The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-05-09

idFH. ETOfu bIllS u Is GEAR G1aJ Jre
Communist Party is taking up the
fight for the smaller, impoverished
farmers. 1t is formulating a clear
cut, class program for them which
will enable them to fight effectively,
for the first time, against all of the
capitalist-inspired pro-
grams heretofore brought forward.
On the administration of the Act,
likewise, the basis for the illusion
that a capitalist-controlled Depart
ment of Agriculture would give a
square deal to the impoverished
farmers is removed. The bill pro-
vides that the farmers themselves
shall create their own administra-
tive organs. Section 10 of the bill
proposes:
"At noon on the goth day fol-
lowing the passage Of this Act
there shall be held a mass cOnven-
ton of farmers in each county or
parish within the United States at
the seat Of government of each
county or parish. At each mass
convention there shall be elected
from among their number, by Sc
cret ballot, Farmers Relief Com
mittee which shall not exceed ten
Q0) members. The membership
Of each Farmers Relief Commit
tee must be based upon proper
tiOnal representation Of the race,
color and nationality Of the farm
ers In the county or parish as re-
ported In the 1880 Federal Census.
At these and all subsequent con-
ventiOns, each farmer shall have
only one vote. No convention shall
have the power to act unless at
least 40 per cent Of the farmers,
eligible to vote, are present at the
convention. At any time, a petit
ton of one hundred farmers or
one-tenth Of the farmers in any
county or parish, whichever Is
fewer, shall be sufficient to call
mass convention to consider the
recall of any member or members
Of a committee and the election Of
a new member or members"
This committee, elected by the
farmers themselves, the Farmers
Relief Committee, is given the power
to determine who shall receive re-
lief and how much, who shall receive
loans for any purpose and how
much. A set-up is arranged that
gives to the poor and middle farm
ers, the overwhelming majority of
the rural population, the power to
themselves stop evictions and fore
closures and eliminate the mass
misery in their own ranks.
The Rich Must Finance Act
On the financing of this act, the
burden is placed where 1t belongs
on the rich. The impoverished
farmers are exempted from taxa
ton. No additional tax burdens are
placed on the city workers. The
needed funds are to be raised "by
the taxation of inheritances and
gifts and the taxation of all incomes
whether Of trusts, individuals. cor
porations or foundations) in excess
of $1,000 per year" Here also the
class character of the bill is clear:
benefits to only the poor and middle
farmers at the expense Of the capt.
talists, landlords and the rich farm
ers.
Finally the bill rules out any dis
In the administration of
relief or in the granting of loans
because of the age, sex, race, color,
or religious or political opinion or af-
or nationality Of any
farmer" This aspect of the bill must
be particularly stressed in the South
where the Negro tenants and share
troopers have long been bounded
and prosecuted.
These are the central points that
are to be emphasized in rallying
for the bill.
NOW on the campaign for the
IN adoption of the bill. There should
be no illusions. The Farmers Emer-
gency Relief Bill will not be en-
braced by the Roosevelt administra
ton, nor by the Republicans, nor
for that matter, by the Socialists. 1t
will not be accepted with favor by
the leaders of the bourgeois farm or
CARNATIONS. It's sharp class char
acter precludes any such possibili-
ties.
1t will be supported only by the
workers and by the poor and middle
farmers. 1t will be supported by
others only to the extent that a
powerful mass movement is set in
motion around the bill. 1t is now
our job to launch such a movement.
The bill has already been en-
dorsed by the Executive Council of
The United Farmers League. 1t will
be presented for adoption to the
national convention of farmers to
open in Minneapolis on June %.
In the meantime the best guarantee
of its adoption by this national
farmers movement is its endorse
ment by hundreds of local farm
bodies in all parts of the country.
Communists, readers of the Daily
Worker, militant farmers, and work
srs should bring this bill to the
attention of every farm organiza-
ion. The bill should be explained,
over and over again, if necessary.
An effort should be made to have
he bill endorsed. These organiza-
ions should be urged to send the
Dill to their congressman with the
demand that it be introduced in
congress and supported by him. Re-
,orts of every endorsement should
'e sent to the Daily Worker, to the
Farmers National Weekly, and
given to the press generally. This
campaign to popularize and win
for the Farmers
Relief Bill should be de-
Veloped side by side with the most
mass struggle against
,Ninttn,,C nV1I fNrno1N1,,,a1 .xaL Co.