The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1933-10-27
October 81, 1888
Statement by the United Farmers League
On the Farm Strike

| throughout the country will support with all their
might farmers strike that is intended to bring real
relief to the farmers who in distress The United
Farmers League organization will mobilize all
sympathetic elements to support such strike.
However we want to call to the attention of all farm
that the issues and the demands of the impending
strike still very much befOgged. We believe that
the farmers themselves should formulate the demands
for which they to struggle, instead of having the
demands" handed down to them by somebody else.
We of the United Farmers League doubt whether
the farmers of the country really want Farm Code"
which appears to be the chief aim of Renos Board of
Directors whoever is calling the strike. The in
dustres have been given Codes, and the workers
objecting in a wave of strike struggles such as the
country has scarcely witnessed before. The workers
in these codes wOrsening of conditions for them
selves and further slavery The principal feature of the
Codes aside from actual wage cutting, appears to be
attempt to make it impossible for the workers to strug
gle against lowering standard of living There is no
good reason to expect code of different character
for the farmers. Therefore, should we go on strike
into what may develop into serious struggle just to
get the yoke fastened tightly around necks?
CURE want higher prices for our products But is
this higher price to out of the meager earnings
of the city workers out of the profits of the prof.
teers? If price boost is placed upon the lessening
buying power of city workers, the workers will be able
to buy still less of farm products and market will
be further reduced IT, on the other hand, are go
ing to cut into the outrageous profits of the food mon
opolies, must have clear understanding of how
we are going to make fight effective and how we
are going to hold victory after victory has been
won.
Cost of production Where, when and how? Is
1t to be cost of production model corporation farm
on the small, poor farmers farm? The government
wants to eliminate from production" the small poor
farmer. So the small farmers cost of production will
not be the determining factor Who will determine the
cost of production? Is it to be the impoverished farm
a board of high saaried administrators and
professional farm leaders? Didn't we once have
Farm Board that supposed to stabilize prices? Are
we going to have the farce and deceit all over
again? The phrase 'cost of production may mean
anything and nothing. 1t sounds good and it is
full for bandying around and for carrying on sham
battle. But, after ALL what does it mean We must
be of what going to struggle for before we
go into the struggles otherwise it is to become
disastrous affair.
And what about the Frazier Bill? What essential
difference is there between the Frazier Refnancing
Bill and the present refnancng scheme? None what
lower interest rate the bait danged before
our eyes. But we can't pay any interest. So why
fight for lower rate? Yes the rich farmers and the
corporation farms pay interest. Lower interest
rates long term loans would be to their benefit That
is why they want the Frazier Bill They have collateral
to offer security, which poor farmers have not
The Frazier Bill would lay the basis for subsidy for
rich and corporation farms after we, the mass OF
American farmers, are eliminated from production"
WE MUST fight of course And the United Farmers
w League is not going to hold the farmers back We
are going to spur the farmers forward But in order
to win must fight correctly efficiently The strug-
gle at all stages must be in the control of the rank and
file of the farmers Otherwise it will be betrayed.
The farmers must organize mass picketing of roads
farmers from playing the part of scabs Sitting quietly
at home, going fishing will never win strike.
Farmers everywhere must elect their own strike
committees. The local committees must set up county
committees and the county committees must choose
state regional committees and out of the latter must
come a national committee The demands must bt
worked out in rank and file farmers conferences In
fact this be done and will be done at the Farmers
Second National Conference in Chicago next month.
The strike committees, from the local up to the
national, must be responsible to the rank and file
They not to be empowered to make an agreement
to call off the strike without authority from the
striking farmers. They shall have the right to confer
with the agents of the trusts with agencies of the
government but all final decisions must rest in confer
ences of the farmers.
strike prepared and conducted otherwise than
around issues and demands on which we are agreed
and under militant rank and file leadership and control
viii be foredoomed to failure Strikes have been called
and may be called again for the sole purpose OF
bringing about defeat in order that the farmers viii
become confused and will lose courage and lose faith
their own power. We must not let this happen
For the preparation of real struggle in our owl