The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-03-06

Farms Into Tactoeies,'' I win send In
my bit. Farms are turned into fac.
tories through sheer necessity and
farmers and their families made
slaves through the selfish greed Of
politicians and others Ia power, who
have forgotten Or else never were
taught the Golden Rule. Having lived
on the farm close to . small town Ill
my life, with the exception Of several
years In q city, I have seen the dif.
ference and know whereof I speak.
Farmers have helped build factor.
les. ETC., and ore steadily producing
raw material to keep these same fac.
tories In operation. They are en-.
titled to . Just share Of manufac-
tured goods.
The press Is filled with articles on
the possible lowering Of the standard
Of living In these times Of depression.
The farmer has never had . stan.
dard Of living. There u no such =
thing for him and his family. He
sows, reaps and threshes, In some loo.
alties q thousand acres, and when he
Ii through, the gamblers get most Of
It and the in.betweens the balance.
Pay the farmer and his family Z
so-called Just wage for their work. It
can b done, In this land Of plenty,
through adjustment Of taxes, salar-
les and laws that conform to the
needs Of the many and not . greedy
few.
Why this hasn't been done you can
see II you refer to an editorial In
Tuesdays Tribune Of Feb. 18th, taken
from the Minneapolis Tribune.
Now the wage-earner II LETT with.
cut q Job and the farmer Is left hold
ing the sack, - the last one down the
line.
People on the farm put In longer
hours than any workers and get the
least pay. Then, when they are ready
to sell their produce, they have to
take whatever Il given to them. In
buying they have to pay whatever Is
asked.
Now the farmer Is through: 1t the
bottom Of the pit 20 to speak when
It comes to dishing out any more.
Anything to Be had from the farm.
ers now Is at the polls. At taxpayers
meetings, legislatures, etc. His voice
Is growing louder and clearer and
spells the rule Of common sense.
Salaries must come down all the
way to Washington, and not only gov
eminent workers but others as well.
There must be q gradual shaving off
Of comforts and luxuries which the
farmer has always had to get along
without, II there Is to be any relief
from present conditions.
Farmers wives put in Il to 10 hours
= day, especially during spring, sum.
mer and fall. Now they should 60
back 20 to 50 years into the world
Of pioneer drudgery. spin, knit, etc.,
which those people out Of sheer nec-
essity had to do.
Mothers on the farm have done
plenty Of that, all these years to help
make buckle and strap meet, while
others were pursuing the brighter
sides Of Life or playing bridge.
Farmers In general have been Pc.
tient. too patient for their own good.
The farmer doesn't want to strike or
cause blood shed. All he wants for
himself and his 10 Justice and .
square deal He Is entitled to Just
Is much comfort as the city dweller,
and even more, considering the long
hours Of hard dirty work he puts In.
Farmers have no modern homes. II
they have, they are an exception,
not the rule and possibly by this time
they have gone back to the mortgage
holder.
On the farm you don't find good
radios or cars. mostly secondhand Or
Henry Ford's; no built-in bath tubs
with running water that make for
healthful living. Baths are taken In
the family wash tub. providing they
still have one, by the kitchen stove
with water carried In and out in q
sort Of bucket brigade.
There Is no money for insurance
policies but the insurance companies
hold most Of the farmers mortgages.
= situation which Is q disgrace to hui.
mainly, . disgrace to higher institu.
lions Of learning who have turned
out so-called educated people but
who let such conditions exist.
I would like to shake hands with
our members Of the 1888 legislature
who have helped to make laws that
win give the down-trodden farmer
and taxpayer . brief breathing spell
and have taken away the fear Of
losing their homes for at least two
CT more years.
I would like to Zee legislation pass
ed to especially help the rural schools.
II necessary the nonessentials Of
higher institutions can be cut out and
this money applied to high and
rural schools. It is time Q halt Is
called on the spending Of public
nloney-county and state 10 wen as
natton-if We don't Ill want to keep
moving down the tax-paved road to
bankruptcy and ruin. The farmer Is
through living on hope.
That's too much like counting In
advance the chickens We expect 70
hatch from eggs We hope win b
laid BY the hen We intend to buy
with the money We plan % borrow
from . neithbor when he has sold
his wheat.
MRS. J. B. LANDeBERoER.
HE WAS AMUSED
Bismarck. N. OAK,
March 3, 1888.
Editor, Tribune:
was rather amused ct the way the
mail bag was filled up with excuses
last evening. this List no doubt could
nave been made Z lot lonRer. since 7