The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-08-28

washington. Clemens was not at
home He was in Europe on vaca-
tion.. The organizer was told to see
another one of the leaders Of this
farm organization, a millionaire who
was in the dairy business fv the
sport of it!
How did Clemens and Porter and
other leaders conduct the strike and
the organization in southern New
York? They went around telling
farmers to join UP, they would guar
.antee them market, so many hun
'dreds OF farmers had already joined.
Dues are l cent for every hundred
pounds of milk to be deducted from
the milk check by the dealer. A
few meetings were held. Many Of
the farmers didn't know about them.
There was no real preparation for
the strike. Dealers who were will
ing to pay 80 and 40 cents more
than the Dairymen's League weren't
approached by committee of farm
ers. The leaders did everything with
cut consulting the farmers. Why,
many of the farmers didn't hear
about the strike until the news was
broadcast over the radio one morn
ing. No delegation of farmers was
sent out to encourage the more tiniid
farmers, none to members outside Of
the organization.
~ AS the two farmers talking to me
tell the story, they begin to see that
the leadership was responsible for
the crushing of the strike. That's
true. If we'd been set right, that
Lehman and his riot act couldn't have
stopped us. We got the Pennsylvania
farmers with us. Not even a lady,
bug could get thru our pickets with
out being spotted"
The tall lanky brother had been
arrested. Their neighbor was arrested
with 50 other farmers in Tioga Coun-
ty, put under 81 900 bond, for which
they had to pay $50 piece as they
were from Broome County. Lawyers
soaked them SIS each. They were
arrested for trespassing on another
mans property and for rioting. All
they were doing was waiting on the
road for milk trucks of scabs. They
were to have been tried the 18th Of
the month but the trial has been
postponed to the 10Th.
The other farmer says, 81 don't
think they'll go thru with the trials.
Lanky here punched trooper on
one truck. We locked some OF them
up in a creamery. We had things
-humming fine as new top. They
had to get milk from Wisconsin. Our
dealer was getting In a carload Of
dried milk. He was losing $4,000 a
day. But then some of the farmers
got scared. Sure, the fellows like
Woodhead and Clemens began back
ing out. They thought the Dairy
mems League would fine them for not
shipping milk. They was afraid Of
being pinched. Maybe they would be
sent up to break rocks.
THE contract of the Rutland Plan
guarantees market for the farmer,
Now many Of the farmers have been
laid off by Sheff1elds and other deal
ers for being in the strike. How will
they find a new market? Lanky
speaks up, Hell, we do need organ
lihnoiOll' we WdIlG you fellows 70 help
us. I worked in Chicago is years ago
as street car conductor When we had
a strike, everybody went out-repair
men, Sweepers, switchmen, ticket
punchers, everybody. A unions got
toSbe organized such a way with the
farmers.
His brother mods. They no Ionser
feel so plumb disguised 50 as to swear
they'll never picket and strike again,
Farmers can be organized. Farmers
can stick thru hell and after. They
listen to the story of the Pennsylvania
UFP.A., to the United Farmers
League, and the Holiday Association
in Nebraska. Rank and file control
of real dirt farmers. No rich farmers
in the organization. No business men
or, bankers.
7fPThat's the pitchfork," they cry.
c9That's the pitchfork.