The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1933-11-24

Farmer leadership
However, the farmer speakers
pointed out that strike could be
successful only if the rank and file
farmers themselves held the lead
ership. Milo Reno, Singler, and
Arnold Gilberts, were roundly at
tackled by delegates for their mis-
leadership.
Another high point in the con-
ference were the speeches of Roy
Burt, representing the Socialist
Party, and Clarence Hathaway,
representing the Communist Par
ty.
Burt declared that the Socialist
Party stood for a moratorium on
farm debts and a reduction in
taxes. Hathaway stated that the
Communist Party held that
moratorium gave the farmers no
security and stood for complete
cancellation of farm mortgage
debts. On the question of taxes,
the Communist Party stands for
exemption of taxes for the poorer
farmers, Hathaway said.
All Invited
Invitations had been sent by the
executive board of the national
committee for action to all the
leading political parties. The Re-
publican and Democratic parties
declined to send speakers. The
Farmer Labor party ignored the
conference completely.
Hathaway told tire assembled
farmers that he comes from Mime
sofa and in his youth had worked
ron farm before learning the
machinistis trade, that he had been
a member of the state committee
of the Farmer-Labor Party OF
Minnesota during its early years
and he knows the past traditions
of the farmers, particularly in the
Middle West.
"The farmers" the speaker de-
clared. "are better fighters now
than they were ten years ago."
Hathaway, briefly analysing the
programs of the Democratic, Re
publican and Socialist parties
stated that they had nothing bu
added slavery to offer to the toll
ing farmers" He cited the spe
cific "farm planks" of these par
ties and demonstrated how they
are calculated to serve. not thu
debt-racked farmers, but theil
creditors and oppressors.
Exposes Shares
Calling attention to the socialist
controlled Continental Congress
held some months ago in Washing
ton Hathaway declared that thei
program was vague to the utmos
degree; that the Socialist "Milwau
kee Leader" accepted paid adver
tisements from the big Wisconsin
milk corporations containing vic
ious propaganda against the strik
ing farmers.
| Initiation, crop-reduction and re
; financing of mortgages are al
; planned to drive the small farm
, ems eff the land and to "aid" tn
rich farmer and the banker, tn
speaker pointed out. This metho
is double-barreled to hit the work
er at the same time, he charged.
Demands Cancellation
The Communist spokesman cal
J, led attention to the class differ
: entation among the farmers, an
q pointed out that "thoSe who clair
to represent you in Congress an
in the various. state legislature
? represent, in reality. your deadl
enemies"
The friends of the farmers, tn
speaker asserted, "are all the boo
: and middle farmers, all the ayr
: cultural workers as we'll as all tn
: city workers."
The program of the COmmun-
list Party on the farm question,
q demands immediate cash relief,
!, no evictiOns or foreclosures, no
: moratorium. but rather outright
: cancellation.
Hathaway declared that cit
not enough to fight for these i'm
s mediate demands, and that only
J, through the road of struggle ca
: you prepare yourselves, as allie
e of the CITY proletariat. to conque
power and set up a Workers an
+ Farmers Government"
This is not only possible. HathS
way said, but it is living realit,
I. I'm the Soviet Union, in the hand
I of the workers and farmers fo
the past Is years. greater gain
have been made for the farmers
a that short period than in an,
d other time in the worlds history
). This great achievement was a.
V complished, he said, under leade
q ship of the Communist Party, ar
the self-same fight will be won
the United States "when the farm
n ers mass together with the worl
ers. with the Communist Party
the U. s. A. at its head"
Although the arrangement DR.
l. viously agreed upon called for {
? opportunity for the farm delegat,
. to put questions to the represent
tives of the various political pa
ties. Burt, the Socialist. did n
remain for questions.