The Bismarck tribune., 1933-07-31

spontaneous origin QUDllSnSO ucIcAn. |
All rights Of republication Of all other
matter herein are also reserved.
Keep Everyone Honest
The most important event In the
modern history OF Burleigh county
will come soon with the ALLEGATION OF
wheat allotments and payment of
benefits to the farmers in this dis
trict.
1t is important that this work be
done fairly, that every farmer get
his just due and that no one be per-
mitted to Jack up" his allotment,
either with respect to cash payment
or to future acreage. The fundamen-
tai need, II this enterprise is to be
successful, is stark honesty.
In Burleigh county $23o,9s7.12 will
be distributed in two instalments,
$l64,99080 this fall and $65 5,996.32
next spring after it is clear that the
acreage reduction agreement has
been complied with.
This fact carries with it severe
temptation. There is clear incentive |
here for farmers to attempt falsifica- |
ton in an effort to improve their po-
sitions. What easier way Of making
few extra dollars than to claim |
higher averages Of production and Of
acreage in the past than actually is
the case.
This newspaper believes that the
average of honesty among tillers of
the soil Is just about the same as
among men in other walks of life.
Hence it is inevitable that few will
attempt to cheat this allotment plan.
To guard against this every honest
farmer should constitute himself a
committee OF one to see that the law
is obeyed, assist the authorities who
will administer it in doing even
handed justice. BY doing so he pro-
tects his own interest and the more
far-reaching interest of the state and
nation. If neighbor attempts to
get more than his share there is mol
reason for diffidence. No misguided
spirit of tolerance should prevent q
direct challenge from being made,
for such action is far more injurious
to the plan than the Vaccinations Of
those who openly are opposed to 1t.
The same thing holds true for all
who may be evading or attempting
to evade the processing tax. Every
bllsi1ei Of untaxed grain which should
r1ghtfully be taxed means 28 cents
taken from the collective pockets Of
the farmers. Multiplied by enough
times, such evasions mean dismal
failure for the allotment plan. And
failure for this plan now means un-
utterable tragedy for us all. If ever
the times cried out for every man to
do his full duty that time is today
and the place is agricultural America.
In essence this proposal is that
every man become his neighbor's
keeper, at least to the extent of
checking his allotment application.
Such action need not be unneighborly
or unfriendly. It is merely the part
of good citizenship.
The need arises from the fact that
so many persons are affected and
the contempt for law which has be-
come prevalent in recent years. Any
law, to be effective, must have whole
hearted support. This one needs ac-
tive and aggressive cooperation more
than most statutes. It is almost a
matter Of economic life and death.
Had everyone given such support
to the prohibition law it would not
have been the dismal failure which 1t
now is demonstrated to be. Had
everyone given his cooperation and
insisted that his neighbor do so, we
should not have had wholesale dis
regard for that statute.
The reasons why such public sup
port was not accorded that law are
clear enough. Decent individuals
usually are not tattle tales on sub
jects which do not directly concern
them.
But the difference between the al
lotment plan and the prohibition law
is as wide as the sea. They are alike
only In that public acceptance and
public support were the keystones on
which success or failure rested. One
failed because the public was not
sufficiently interested to see that it
was generally obeyed.
What about the other?