is dime in the interest Of the sta
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1931-09-18

talst system from securing any
relief unless he had recourse to
theft:-yes, / have in mind the
look of that obese gentleman, who,
with facial expressiveness of the
much pitied moron, replied with
appraised hands: "GOD KNOWSp
Do you believe that a man utter
ing such profundity should not be
entitled to a more exalted post
than that of President of this ma
ton and later Chief Justice of the
Supreme Court of the United
States? In view of the present
state of mediocrity in which our
statesmen are submerged, don't
you feel that the full-blown Mr..
Taft was somewhat sighted?
/ flatter myself with the belief
that if you will devote a reason
able amount of time to reading
over the last six paragraphs you
will have little difficulty in rous-
ing yourself to a state of dynamic
action which will prove very help
full to you in your present state of
indecision. You cannot play poll
tics cleverly enough by giving the
hangers-on of the system that is
responsible for the present condi-
tons the "glad hand" while filling
the heads of the farmers and work
ers with sweet nothings which pro-
duce no material benefits. You
must take a stand on the side OF
the oppressed if you expect to re
tain that responsibility which the
great majority of your profession
so zealously uphold. Rugged man
hood is tired of being broken OF
the rack of exploitation; theil
wives object to being forced to of
fer themselves as prostitutes Il
provide food with which to dispe
the pinched cheek and shrunkel
and glazed eye of their under
nourished children; the masses ar
not going to stand supinely b,
and allow themselves to be TO
ever treated as negatives by fey
, financial Fagans-and their polit
,, ical henchmen; the call for effor
, is sweeping through the land un
; til it has assumed the proportion
! of an unchecked demand; pla
! your fiddle or smoke your pipe
: you prefer such pastime to arous
: ing yourself to do your duty i
4 accordance with the laws of mar
kind ;ignore the warnings of tn
sincerest if you will, but have th
! goodness from later decrying tt
: retributions which must inevitabl
t result from the feelings Of the ou
: ragged farmers and workers. An
9 after all is said and done these al
the forces which eventually wi
regulate society for the benefit 4
: the many and not for the benef
) of the parasites which flourish
It the present time under the prote
# ton of a system which you shou
) make it your business to destroy.
= Anticipating the most favorab
n action on your part, I remain
+, Sincerely yours,
n RODNEY SALISBURY,
y Executive Secretar
y United Farmer Leagu
j. Sheridan County, Montal
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1931-09-18
Gets Flying License

A government flying inspector
came up from Glendive Wednes-
to examine the local flying stu
dents: Alden johnson, "Red" Han
isch and Thor Thorson. 1t is said
the latter passed the tests success
fully.
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1931-09-18
AS We See It
Continued from Front Para

ford to help our British cousin
out. CThey better not get 10
fresh IOr we'lI lick ell out Of en-
We did it befOre.) We lOsnu
then $2OO,OOO,0O0. France lOapsl
them an equal amount. Isn't
refreshing? The two greats
enemies of England save her hid
until it is in better condition 70
preserving! And while they an
lOaning her money they are Wag
ing a blOOdless Commercial an
Financially war against her ever
where In the world. "BIOM
thicker than water" So are ma
skulls.
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1931-09-18

HTE ARE IN FINE SHAPE fat
wv ing tn ewinter. There are aI
a few banks into which yA|
can walk an dill your fOmtsh
pen. l wrote last week that d
miserably- paid clerk in a Chi0g
bank got away with $2,OOO,OOO D
Ten years. Well, it was near fOu
and the time was IL years Pa
don my error. But that is moth
ing to weep about. We have Ia
millions of unemployed. Prob
bly, 100000 that will not hW
where the next handOut is COMMIT
fro mthis winter. AS for tb
farmers, they'll probably vote tn
Democrat ticket next electm
They must be fat and saucy,
a man can't be educated excq
thru the flapping of the front !
his belly against his backbone !
his belly flap. Let it flap in ,
wind and let some painter SpliS
red and blue on it. Then the en-
blem of his greatness and his y
triOtism will be where his shII
was, and outside of where his 50
per should be. He won't give
damn.
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1931-06-12
Trade Unionists Gagged
AS Wages Are Slashed

Lansdale, Pa. (ILNS)-The eco
nemic factors back of the refusal of
the Lansdale borough authorities to
permit trade unionists to speak in the
borough are revealed when it became
known that no fewer than four differ
ent plants in this burg have cut wages
during the fortnight past. The Dex-
dale, non-union full fashioned mill,
an unorganized pottery works and
glue factory all slashed wages. The
glue and pottery workers were given
a general 10 per cent cut, while in the
Dexdale only the girls got the cut.
Last week a small metal plant em-
ploying few union moulders found
their pay envelopes were short al
most five dollars. The international
president of the Moulders' Union has
been sent for and will advise the
local union as to what course to pur-
sue. Meanwhile the men have refused
to accept their pay.
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1931-06-12
ACT OF DEPRAVITY

Justice Sutherland, of the United
States supreme court, in a recent de-
cision establishing the criminal as
poets of reckless driving, said:
"An automobile is potentially a
dangerous instrumentality, as the
appalling number of fatalities brought
about every day by its operation bear
distressing witness.
"To drive such an instrumentallty
through the public streets of city
so recklessly as to endanger property
and individuals is an act of such OBJ
vious depravity that to characterize
it as petty offense would be to
shock the general moral sense"
There is food for serious thought
in Justice Sutherland's rather sizzling
opinion.
"An act of depravity" is good
definition of reckless driving.
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1931-06-12
INTEREST ON MONEY CAN'T BE
CALLED "WAGES'

journal explains could
would the reduction of wages of money
The wages" of money (interest) reduced
understanding and will should be ced with md
u of exchange
what the worker
his of in dead wood
interest chageshs alleged
ageis his living his children be taken out OF
the wage cut?
of 100000 and the banker tells
him labor costs are high What happens?
reduce wageo lower living standards
of his higher interest rate
industrial situation because they control the
nations that influential indusalis oppose wage
cuts banker of standing has taken this position
They reductions reach the objective by talk
of principles does the president the American
Banke Association
the scramble TO play
call charges scared ~ per cent
al
Shall be said that this situation enzed gambling mania
must apply % human beings?
market be
when human beings involved?
Shall living competition between employed
the of workless?
intensified form by decreasing
assured higher rates
interest?
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1931-06-12
Endorsed by the Trades and Labor
Council Of Hamilton. Ohie
Endorsed by the Middletown Trades
and Labsr Council Of Middletswn. O..
FRIDAY, JUNE ~, 1881
MARRIED WOMEN
TEACHERS

The Hamilton Board of Education
has spoken. 1t says no more employ
ing of married women as teachers in
the local public schools, other than
those already employed, nor will it
be permitted that any of those en-
ployed in the future marry during the
period of their contract for teaching.
Such action to be regarded by the
board as equivalent to her resigna-
ton.
The action of school board in this
matter seems to meet with general
approval on the part of the public.
And especially so at this time when
there is so much unemployment.
Many can't see it that husband and
wife should both hold good positions
when in many families none are en-
ployed, nor can the husband find en-
ployment of any kind. Then just on
general principles, many think it
isn't proper that the wife go out and
work where there is a good, big
healthy man hanging around, able to
go out, and who ought to be willing
to make living and provide for both.
There are other city boards and agen-
cies who might we'll look into this
matter and follow the good example
set by school board.
And just while on this question, we
wonder how many there are who look
on the subject of marriage in a differ
ent light since the edict of school
board went forth-how many have
CHANGED THEIR MINDi
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1931-06-12
MORE BONDS FOR
HUGE DEFICIT

Washington.-A billion-dollar def
cit in the national treasury will be
partly met by the issuance of $780,
100000 bonds bearing 31s per cent.
The bonds will mature in 1949, but
can be called three years earlier. These
bonds will be taken over by large
banks, whose strong boxes are filled
with idle money.
The tax question will probably be
major issue in the next congress,
when higher income taxes and in
heritance taxes will be urged. Secre-
tary of the Treasury Mellon favors
widening the base" of tax assess
ments. This means that people now
exempt will be included in income tax
payments.
Real estate owners object to present
high levies on land, while their hold
ings are decreasing in value. Mark
Graves, New York tax commissioner,
made this significant statement at the
recent meeting of real estate boards
in Baltimore:
"If it is desired to relieve real
estate from some of the tax load it
now carries, the inheritance tax IS
worthy of consideration. This is the
one tax which cannot be passed on.
Of all our taxes it imposes the least
hardship upon society and business" !"
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1931-06-12
NO SUPER STATE FOR US
PLEASE

The International Labor OrganiZa-
ton, in session in Geneva, could not
refrain from discussing the United
States. Edward Poulton, British
trade union leader, told the delegates
that the European method of reform
by legislation, after all, seemed best
and he pointed to a report on the
United States made by III. B. Butler
deputy director of the international
Labor Office.
Mr.. Butler is a capable observer
and he may have presented an accur-
ate picture of conditions in the United
States. But whether Mr.. Butler is a
good doctor is another matter. Europe
never tires of telling America how to
solve her problems. Perhaps it is as
interesting a sport as any.
Europe is welcome to her methods
but be they what they may, good OF
not, the American labor movement
will continue to resort to legislation
only where economic action is impos-
sible. 1t will continue to preach and
practice self-reliance, building a hu-
manity instead of a state.
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1931-06-12

In 1929 Westinghouse Electric
Company increased its surplus by
thirty million dollars, making total
surplus of ninety million dollars. But
it cut down its dividend this year
by about one dollar.
Eighty-two companies, according to
Wall street reports, paid out total
of S192.35 per share to stockholders;
but paid back into their surplus funds
an average of S313.38 per share.
Thirty-one other companies, who
paid their stockholders nothing, paid
into surplus at the rate of $42.50 per
share.
Query: If this money had been paid
out in wages, would the Wall street
collapse of 1929 have occurred?
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1931-06-12
NEWTON D. BAKER
HOTLY SCORED BY
SEAMEN'S OFFICER
Acting Secretary Goshorn
Points to Seven-Day Week,
12-HOur Day in Exposing
Employers Proposed Con-
gress Campaign.
By JOSEPH A. WISE

BY JOSEPH A. WISE
Chicago Claude NJ Cos
horn, acting secretary of the Sailors
Union of the Great Lakes, in an in
terview with international Labor
News Service, characterized as ridic-
ulous some of the assertions made by
Newton d. Baker, former secretary of
war, in an address delivered at the
recent annual meeting of the Lake
Carriers Association.
Would Exhibit 'Luxuries'
Mr.. Baker, formerly regarded as a
liberal in thought and action, but now
general counsel for the reactionary,
union busting Lake Carriers Associa-
ton, advised the members of that or
ganization at their annual meeting
that, if they hoped to be successful in
defeating national legislation pro-
posed by the International Seamen's
Union, it would be necessary to "edu-
cate" members of congress as to the
DeduIleS anu luAuliouo Soiluioioiio oui :
rounding employment of sailors on
the Great Lakes.
Points to 12-Hour Day
Commenting on the remarks of the
former forward looking" secretary
of war, said:
Undoubtedly members of congress
and the American public will require
considerable educating before they
will be able to agree that men work
ing IL hours day, seven days a
week are being we'll treated. 1t ap-
/ pears that Mr.. Baker has assumed a
most difficult educational task. How
ever, regardless of Mr.. Bakers 'edu-
cationaP efforts, the organized sea
men on the Great Lakes seriously
| question that members of congress
and the American public can ever
reach that high plane of civilization
from whence they can view the r.
hour work day as sublime ideal.
Only Mr.. Baker and his anti-union
! shipping clients have been able to
achieve that degree of culture.
Ignore Trend of Times
Judging from the press reports of
Mr.. Bakers remarks at the meeting,
it appears that the association pro-
poses to ignore the entire question of
establishing a reasonable and humane
! system of watches on their vessels to
replace the two-watch system now in
vogue. 1t should be evident to mem
bers of congress and the American
public that the alleged up-to-the- e-min-
ute shipowners represented by Mr.
Baker have decided to ignore the
whole trend of the times toward
shorter work days and intend to cling
to the obsolete two-watch system
which was in vogue before the dawn
| of the Christian era"
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1931-06-12
UNPOPULAR

The Robert E. Lee memorial high
way in Virginia is to be built, in part
at least, with convict labor. The
Scripps-Howard papers broadcast this
fact, and made unkind remarks about
employing convicts when at least
10000 Virginians are jobless. Last
week, when it came to open the pro-
ceedings, the committee in charge
tried to get President Hoover to turn
the first spadeful of earth.
President Hoover had other en-
gagements. Secretary of Agriculture
Hyde was approached. More engage
ments. Director Mcdonald of the
United States Bureau of Roads, was
invited, but was much too busy.
Somebody had to do it, so Cover
nor Pollard of Virginia took the
thankless job and said, as he turned
the earth: "This much of the boule-
ward. at least, will not be done by
convict labor!"
The exploitation of convicts, which
was shrewd state business few years
ago, is political smallpox today, and
no man who needs votes feels that
he has been properly vaccinated. The
world does move! = The Newark
Leader.
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1931-06-12

boiled old reactionary who so often
SO strangely sides with that Holmes
who has been so often upheld as the
model of all that progressive judge
should be.
Strange times be these.
Odd bodkins and various other bod
kins! Strange times be these.
Perhaps it may turn out that the
gravest danger to our liberties is the
mental laziness of so many of the
people who lose first and most when
liberty gets jolt in the jaw.
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1931-06-12
HOW EQUITY UsURPs LAW
rect version

HOV LQOll OpORA y Law
A Philadelphia equity judge issued
an injunction against striking hosiery
workers, but ordered that the writ be
operative only where an act is COM
mitted that would be unlawful if no
strike existed
In other words, the injunction can
not be enforced unless the hosiery
workers commit criminal act.
This judge might be considered a
good" injunction judge, but it must
be kept in mind that he retained the
power to annul government by law.
This is the essence of trade union
opposition to the albor injunction.
When a criminal act is done, law
is violated and the statutes make am
pie provision for trial.
Equity has no jurisdiction in the
enforcement OF crlmlnal law. lnat
process should only apply where the
plaintiff has no remedy at law.
When workers seek higher living
standards and are charged with an
unlawful act, they are entitled to
every right freely accorded the mean
est criminal.
If an injunction judge take juris-
diction, he overthrows the American
theory of government and substitutes
autocracy.
Whether that autocracy be benevo
lent or despotic is beside the ques
tion.
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1931-06-12
THE TARIFF, GENTLEMEN, is
DOMESTIC

Many are the criticisms of the
American tariff. So-called liberals
never tire of telling how ifksome
it is to foreign manufacturers. But
there is no more logic in foreign pro-
test against our tariffs than there
would be against, for example, our
school tax. Too often it is forgotten
that tariff is purely a DOMESTIC
matter, for Us to determine, for 9TH
crs to accept. Whether our tariff is
proper or not is beside the point. The
point is that whatever it may be, it
is strictly OUR AFFAIR. And this
is as it should be.
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1931-06-12
WISCONSIN PASSES
OLD AGE PENSION

Madison, Wis.-Compulsory county
old age pensions, after July /, 1898,
as approved by the house, was pass
ed by the senate.
The bill transfers administration of
old age pensions from the state
board of control to country courts and
requires every Wisconsin county to
come under the old age pension law.
The 1888 legislature shall set up suf-
ficient funds to provide state aid for
counties in carrying out old age re-
lief. Counties, however, are empow-
cred to levy taxes for this purpose.
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1931-06-12
GOVERNMENT BY LAW UPHELD

The United States supreme court
has ruled that equity cannot be sub
stituted for law.
The decision annuls a Minnesota
statute that empowered equity to
paddock any newspaper or publication
the Judge considered scandalous or
defamatory.
The law denies free press, said the
court. A person who has grievance
against such publication has redress
in the criminal and civil courts of that
state.
The decision is vindication of
trade union opposition to the labor
injunction that denies free press, free
speech and free assemblage.
Labor's position on the injunction
is in line with the United States
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1931-06-12
THE INTENT, NOT THE ACT,
COUNTS

Later reports darby the United
States supreme court decision on the
California anti-syndicalism, or red
flag, law. The decision did not hold
the whole law unconstitutional, as at
first reported. 1t appears that one
paragraph is nullified. Nor is the use
of the red flag legalized, or condon-
ed. The court holds that it is the
intent behind the use of the flag that
must count, not the mere display of
the flag. Better facilities for getting
court decisions on court days would
obviate such reporting. The won
der is, under present conditions, that