The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-11-27
The National View

The National View
To all classes Of citizens every
where the program adopted by the
National Grange at the close Of 10
dLy convention carries strength and
reinsurance.
It proves that large bodies Of farm
ers can and do take sensible views Of
their own condition and are capable
OF devising sane and workable means
Of improving it.
1t demonstrates the willingness of
the farmer to work for his own sal
walton. a thing which We who live
close TO the soil have never forgot
ten but which city folks can hardly
be blamed for overlooking, In view Of
the barrage Of talk to which they
recently have been subjected.
But over and above all of these
things it proves anew that the finest
patriots in the land are those who
make their homes on the soil: that
the farmer, fully as much AZ his city
brother, thinks In terms Of national
welfare.
Recent happenings have had q
tendency to cast doubt upon this fact.
To hear some OF our so-called or
would-be leaders talk, 1t has been
easy to get the idea that some farm
ers preferred to designate themselves
as members Of q class rather than as
citizens of the nation. These are the
ones who would pit the farmer
against all other workers in a class
struggle, ignorant Of the fact that
such a course would mean only dis
aster for all concerned.
To be sure, there have been occa-
sional gestures toward the folks in
the towns-usually to specified and
limited classes Of skilled workers
but no broad-gauge recognition Of the
fact that. before any Of US are any
thing else, we are citizens of COM
mon country. working toward COM
mon end
Conditions are not good on the
farms but neither are they good in
the cities and it is about time that
someone in the farm country took
note of the fact. The great mass OF
city persons who are cooperating with
the government in its effort to restore
farm prosperity should be congratu-
lated by those still on the soil. It
should be made plain to them that
their cooperation is appreciated.
The measure Of this cooperation is
found in the way they have borne
without complaint the increased costs
caused by processing and compensa-
tory taxes on many Of the things
they eat. The average housewife and
modest wage Garner has accepted
them as part OF the national
scheme and has given whole-hearted
support. Their forbearance shoulo
be noted with gratitude by we who
are the beneficiaries OF it.
But to get back to the Grange. I,
Is long time since any large group
looked ahead from our troubles o.
the present to those which may occur
in the future and suggested mean!
Of reducing their evil effects.
The Grange did just that when il
called anew for passage Of better
national defense act, one which voult
conscript wealth as well as manpowe,
in time of war and which would pu
the national defense on q non-profi1
basis.
The idea was first advanced by tn
American Legion and made . par
Of its national legislative program ,
number Of years ago, but something
happened to the bill after 1t had beer
introduced In congress and it still
slumbers in the archives.
It may be the veterans had othel
and more Immediately pressing cor.'
siderations, but the fact remains tina
enactment Of such measure woul.
be long step toward peace and san.
preparedness for time Of trouble. I
there were no profit IN war many o
the jingoes and professional flag
wavers and sword-rattlers would b
less inclined to action.
This group Of farmers may b
branded = incurable optimists 70
resurrecting this idea but they prob
ably can stand II. The farmers o
America have been called wors
things and have survived.
Invisible But Deadly
The occurrence of several carbon
monoxide deaths already this fal
and reports from Washington tina
such fatalities took m alarming turl