davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1933-08-18
THE NATIONAL OFFICE
Is FINANCIALLY, ..
'' CRIPPLED

We need a hundred individuals
or groups to contribute to the
sustaining fund that was men,
toned in our last report. There
has been no income in the past.
1t is picking up a little bit now,
with some locals already being
established on dues paying basis.
Those of Us who are carrying on
the work are making extreme per-
sonal sacrifices. Many is the time
that we miss malls. Worse than
that however is the fact that we
haven't funds for adequately main
tanning an office. We can't get
the necessary supplies or send out
the literature that is asked for.
Often we Invent a postage stamp
SO that we could reply to letters
Of Inquiry. So again we call upon
members and sympathizers who
possibly can to contribute to our
sustaining fund. Every little bit
helps. As the Scotch says: "Mar y
n mickle makes a muckle." Also
send in names and addresses of
sympathetic professional m e n,
BUSH essmen. teachers. e+c., whom
we can appro'ch to support us. A
bigger and more effective organi-
cation mus. he our answer to the
ottocks Iilrc that IF HAMILTON Fish.
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1933-08-18

the at large campaign. In March
of this year, about the time that
Roosevelt was inaugurated presi-
dent, Burdick was candidate fer
appointment as United States Dis
trict Attorney by the democratic
president, tho he has been a life
long republican and ran for con-
gresham as such last autumn. He
even got the NPL legislative eau
Gus to endorse him for district
attorney and got the recommends
ton of Gov. LANCER, and Congress-
man Lemke, who was understood
to be pletty close to Roosevelt.
1t was at this time, believing
that he had the job landed that
Burdick first announced his resig-
nation as president of The North
Dakota Holiday Association. But
Postmaster General Farley, the
patronage dispenser, turned his
thumbs down, so the president
threw Burdick's application in the
waste basket much to the great
farm leaders chagrin. Then Mr..
Burdick getting a new ambition.
withdrew his resignation as presi-
dent of the Holiday Associatiin.
and told the boys he would lead
the militant farmers a while
longer.
AT the first annual Holiday con-
vention at Devils Lake in. the lat
ter days of June, dominated by
Lawyer Burdick and his hand
picked politicians, not a word was
said abiut Jim Sinclair and "his
record; tho Bill Lemke was there
and told the farmers about the
saving and healing qualities of the
Frazier bill, which he, Bill Lemke
had fathered; tho Frazier was
there and talked about the power
of the allotment scheme or some
thing equally curing; tho LANCER
was here with his army of camp
followers, and told how he had
promised Roosevelt North Dako-
ta's support in the next war, and
how he had given the. bankers and
insurance companies a moratorium
and then to cover up, the farmers
one too; yet Jim Sinclair was not
there, nor was. he invited by Mr..
Burdick, and neither was his name
mentioned, as in the case of Sen.
Nye, who tho absent, had been
invited, and was not forgotten.
but by every one Of the illustrious
speakers, lauded to the skies as
the great peoples friend md the
foe Of the exploiters.
AT Devils Lake, his record being
attacked by a dirt farmer, and his
leadership as a lawyer of the
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1933-08-18

part u a larger organization ana
IL neIps TO keep up the IIghLng
spirit OF the farmers.
Another gooo IDEA OF Hoft's is
THAI he has three girls whom he
takes around with him to sing
farmers songs at the meetings.
Which reminds us TO comment
that before long we will have a
regular United Farmers League
song book. We have thought of
emitting it, TThe Farmers Sing
Their Way to Freedom" But we
would like to have suggestions
from the farmers for a better
title.
A new pamphlet has just been
published by the United TURNER'S
League and can be ordered from
the Producers News. It is "The
Next Step for American Farm
ers." This pamphlet explains the
United Front. the Committee of
Action, and the role of the United
Farmers League in the United
Front. The plmphlet sells for 5
cents. It can be had for 2 cents
a copy in bundles Of more than
100 and 8 cents per copy in bun
dies of less than 100.
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1933-08-18
REGARDING RELIEF
FOR FARMERS

From Roberts County, South.
Dakota, where six hundred farm
ers have been organized by the
two WalstadS, father and son, into
the U. F. L. In short time, comes
a mighty good suggestion for the
farmers everywhere in the matter
of getting relief. They are pban-
ming march on their county COM
miseioners. So in preparation they
are circulating a QUESTIONABLE
among the farmers.
This QUESTIONABLE asks for the
name, address, married or single,
how many dependents, whether a
land owner or renter, how much.
land, how much under cultivation;
will you have enough crops to fur
nish seed for next year; to fur
nish feed for your livestock; how
many cattle, horses, pigs, sheep
chickens; will you make enough to
provide for your family; are you
financially able to obtain seed,
feed and other essentials that you
viii need? Such are some of the
questions. The purpose of the
questionnairs is to have down in
black and white the actual ma
terial conditions of the farmers of
the county, SO that when they
march down on the board of COM
missioners there can be no uuib-
bling by the office holders nbout
the need for relief.
Another good idea they have in
Roberts county is that each local
has a financial committee and
these separate committees elect
and set up a county financial COM
mit+ee. The purpose of the fl
nancial committee is to raise the
funds so that every members dues
can be paid and relieve the cour-
~ organizer of Individual response
bilitv for getting enough money
TOGETHER to carrv on The work.
Tins then the o~"ani7ev hos moth
mo tn wnrrv I-hnn+ evoorpt +ha
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1933-08-18
DOings of the
Advance Guard

Between +p now ian and , the time when the snow starts
subs for the paper anu get
Collectors will be bounding us this fall more tbo
before We must stay together help protect one ever
and what little have left Taking care of our fnIn
our foremost duty The collectors going to d0
it is up to ourselves. fts@ IN
Our wives and children have the first mortgage On MI,
have produced If there is anything left ove %
they have been properly taken Of then it is time er
to settle our obligations Oun
From all indications and all reports, this comino u;.
is going to be the worst yet. Only by organzn @
demonstrating will something be done to relieve the ;
on only in that will people be getting chance to @
Folding your hands will get you anything hut st
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1933-08-18
HE ASKS FOR
CRITICISM

Olsey Boskaljon, that active
Irisher in Washington state, asks
for criticism. "You haven't criti-
cized me for what I'm DOING" he
said. Why should we, when he's
organizing locals of the UFL and
the UFL state conference?
However, we conclude from his
report that enough attention has
not been given to locals in his
state after the locals have once
been organized. The same criti-
cism applies elsewhere rs well. It
is decidedly best, instead of jump
ing around here and there IN a
state, to attempt to organize an
entire couny, to set up a county
committee, and leave an active
fellow in charge in the county, like
Hoff is doing in North Dakota,
who will keep the organization
going.
We like the spirit of Casey Bos-
kaljon who wants to see the short
comings and failings so that they
mlay be corrected in the interests
of more effective organization.
That is the spirit that will make
TIE Hamilton Fishes fiddle their
fins until they become jelly fishes.
Fellow farmers, let US go for
wardi
The United Farmers League,
Alfred Tilla,
National Sec.
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1933-08-18
Or&aniNafiO Report
OF the National OffiCe

carries a red scare. He has as
serted that the whole affair i'll
New York state has been caused
by the United Farmer League. We
wish this were true. Unfortunate
ly the UFL has no such great in
fluence in the eastern states. We
have very little organization in
New York. But with the Infamous
sardine giving US publicity, we
may be sure that we are going
to grow in New York state as we
are growing in other stltes.
Mr.. Fish hopes to scare the
farmers away from the United
Farmers League by asserting that
it is a Communist Organization.
This in effect, is All admission the
militant policy of the UFL is a
serious threat to the Wall Street
sharks and their fishy supporters.
Sure, we have Communists in our
r1nks, and we also have Demo-
Gratis and Republicans and Farmer
Laborites.
We can stand a lot more Com
munists in our ranks; also some
more ia rmers of other political
belief. And they are all coming
to us. They are all adopting our
program of struggle. That's what
is eating the Fish. The farmers
are welcoming the "reds" among
them, because everywhere we see
the reds in the forefront, fighting
the battles in behalf of all farm
ers. Because the Communists are
devoted to the farmers cause, be-
cause they are sacrificing and un-
afraid, in many localities they give
color to the farmers movement.
The farmers have no reason to be
afraid of the Communists. The
mortgage sharks and the Fish are
having nightmares which come to
old horses who have lived a long
time on the wild oats of exploita-
ton.
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1933-08-18
THE CIRCUIT SCHOOL

The United Farmers League is
taking definite and decisive steps
to go ahead organizationally.
First and foremost we bring
to your Intention the Circuit
School or the school on wheels"
as it is called. Right now, dur
ing August, the school is IN the
Lower Michigan. From there it
moves westward so as to COM
mence its second stand at Palisade
Mimi, on September 8. Students
are being selected in Minnesota,
Wisconsin and Upper Michigan for
this second location.
It is proposed that the school
will move from Minnesota to some
central place in the Dakotas where
students can be drawn from both
North and South Dakota and from
Eastern Montana. The farmers
In the western states, in their
forthcoming conferences, should
take up the question of the circuit
school for their respective terri
tories.
About 20 new farm organizers
are trained at each one of these
schools. There is no tuition fee
for the students, and even text
books and supplies are provided
free. The one requirement we
make of the students is that they
pledge themselves to carry on the
work in behalf of the farmer after
they are through with the course.
The school gives a three weeks
course in theoretical and practical
training so that students who come
from the school will know just
how to carry on farm orglniza-
ton work. They will learn how
to write news articles, leaflets and
resolutions. how to. conduct meet
ings, etc. The school will include
a course on the history of mill
tant farm movements.
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1933-08-18

licity by the capitalist press as a
compromise" measure. It is a
compromise between giving them
what they were promised by the
Agricultural Adjustment Admin
stration in return for cutting their
acreage and destroying their crops
and NOTHING. The "compro-
mise"-although its details have
been withheld by Walllce due to
fear of public resentment-will
be that the wheEt farmers, for ex-
ample. will get NOTHING OUT
of the ALLOTMENT PLAN ex-
cept the opportunity to cut their
acreage and their income 20 PER
CENT NEXT YEAR.
TO HELP LANDLORDS
Net only are feed, seed, anu
crop production loans to be
deducted from the benefits
rlghtfully due the farmers but
but also money due the Fed
eral Land and intermediate
Credit banks.
The only justification thus fan
attempted to camouflage this plum
der deal was made by Morgenthau.
According to him the payment to
the farmers of the full amount ac-
tually due them would set a chad
precedent" The new dealers de-
clare, like the old ones, that if the
farmers are not forced to paw
every cent which they owe it is a
bad precedent.
The real reason, for which 'bad
precedent" is only nice sounding
name was given by Morgenthau in
discussing reasons why the pow.
erty stricken farmers must be-
forced to pay the demands of the
Federal Land banks, and Inter-
mediate Credit banks. It would
be "bad practice" for these WILL
Street quasi-goverLment lr+stit,I
tons TO waive the amounts due
them because they tissue securi
ties held by the public. The
"publc" which owns Land Bank
bonds are the rich, the Wall Street
bankers, the capitalists.
ROOsEvELTS PUBLIC
The chief interest Of the
New Deal administration i
to protect the interests of this
public which means the bank.
ers and does not mean the
working people ON the farms
and in the cities. If any farm
ers doubted this, these stata
ments of Morgenthau and the
action taken on them bv the
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1933-08-18

He wants Uncle Sam to take
over the bum mortgages at
face value and accrued interests,
the mortgage brokers and bank
ems now own for good green cash,
so that in the final show down of
the "new deal" Uncle Sam will
take the loss as he did with the
foreign debts load. His program
is to shift the burden of the cap
italist crisis more and more COM
pletely on the backs of the farm
ers and workers, IN order that the
loot of the exploiters be not
threatened-Burdlck's dea and
Roosevelt's "new deal" seem to
be identical. La fact Buroick IS
currying popularity by ballvhoo-
ing for F. D., and the "new deal"
thluout the length and breadth of
North Dakota.
Burdick, in enc of his eloquent
spouting of radical sounding dema-
gogy, has a word to say about re-
lief-cash relief-for the impov-
erished farmers and unemployed
workers; not a word to say in be-
half of the cancellation of the
onerous feed and seed loans the
exploited and impoverished farm
ers have received from the gov
eminent which he knows the farm
ers can never pay; not a word to
say for free cash financing from
the federal government for the
drought stricken and hoppered-
out farmers; not a word to say
for unemployment insurance at
the expense of those who are still
extracting huge profits out of the
toll and sweat of the workers. And
neither has he a word to say
against Langer's criminal sales
tax which will be voted upon at
the special election, Sept. % which
puts a tax on every mouthful of
food of the farmers and. workers,
on every thing the farmer buys in
his farming operations, so that
the burden of operating the state
be put on the shoulders Of the
farmers and workers and taken off
from those of the rich property
holders and dividend clippers.
Burdick has been biennial can
didate for office for years. Once
IN the dim past he was lieutenant
governor Of North Dakota. In
1916 he was the IVA candidate
for governor against Lynn Fra
zier. He has tried for the repub-
Iican nomination for governor sew
eral times since. Last year he
ran for Congress against Sinclair
md Lemke, Burtness and Hall, in
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1933-08-18
ELECTION CALLED BY
GOV. LANCER TO PUT
OVER BIG SALES TAX

. Bismarck, N. d, Aug. H.
: Using three pens which he
9 later presented to his political
. henchman, Governor LANCER,
" today signed a proclamation
calling a special election ON
September %.
The measures to be voted ON
= include the SALES TAX and
. the beer bill. Read the coming
> issues of the Producers News
3 for special articles on the gi -
F." gantic SALES TAX robbery
" which LANCER is attempting
> to put over on the farmers
and workers of the state in
> order TO pay the bankers their
" interest charges.
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1933-08-18
THE UNITED FRONT

Our National Secretary, Alli%
ITALIA, has written an impOrIaI'
pamphlet on this subject entltss
"The Next Step for the AmencS,
Farmers" Order a bundle ~ y
pamphlets at 2 cents each fOr !, y y
or more and 8 cents for less 1lS
100. They retail for 5 cents S -.
and can be obtained firm the -. nv
ducers News, PlentywOOd, "'
tana.
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1933-08-18
WE ARE GROWING

"The organization is going like
"a house a-fire," writes Jonathan
Hoff of Emmons county, North
Dakota, and sends in one allot-
ment after another of applications
to the League. Farmer Hoff is
carrying on organization work IN
the right way. He and the County
Committee have divided the coun-
ty into IL districts. He goes al
ternately from one local to an
other. Thus each local is visited
regularly and given guidance and
help. In that way the locals re-
main alive and active. In that
way the loc7ls feel that they are
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1933-08-18

farmers, Burdick stopped the dis
cussion by saying that he was un-
der no circumstances a candidate
for reelection, so the discussions
of his shortcomings were useless.
but, he arranged, in spite of this
announcement, for his nomination
and election at the proper moment.
This was Burdick's second resigna-
ton.
Attorney Burdick, farm leader.
viii lead the farmers everywhere
but into a real honest struggle for
relief and the right to live until
after the 1884 elections, when II
he beats Jim Sinclair the farmers
as far is Usher Is concerned. win
be saved.
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1933-08-18
WE NEED THE
PUBLICITY

Publicity helps US grow. Il
would be a good idea, should ne
looked upon by members and the
sympathizers everywhere as "a
duty to get the two foregoing ex-
tracts-on the Circuit School and
on Fish and the N. Y. Farmers
Strike-published in the greatest
possible number of papers. Copy
these extracts and tlke them to
your local press. We must let
the farmers know what we are do
ing and why our enemies fear US.
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1933-08-18
DEMONSTRATES WITH
GOOD RESULTS


]. E. Fry, jefferson Co.
Colo, writes: cit is going 10
be harder to get money as the
New Deal goes along. FIVE
thousand workers and farmers
demonstrated before the state
capitol Aug. 1, with good re.
suits" he writes. He also
RENTS for bundles.
Roy Anderson, Ai:kin Co,
Mimi, renews and says II can
not get aleng without the Pro.
ducers News"
o. A. Mattingly, Williams Co. N
d. renews for six months.
PAPER MAKES WORK
EASIER
Frank Murtlana, Beltrami
Co. Mimi, renews and sends
three more subs. ''The paper
is the backbone of our Organi'
cation and makes the work
much easier" he says.
julius Walstad, Roberts Co. D
D. RENTS for bundles of papeD
and programs.
John G. Soltis, Day Co. S. DpI
sends another two subs and Ords'
a bundle of 100.
Edwin Pfutzenreuter, Brown W
S. OAK, sends US a sub card aO'
pays for papers sold.
L. M. Widstrom, Wright W.
Mimi, subscribes for IA year.
H. R. Millhouse, Cumberland W.
Pa, sends us a six month sub.
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1933-08-18
ACTION is NEEDED

What is to be done now?
A wave of protests against
this swindAe and demand for
full paymenl6 of the bonus
money should roll i'm to
President Roosevelt, Secretary
Wallace, Henry MOrgenthau,
Jr., Chairman Jones of the r.
F. c., all located at Wahhing-
ton, and to the Individual rep
resentatives and senator's de-
manding thar they take action
to see that this robbery is not
carried through.
Now is the time, Furthermore,
to press the demands for
CANCELLATION of feed,
seed and crop production loans
owed by poverty stricken farm
ers to the federal government
or It's agencies.
Who should make these de-
mands?
A TASK FOR EVERYONE
We call en- each of our read
ers to send a letter to each if
the persons mentioned above
demanding that the farmers
get the full benefit of the pay
ments due under the allotment
plan without any deductions,
and that Federal and Land
bank loans be cancelled.
Each of our readers should
also urge his neighbOrs to
send in protests, either indi-
vidually or in petition form
with the signatures of all i'm
poverished farmers in the
community attached.
Every United Farmers League
local, every local organization
Of the Farmers Union, Farm
Bureau, Grange, COOperatives,
and United Front Committees
of Action. should utilize the
meetings called by the Adj
justment Administration to
put over the allotment plan to
organize mass protest against
this outrageous swindle.
Each UFL local must initiate
this protest in its own com.
munity, demonstrating to the
farmers that it is the League
which really watches their in
tedests and fights for them.
If this is done we can force
the Roosevelt administration
to come across with the
money which is rightfully ours
and of which WE WILL NOT
BE ROBBED.
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1933-08-18

v GAS4O4la
DOINGS OF LAST WEEK
VIM. Ferguson, Yakima q
Wash. is here again with fOu,
more subs.
N. West, Landglade Co. WI.
Subscribes.
Workers Book Store, ChicaRo
Ill, RENTS for bundles.
Jerry Stanek, Homestead. Man,
renews for a year.
DOUBT THE ALLOTMENT
PLAN
Arthur KOrkatO, Valley Oo
Mont, sends a dollar to aUulv
on account "Read the Pro-
ducers News and not bank boa
much on the Allotment Plans
is his advice.
o. Hoopola, Wadena Co. MIN
sends two subs.
Dalton johnson, KenOsha @
Wis, RENTS for bundles.
Toivo Salo, st. Louis Co. MIN
sends two subs.
THINKS WE ARE DOING
WELL
VIM Biemler, Sandnslzy. ca.
Ohio, renews for six months
and says. II like the paDer
fine. you are doing a great
work."
c. Beeghly, Churchill Co. NevaA
sends a dollar for bundles 10 h
sent each week.
VIM. Ferguson, Yakima Co.
Wash. is here once more this
week with four subs and an
Oroer Tor 1UO copies of paper.
L. Langdon, Clallam Co., Wash
remits ON bundle account.
Raymond Edwards, Perkins ca
5. OAK, renews.
Mrs. 81. BOislanl, Nelson Ca.
n. Oak. remits for bundles.
"we are doing our best to sell
the paper and Dopularize Il
among the farmers here" she
writes.
J. M. Roach, Burke Co., N. D,
SubScribes.
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1933-08-18

pleL ty big job of getting the farm
ems organized and giving help and
guidance in the farmerh struggles.
1t helps lot not to have to worry
about to get money for postage,
supplies, gasoline, etc.
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1933-08-18
Roosevelt Administration Trying
to Swindle Farmers Out Of Bonus
Continued from Front Page)

Continued from Front Pager
other loans would set a bad
precedent" He added that In
the case of money due the
federal land Snd intermediate
credit banks "a waiver would
be bad practice because these
institutions both issue securi-
ties held by the public"
The benefits of the allotment
pRn will go from the right hand
pocket of the federal government
into it's left hand pocket or into
the pocket of the bankers. The
Messers Roosevelt, Wallace, Nor
genthau, Jones and their ilk, ex-
pect the farmers to stand stricken
dumb, gasping at the Houdini act
of the New Deal, wondering how
the benefits" of the allotment
plan could go from the right
hand pocket of the government to
its left hand pocket and into the
Golfers of the bankers without
them even getting so much as n
glimpse of the money in this
sleight of hand juggling.
The New Dealers are going
to try Ito prove that they can
cold deck the farmers. deal
from any part of the deck
and not be caught at it, and
called to account.
BANKERS PROGRAM
The allotment Legislation of
the New Deal stands revealed
not as a relief measure for
the impoverished farmers but
as Dhe part of the gigantic
plumber system that has been
established to relieve the rich
ak the expense Of the working
people.
The plan has been given pub
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1933-08-18
Usher l. Burdick Conniving For
Congressman Jim Sinclair's Shoes
He wants Uncle Sam to take
over the bum mortgages at

CONTINUED from page one9
The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1933-08-18

Roosevelt committee of Wal
lace. MOrgenthau and Jenes,
will convince him.
The impoverished farmers
can get the bonus due them
under the Roosevelt farm act.
The New Dealers can and
must be forced to back down
on this cold decking of the
farmers.