Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1933-03-30
Government Aid in Sheridan County

ahuihtl Seeu loan Is Dping made TO Sheridan
county formers and another feed loan is available
10 those who can qualify for il.
The record of government aid is worth looking
at. For three years we have had successive seed
and feed loans.
The Red Gross relief was financed to a large
extent by a federal appropriation. We are still dis
bursting federal money in direct relief.
If administration has not always been all that
could be desired. one thing is certain, the govern
ment was more than anxious that the deserving
and unfortunate should be cared for and provided
opportunity TO try again.
The fact is the government has been liberal.
There is no other country In the world where gov
eminent has shown such concern ana generous re-
spouse to the condition Of its people.
Every person who really desires TO be sincere
and vino has given any serious thought TO the mat
ter. knowH that the government has been very gem
erous in extending aid to Sheridan county. Last
year the records show that $3.50, 900 was obtained
by our farmers in crop production loans. Before the
accounts are closed more than a hundred thousand
dollars will have come through the II. f. c. for en-
Urgency relief in Sheridan county during the past
season, Seed loans, for Which applications are now
going in, will probably bring the total expenditure
Of the government agencies in the county TO a fig
IRE equal il not exceeding that Of 1881.
Every fair minded person. fair with himself
and with his government. also knows that il he or
his family was a beneficiary of emergency relief
during the past winter, supplied through the II. F.
c., That relief was provided with a very definite
understanding that some form of work would be
done at 4 fair rate Of compensation TO offset it.
The issue is rot whether the relief committee. the
keymen or anyone else can c0MPEIL lien TO
WORK: it is whether Il mans honor or integrity is
what he represented it TO be when the relief was
extended.
That the rank and file Of people In Sheridan
county. whether they live on farms or In the towns,
are ready to meet this obligation, is clearly demon
strated by the willingness. with which they have
answered the call-the promptness with which they
have gone to work when the opportunity presented
itself. True. there are those who are continually
finding fault with the work Of the central commit
tee, those who defiantly say they will NOT work,
but of these several facfs are of special interest
first, the number is insignificantly small when com
pared with the total number who have received aid;
second, the leaders Of this small group have become
professional a~gitators. passing the hat here and
there to further their schemes of hatred and discon-
tent; and peculiarly too. you will find most of these
self-chosen leaders among those with whom the
government and the Red Cross has been the MOST
That the efforts of these ~agitators have failed
Of any noticeable success. is IN itself a splendid trib-
ute to the integrity of our people: they refuse to be
stampeded into any scheme which will destroy their
standing as honorable citizens; they are grateful to
q government that has provided generous aid.
The County committee has had a most siren
uous task in administering this relief. They may
have made mistakes-probably have. Who is there
among Us who would have made less9 Who would
exchange places with any Of them? Yet, they have
devoted hours and days TO this task without one
cent Of compensation. It has taken an immense
amount Of time away from their business. The
Herald believes the attitude OF our peopIe-on or off
the relief-should be one OF gratitude; it believes
this committee. as well as every keyman who has
given assistance, should be entitled TO the support
and backing of the good people Of the county against
the scnrrlous attacks Of a few agitators who would
escape a few days Of honest labor that they pledged
to give.
The best measure Of what government relief
has meant here may be had perhaps by considering
what conditions would have been had it not been
given. Every interest here has been benefited.
The best way to show appreciation Of this gen
crosby is without question to strive for the time
when We shall not need it. However generous. the
fact is It is not particularly creditable to any coun-
try. The relief record, when viewed in retrospect.
is both inspiring and challenging.
Tt is up to most of us, whether we are farmers
or not, to use every bit Of individual resource and in
itiative we have to aid ourselves. We can show
no more practical appreciation of our government.
We will find no effort more satisfying and certainly
none that under average conditions will help more
quickly to overcome things as they are. The aver
age of Sheridan county people have a splendid rec
ord in doing things for themselves. We are not
through with relief, but we are near the time when
we should draw the line between utter incapacfty
and chronic dependency and honest effort by the
individual to do as much for himself as he can.
Utter incapacity may often be corrected by paw
ing the way to placement in life where latent talent
or natural trends find expression. Chronic denend-