The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-03-25

congress especially SalQ) nave lore
closed on tens of thousands of farm
ers who have paid enough of their
loan to reduce their debt below the
present market value of their farms.
With the money thus obtained the
banks have been able to buy at so
to rs per cent of their face value
debentures they have sold the invest
ing public. The Reconstruction Fin
ance Corporation has openly stated
that it is not interested in helping
out poor farmers. 1t will help only
those farmers who still manage to
keep on their legs. All this assist
ance to the farmers is an obvious
attempt to control the market and to
build an economically sound social
base, in the form of large class of
prosperous big farmers, for a poll
tical bulwark against a revolution of
workers and poor farmers.
The deepening OF the crisis has
reused the farmer and is fast making
a fighter out OF him. The penny
sales have forced the suspension of
mortgage foreclosures. This is only
first step in the fight. This sus-
pension of mortgages is being used
to hoodwink the farmer, to stop his
growing revolt. There are many
signs and facts which point to a new
understanding among the farmers,
which show it will be far harder to
fool him. The National Conference
in Washington has started a move
ment which is spreading like prairie
fire out west. State Conventions have
been held in Nebraska, North Dakota,
and one is being held now in Iowa
The farmers present have made mil
liant demands for cancellation of
taxes, moratorium on mortgages, and
cash relief. They have expelled mis-
leaders and are wise to the tactics
of man like Simpson who has been
praised by the Socialists.
A canvas of farmers carried out by
the Kansas City Chamber Of Com
merce (curiously enough shows that
the farmers are putting no faith in
that patent medicine concocted by
Roosevelt-the allotment plan. Farm
ers see that Roosevelt's farm relief
plan will help only the rich farmers,
the millerS, the spectators, and will
hurt them more by putting a billion
dollar tax sale on the consumer
They know that reduction of acreage
will not help them because although
they produced 100000 bales of cot
ton fewer last year than the year be-
fore, the price of cotton is still fall
ing. They are welcoming the work
ers from the city to help them on
the picket line. In Iowa, Michigan,
Minnesota, and Wisconsin members
of the unemployed councils have
picketed with the farmers. In Wis
consin, where these city workers have
been arrested by the police, the mil
itancy of the farmers has compelled
their release. The farmers went even
SO far as to pay $3.50 for the workers.
No matter what cleavers capital
ism is using to keep farmers and
workers apart, the farmers are begin
ming to realize that their strength
lies in united action with the work.
ers. In important farm states like
Iowa and Illinois only Is per cent
of the banks have opened since the
bank holiday. Capitalism will crush
the farmer more brutally with each
one of its growing commissions if the
farmer docs not stand up and fight.
The Tallapoosa battle of Negro CROP
pers and the stand against sheriffs
and militia in other sections of the
country by rank and file farmers
shows the way the great fresh wind
is blowing. The American farmer
is not doomed. On the contrary,
there is greater hope and life for
him each passing hour.