The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1932-02-05
ONLY FARMERS ON SEED LOAN
COMMITTEE IS DEMAND OF UFL
Montana Farmers Determined to Prevent County Agent
From Using Loans In Political Attacks

the UQlGu al AAASA0 NS
sheridan County, Montana, is de-
handing that only farmers shall
be appointed to the committees
which pass on the applications. In
n. feed loan of last fall the coun-
ty agent, the county committee,
and the federal seed loan agent |
Disseminated against farmers who |
had been active in the organiza-
6on of the farmers Of the county.
Other farmers were Disseminated
against for personal reasons by
these agents of the Hoover gov
eminent.
The farmers are determined
that this shall not occur this
spring. As a result of this vi
eious blackguard discrimination of
last fall tens of head of stock are
dead of starvation while many
more are near death. The farm
srs Of Sheridan County are de-
termined that the same stool pig
con crew which is responsible for
the death of this stock shall not
have the power Of deciding on
farmers applications for seed
loans.
The United Farmers League has
made the demand for farmer seed
loan committees in the following
letter which was sent to the Fed.
erai seed loan office at Grand
Forks.
February /, 1882.
Walter E. Eliff,
Administrative Officer in Chargt
Farmers Seed Loan Office,
5, Grand Forks, North Dakota.
Dear Sir:
It now appears likely that
federal seed loan will be given tn
farmers of the drought strickel
areas for the coming spring. L
view of this fact we should like t
take up the question of seed loa
committees for this loan.
Several weeks ago, Mr.. Goniu
Laursen, a farmer of Reserve
Montana, as a result of the di'
elimination practised by the Coul
ty Agent and by the County Con
mittee at the farmers recommel
datiOn, wrote to the County Agel
to inquire if a farmer could be a
pointed to the County Commute
Mr.. Ferguson, the County A.
ent, replied to Mr.. Laursen on D
cember Both, as follows:
"In reply to your recent let
ter in which you ask if the far
mers of the county could hav
the privilege of appointing on
member of the County See
Loan Committee, / wish to ad
wise you that as far as / al
concerned you can have the priv
lege of appointing all thre
members of the community con
mittees.
81 also wish to advise 20
that it is not necessary to sen
the names of your appointment
to me. Send them direct to tn
Seed Loan Office, Grand Fork
North Dakota, as all appOin
ments are made in that office.
Every truly yours,
(Signed) E. G. FERGUSON
County Agent
The letter of the County Ag
breathes the same insolence Il
his dealings with the farmers
Sheridan County have genera
shown. 1t is a blank refusal
hls part to give any assistance
the farmers in getting anyone
the committees that they wish.
From our previous expeYie
with Mr.. Ferguson, we feel q;
certain that at the time that
Atter was written to Mr.. Laur
the County Agent wrote a LEI
70 the Grand Forks office ms
ng that no one but with his !
ommendation be placed on any
tne seed loan committees. Y
representative, Mr.. Kramer,
was present at the meeting WI
the representatives of the IA
ers Of Sheridan County dernaT
Of the County Commissioners
mis stool pigeon be fired imm
ately, had the stool pigeon tao
81 the County Agent explained
nun. So conclusive was the p
given him that he apology
without being asked, for ha
come to support the County AS
We place absolutely no faitl
Mr.. Ferguson or in his let
we DO, however, insist that
SEED loans which will bee
available this spring be taken
urely out Of the hands Of Fe
son and of the committees "
nave been appointed thru his ]
nation. The handling of the
Oan during the past months
en determined primarily by
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