The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1933-01-27
AN OPEN LETTER TO JOHN WALL,
MEMBER OF The FARMERS UNION
Dear Friend


We are glad to receive your letter and those OF
Mary Greene and E E. Greene, of the North Dakota
Farmers Union We think that both of the latter letters
are of interest only the members of the Farmers
Union of North Dakota but to all farmers.
Mary Greene to think that your salvation de-
ponds on passing the moratorium bill in North Dakota
Since the bill was defeated she has other hope to Of
fer you than to wait for the next round meaning
probably the next time the moratorium question comes
UP for referendum which may be several years from
now You or any farmer who is facing foreclosure
eviction will have lost your farm lock- stock and barrel
long before this unless you take much more drastic
ton than Mary Greene advises
E. E. Greene, secretary treasurer of the North Da-
kota Farmers Union goes much furher-in his di-
rection Mr. Greenes proposals that the farmers should
either run Sears and Roebuck" sale (like the $llS
sale in Perkasie Pa which reported in the Producers
News recently prevent the sale from taking place, are
very good.
There is however, thing the matter with this
part of Mr. Greenes letter. He writes, the Farmers
Union locals certainly should take up the question of pro-
lection against foreclosure sales and evictions."
This is what Greene writes to you PERSONALLY.
What we would like to know is Has Mr. Greene any
other of the hdhsaaed leaders of the Farmers Union
ever instructions all of the locals carry
this activity Have they during the past year tried
rally the Farmers Union membership for these strug
Farmers Union Herald commenced carry this
work Its editors have written pounds of copy the
moratorium referendum the crop mortgage question
Roosevelt for president the marketing of turkeys Ee
vator NJ the Farm Board, etc but NOT ONE WORD or
how the farmers to prevent evctons and foreclos
ures.
While Mr. Greene may write personally to a Farm
Union member that his local should he him hi
home Mr.. Greene does not give directves to this
local to stop the eviction of their fellowmember
He makes the whole matter your personal problem
not the urgent business of the Farmers Union.
What contrast is the stand of the United Farmer,
League this same problem. Every United Farmers
League secretary is instructed organize the members
of his local to help the other membersn all their every
day problems-to win relief well as stop foreclosures
Not only does the United Farmers League protect its owl
members it leads the struggle for protection of all small
farmers in the locality matter what organization they
belong to. And finally week after week. the Producer
News the official organ of the United Farmers League
gives the of how farmers stopping FORECLOSURES
and how it can be done by other farmers
One other point in Mr. Greene letter deserves at
tention, we think. 1t is that part which reads:
EFF you that the State Board or officers
(of the Farmers Union) should come and help you
your property, will say that this is impossible
and is unnecessary"
These high salared leaders" can trot to Congress
slonal hearings campaign for politicians (ke Simpson
for Roosevelt during the last campaign) speak on
operation but when Farmers Union members sugges
that they should and help stop foreclosures am
evictions, they find it IMPOSSIBLE" Mr. Green
tries to whtewash this blank refusal to aid the farmer
in their need by that it is UNNECESSARY,
This is stark revelation of the attitude of the welpai
Union leaders to the dire needs of the farmers 1t is
brazen insult to farmers Union members and others VIII
are faced with foreclosure and eviction.
Adding insult to injury Mr. Greene continues.
If the people in your community are jeIIy-fish and
willing to DE sold out they will be sold regardless
of the Farmers Union, Communists or anvthino
else"
For our part say that if the farmers in your Ioca
as elsewhere do not understand the possibility of pr
venting evctions and foreclosures bv mass action +
he fault in THE FIRST INSTANCE of the Union La,
ers Mr. Greene blames the farmers and calls the,