davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Voice of action. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1933-1936, 1934-05-29
egonF armers Unite to brow out New Produce Code
.O.K.'S NICMAN SALE

weeks postponement. Hizzoner
gave Nicman four days grace.
Judge Attacks Farmers
The hearing today was q differ
ent affair. over 200 workers filled
the court, and listened with grow
ing resentment TO the judges IL
rade against Nicman. He blamed
Nioman for the hundreds of work
ers who have rallied to defend him
In the courtroom. The Judge could
MT see what business they had
there.
He was particularly furious
about the hundreds OF letters that
have poured into his office, de-
nouncing the sale as a legal rob-
berry" and accusing him Of being
one OF the guilty parties in this
robbery.
He then confirmed the sale, say
ing that the crowd was the cause
Of the sales irregularity. not the
sheriff"
After the hearing workers and
farmers met outside to organize In
defense OF Nicman II the sheriff
tries to evict.
They are determined to save the
Nicman farm by mass pressure,
since the bosses courts give them
no chance OF securing justice.
Voice of action. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1933-1936, 1934-05-29
Capitalism Gets
Another Farmer
BY w. w. Cadla

olympia, Wn.-On Saturday, Nav
lS, the farm OF August Rasanen, a
farmer of the southern part OF
Thurston county, was sold by the
sheriff In front of the court house
in Olympia.
Three bids were made, the first
OF fifty dollars by a son Of Rasanen,
a second one for 100000, and as
the sheriff was about to declare the
sale at this bid, the attorney for
the plaintiff in the case plaintively
made a bid OF $S91.OO.
The bidder at $4,000 being unable
to raise the amount by Monday
morning the cheriff declared the
sale made to the bidder of the 1891.
The cause of the action in this
case was an auto accident in which
car driven by the son of August
Rasanen came into collision with a
car driven by young man by the
name Of Jones. The facts of this
collision plainly showed that the
Jones boy was principally to blame,
but Rasanen's attorney failed to
make this clear to the court. And
the further fact that out of the
largeness of his heart and because
OF his sympathy for the Jones boy
and the family in their poverty Mr..
Rasanen offered to defray the costs
for the ten days that the Jones boy
was in the hospital. this seemingly
was used by the court as being
tantamount to an acknowledgement
Of guilt on the part Of Rasanen.
Milk Trust Involved
Added to this was the great cap
italistic pressure of the Grays Har-
Dor milk trust because Rasanen has
been paying the farmers a higher
price for their milk than was the
trust, and was selling the milk to
the workers at lower price than
the said milk trust. This may ac-
count for Rasanen's attorney failing
his client.
So the cards of the capitalistic
courts and attorneys were stacked
against Rasanen with the above
stated results.
Voice of action. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1933-1936, 1934-05-29
Ballard UCL Local
Defends Dobbins

| Seattle CriticiSlng severely tne
stand of the Communist Party on the
| relation of w. X. Dobins to the
Unemployed Citizens League, the
North Ballard UCL local has asked
the Voice of Action to print the
following statement.
The Voice of Action does not be-
| lieve that the statement is correct
However, space does not permit us
| to answer the points raised in de-
tail The stand of the Voice Of Ac-
ton was made clear in state
ment published month ago when
the Crown Hill local sent in a SINH
lar letter. A copy of that issue may
be had on request.
ITO the Central Federation of the
UCL and the Voice of Action;
Dear Sirs:
AT our regular meeting April l6,
a motion was passed to send you a
letter. protesting the article against
w. X. Dobbins, that appeared in
the April 3 issue, on the following
grounds:
First, the article comes from the
Communist Party, and assumes the
right to dictate to the UCL, who its
officers shall be, and TO put them
In and take them out at their pleas
ure, in spite of the fact that the
UCL is supposed to be a non-po-
Htical rank and file organization,
dictated by no party;
Second, the statement pertaining
to Pearl and others of the Central
Federation is absolutely false. Mr..
Pearl resigned, and Dobbins was
elected to succeed him by the Cen
trail Delegates of the UCL; the 9TH
ers drifted out on their own accord;
some of them a long time after
Dobbins election. No program was
submitted by the Communist Party
at that time, nor so far as this To-
cal knows, has program been sub
mitted in the name of the Commun-
list Party.
Third, this Local condemns the
statement implying that Dobbins
encouraged card parties and social
entertainments to the exclusion of
relief struggle. This local knows
that Dobbins took a strong militant
stand in the relief struggles.
Fourth, the statement that Dob
bins is primarily responsible for the
conviction of the Frandsen defend
ants is vindictively evil and I'M
called for. His presence at the time
those men were interviewed may
have prevented them from making
statements that could have sent
them to Walla Walla, as the posi-
bility for a more severe verdict was
great. 1t appears to us that the
ones defending that case are trying
to place the blame on Dobbins for
their failure to secure a complete
acquittal.
Fifth, in reference to money re-
ceived from Dore for rent, little or
no money was paid to Central by
Voice of action. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1933-1936, 1934-05-29
Farmers II i'll
Fight Robber
NRA MiLkCOde

Bellingham, Wn.-Demands that
opened the campaign last week for
square deal for milk producers
in opposition to the milk code
framed by robber middlemen, are
being pushed with success today
by the United Farmers League in
Whatcom County.
The NRA robber milk code, pro-
posed by profiteers and sanctified
by the government, has been
thrown out and refused completely
by the Whatcom County branch of
the United Farmers League, mil
itantly supporting the farmer in his
fight for existence.
Quoting Department of Labor
statistics showing that in 1921 the
farmer got So per cent and the
dealer IL per cent of every dollars
worth of milk produced, while in
1929 the farmer was only receiving
rs per cent and dealers ~ per cent,
UFL leaders state that the MIRA
milk code drafted in this state aims
at perpetuating even larger profits
from now ON.
League demands are:
Cd Abolition of the Basic Sur
plus system or any similar system
with a different name. Stubborn
resistance to any attempt of the
Roosevelt administration to carry
through it's crop destruction and
production limitation campaign in
the dairy field, such as the destruc-
ton of cows.
90 All milk purchased from
farmers shall be bought at the
same prices, five cents q quart, 81
per cent b. F., other grades in
proportion whether for condensing
cheese, butter, milk or any other
purpose. Changing economic con-
ditions will change these figures,
but farmers cost of production
must be met on the farm.
(S) That the Government shall
buy at the same price as above and
have processed at cost all so-called
overproduction of milk and distrib-
ute the same to unemployed and
undernourished until the health re-
quirements of the nation are met.
CD The above provisions must
be accompanied by a lowering of
prices to the consumers, especially
of fluid milk, by making a deep
cut into the present swollen profits
of the mlddlemen. Unity with con-
sumers, especially city workers.
(5) Immediate passage of the
Workers Unemployment and Social
Insurance Bill-HR 1888 house bill
Initiative rs, State of Washing
ton.
Voice of action. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1933-1936, 1934-05-29
FoREcLosINo JuRIsT GETS A
FLOOD OF LETTERS
IN PROTEST

Aberdeen. Wn., May 22-Though
he was compelled to admit the sale
was irregular" Judge Campbell at
Montesano today confirmed the
sheriff's faxed sale of the Ben Mic
man farm. In other words, the
judge says the bosses don't have
TO follow their own rules.
This action comes after eight
weeks OF a militant campaign by
the workers and farmers of Grays
Harbor, led by the United Famers'
League, against the bankers and
insurance companies In their mer-
CHESS evictions and foreclosures.
But the workers and farmers are
MT through yet. They are organ
izing to resist the eviction OF Mic
man IL the sheriff tries TO put him
of the farm.
The hearing was first set for
Friday and about rs workers and
farmers came 10 support Nicman.
The Judge didn't like the crowded
courtroom and was even more an
noyed when Nicman explained that
his attorney, Lawrence Settler,
counldn't appear and asked for
Voice of action. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1933-1936, 1934-05-29
Gate Meetings
Boost Cdnnery
Workers. Pay

Everett, Wn., May ga local Of
the Fishermen and Cannery Work
ers Industrial Union was organized
here yesterday in the Fishermen's
{ Packing Corporation of Everett and
the Padilla Point Oyster Co.
Organization followed a series of
gate meetings conducted by the I'M
ion. After the first gate meeting a
2 cent per bucket raise was made
in the pay. After the second. an
other cent raise went in. When
things quoted down temporarily.
the price was dropped. Yesterdays
meeting brought 1t up again.
The company has also suggested
that the workers sign a petition
made by the company stating the
grievances of the workers. Union
representatives warn the workers
against signing any such statement,
for it is merely form Of blacklist.
Workers should make up their own
list of grievances and present them
in mass.
Conditions in the cannery are
known up and down the coast. U.s.
ing the stand by systems workers
come to the factory and wait sew
eral hours for a few minutes work.
This would not even pay carfare.
One worker reported that she work.
ed hours and As minutes, made
$1.70, less 80 cents for gloves which
have to be purchased from the COM
pany.
Four of the five members of the
Executive Board Of the union are
women.
Voice of action. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1933-1936, 1934-05-29
Begin Plan OF
Forced Labor
WELFARE BOARD CUTS OFF
WOOD, CLOTHES FOR
UNEMPL OWED

Aberdeen, WHITE Grays Har-
Dor County Welfare Board has
started a program of forced labor.
About 100 workers are at present
time employed. The relief victim
receives wages amounting to 25 per
cent more per month than he has
been getting on a relief voucher per
month. Most of the workers are
employed at the Port Dock. The
dock is under repair for war pre-
paratiOns.
Workers who apply for wood are
told to rustic around and get their
own. Wood is issued to widows and
invalids.
Workers who apply for clothing
are told that clothing is issued only
to school children and further that
workers who were employed on
the CWA should have managed to
get ahead little and buy some
clothes for themselves.
Worker Correspondent.
Voice of action. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1933-1936, 1934-05-29

the locals for a long time; and we
do not blame Dobbins for getting
money from any source as long as
it did not compromise the organiza-
ton, and was used in the regular
work of the UCL. Trying to make
an issue out of a thing like this
looks like small town politics" to
us
sixth, so far as building a large
organization; no one man can do
that, 1t takes the rank and file lead
ership, and If the UCL is a failure
the blame should be placed on the
entire leadership and not on one
man.
Seventh. the statement that the
Communist Party dictates the pol
icy of the UCL in the face of the
fact that the UCL is supposed to be
connected with no political party
automatically closes the door of the
UCL to the rank and file among the
unemployed workers; we condemn
that statement as being detrimental
to building up organization and de-
'Ni "NSiNS W Jul llOhl tllONC-
ment.
Eighth, we cannot build up a
strong united front organization
by attacking individual members
and publishing stuff that is dis
ruptive and slanderous in the ex-
IRENE.
Finally, the Ballard North Local
appreciates the work of the Com
munist Party, realizing that they
are fighting humanity's cause, and
therefore we believe that the article
in question was inadvertently al
lowed to be published, and is not
approved by the party as a whole.
Sincerely,
Ballard North Local of the UCL.
U. Hallstone, Secretary,
Lee Hill Chairman"
Voice of action. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1933-1936, 1934-05-29
UFL Call National Farm
Convention, Minneapolis

Chicago-The Call to the First
National Convention of the United
Farmers League, the foremost org
anization of militant farmers in the
country, which is to be held in
Minneapolis June 22 to rs, was is
sued by the national office of the
organization in this city this week.
Alfred Tiala, national secretary
is a prisoner on the Indiana State
penal farm, where he was sentenced
to serve six months for leading
Kosciusko County farmers against
q foreclosure sale last February.
In his absence, Henry Puro, acting
Voice of action. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1933-1936, 1934-05-29

secretary, is directing the prepar-
atoms for what promises to be one
of the outstanding farmers confer
ences in the history of the farmers
movement in this country.
Against AAA
The basic program of the United
Farmers League, as stated in the
ures and evictions, for cancellation
of secured farm debts, for cash re-
Call, is the fight against foreclos-
lief, and against the AAA. II is
around these issues that the con-
ference delegates will rally and
lay plans for mobilizing the coun-
tryside for a united struggle of all
ruined farmers.
A new turn to conference pre-
parations was taken when the Bx-
ecutive council, meeting last week,
put the Farmers Emergency Relief
Bill on the agenda for the coming
convention.
The bill is a formal expression
of many of the demands of the
United Farmers League. 1t includes
repeal of the AAA, cancellation of
farm debts, cash relief, crop pro-
duction loans, and the abolition of
foreclosures and evictions.
In the fight for these demands
and the United Farmers League
relies on mass action to win its
organization will al
so fight for introduction of this bill
into Congress and its enactment
into law.
UFl First to Fight
The United Farmers League was
the first organization to mobilize
the farmers for direct action
against foreclosure and evictions, a
method which has spread through
the country as the farmers felt
more keenly the effects of the cri-
sis.
Voice of action. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1933-1936, 1934-05-29

the meeting showed up the fakery
about the price sterilization" of
the code. Prices are to be 30 cents
for 20 pound peach crate. so
cents for the L. A. lug. rs cents
for an apple box and $500 a ton
In bulk.
1t will be impossible to find a
roadside consumer market at the
high prices fixed by the code, fore
ing the small grower to sell at the
tonnage rate (paying the $500 tax,
the wholesaler. and paying the
freight to market, the $500" be-
comes in actuality $500. Tho big
grower and wholesaler will be able
to exploit the small grower over
100 per cent.
Mr.. Tompkins was astounded by
tn questions: "Why aren't the big
growers forced to cut acreage?
His answer was that "the code
is 20 protect those of us who have
pioneered the tomato industry.
Anyone who started raising toma-
toes last year did 1t with full
knowledge that the market was
crowded"
Other farmers pointed out that
the corn and hog code, etc, elm
mated them from that industry,
therefore should we have left our
farms then, instead Of planting to-
matoes? What else was there for
us to do?" This and many other
questions Mr.. Tompkins ignored.
UFL Rejects Code
On the motion of the United
Farmers League, who called the
meeting, a vote was taken reject
ing the code (Which is to go into
effect within the next few days).
and setting up the committee to
take action. The committee will
meet Thursday night, May "a.
UFL locals throughout the state
are preparing to lead the fight
against this big growers code,
pointing out that the only code
benefitting the small grower is the
Farmers Emergency Relief bill en-
dorsed by the UFL.
As to the present code (which
will be a law by the time
this Is printedD. the United Farm
ers League says: when the small
growers within the next few
months realize the true nature of
this code, and experience its re-
they will take 1t upon
themselves to show, through mass
that it is null and void"
Voice of action. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1933-1936, 1934-05-29
Efficiency Expert
Ex-AF of L Man

Aberdeen, WHITE Grays Har-
Dor Plywood plant here can boast
one of the largest payrolls in the
vicinity, one of the most highly de-
veloped speed-up systems and one
of the most notorious finks In the
Harbor as an efficiency expert.
This last person has two tasks:
one, to watch for Reds in the shop;
the other, to see that the AT of l.,
as weak and inefficient as 1t Is.
does not get too strong or active in
Nthe shop.
The experts latest move is to
put over on the workers in the shop
a modernized blacklist system, call
ing for your name, where born.
when, citizen or naturalized, first
papers, how long lived in Grays
Harbor, why left last job, refer
ences. The only thing he fails to do
is to take your finger prints. This
list is being used to discriminate
against the foreign born.
The past history of this efficiency
expert, Gibson, is interesting. Dur
ing and Immediately after the war
as business agent for the Carpen-
tiers, he worked a racket in which
ship carpenters were admitted to
the carpenters local for very high
initiation fee paid out on the install
ment plan. Gibson would work with
the bosses of the ship yards and
when a man had been recruited to
the union and his initiation had
been paid up via the instalment
plan, the boss would be notified and
the worker would be laid off to
make room for another recruit to
the AT of L.
-NLWU Correspondent.
Voice of action. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1933-1936, 1934-05-29
Orchard Workers To
Fight 20 Cent Scale

Medford, Oregon, May 17-Forty-
five apple thinners walked off the
job at the Suncrest Orchard here in
protest against the miserably small
wages they are receiving. 20 cents
an hour. These workers are now
organizing workers on other 20 cent
per hour jobs into the militant Can
merry and Agricultural Workers In
dustrial union which just started
here. Sentiment for strike is high
among the workers here and plans
ARE being laid for great activity
during the picking season.
Voice of action. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1933-1936, 1934-05-29
Farmers to Gather
At Everson June 3

PICNIC PLANNED TO BOOST
UFL NATIONAL CONVENTION
The United Farmers League,
Whatcom County branch, is hold
ing picnic at Everson Park
June 8.
The picnic's purpose is to boost
the National Farmers conven-
ton coming at Minneapolis June
% TO %. Plans to raise funds
for delegates expenses there and
for carrying on work of the State
Dairy Committee will be dis
cussed.
Meetings are being held at
Northwood, Wahl and HopewelI,
on the dairy problem and con-
ditions confronting the small
farmer, pointing toward his org
anization into a militant body for
Improvement Of living conditions.
Voice of action. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1933-1936, 1934-05-29
Shoes, Food
to OIynpians

Olympia-Two large committees.
demanding of relief administrators
here food and shoes for three job
less citizens, were refused every
demand.
Then calling at Mr.. Comforts
office, relief was given in the form
of vouchers for two of the jobless,
with the promise of shoes the next
day.
Promises-or threats-of moving
a militant body Of unemployed cit
Hens in on the governor has an
immediate and lightening-like ef-
feet on relief administrators here,
organized refugees from unemploy-
ment have found.
Voice of action. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1933-1936, 1934-05-29
'RAILROADED
f. ASlUSUAL
CODE TRAINERS soUlRM AS
UFL GOES INTO ACTION
AGAINST PROFITEERS

West Stayton, ore. May 23-Un-
animously rejecting the proposed
Oregon Washington Melon and To-
mato Code ''as written" the farm
ers of this community. meeting at
the West Stayton school last night,
elected a committee OF is to make
a thorough analysis of the code and
either suggest changes or offer a
better solution"
What ranked the farmers most
was the railroading through Of the
code without a statewide discus
sion. The first knowledge of de-
finite action on the code came on
the day of the hearing, Monday,
May 81. The witnesses called to
testify all big growers and whole
salers, had previously rehearsed the
questions and answers" In the
manner of a typical murder trial.
UFL Leads Show Down
o. f. Snider. state secretary of
the United Farmers League, him
self a tomato grower and other
small growers of West Stayton
went to the Capitol building at
Salem as soon as they heard of
the hearing.
The unexpected arrival of a
group of small growers to the
well-oiled hearing of big grow
ers acted like sand in the cyIin-
ders Of machine. The cede
trainers" became nervous and
excited when Snider exposed the
real meaning Of the code to the
small growers. He demanded a
real open hearing at which small
growers would get a chance to
testify.
This, the trainers termed, "as
impossible, as any delay in get
ting the code adopted might
prove fatal"
However, under pressure from
the West Stayton delegation, last
nights meeting was arranged so
that the small growers of this COM
munity could learn of the proposed
code.
Small Farmer StifIed
There was the greatest contrast
between the oily-smooth big grow
ers' meeting in the Capital, and the
meeting of growers in West Stay
ton, two nights later, which dug
out the basic motives behind the
code, and exposed it as big grow
ers' code aimed at bankrupting the
little farmer.
Morton Tomkins, ex-representa-
tive to the State Assembly, and
lobbyist for the Grange, explained"
the code. The grower will be forced
to pay a tax on all tomatoes sold, |
whether on the wholesale or retail
market.
1t will be unlawful to give away
a single tomato, even If your neigh
Dor might be starving).
The tax proposed on tomatoes is
IN cents on a 20 pound peach
crate, 10 cents on a California
IL. A. lug, 1914 cents on an apple
box, and in bulk, $500 per ton.
The code provides that all growers
who have planted tomatoes or mel
ons for only one season 1888 will
have an acreage quota of one half
of last years.
And Penalized
This means that the farmer who
planted five acres last year would |
have his acreage cut to 2h this
year. Failure to cut acreage will |
result in penalty of loss of any |
possible returns from taxes col |
lected, after administration and ad-
expenses are deducted. |
Growers who have planted two or |
three seasons or more will suffer
no acreage reduction.
Embarrassing questions fired at |
Mr. Tompkins by the farmers at
Voice of action. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1933-1936, 1934-05-29
r " PA Wins
81. so In Flour

Centralia, Wn., May FL With
$3.50 added to their vouchers for
the purchase of flour, the Relief
Workers Protective Association
staged a victorious demonstration
in Toledo, May IS.
When a truck backed up to the
relief station and started to load
flour stored there for relief pur-
poses, a member of the RWPA in
quired of the Welfare Snooper
where they were taking the flour
She answered that she had orders
to send 1t all to Cenrtalia.
A committee was quickly elected
and large crowd of workers mo-
bilized. The workers held the truck
until long distance call was made
to Mrs. Allen who drove to Toledo
in 25 minutes (19 miles). While the
workers were jammed In the relief
office arguing with welfare snoop-
ers, the driver quietly slipped away
with the truck of flour.
When the workers discovered this
they all stood solidly behind their
spokesman and forced the relief
agents to add $3.50 to all grocery
vouchers. Everyone purchased flour
at the grocery store.
|
Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1934-12-27
Antelope Resident Is
Winner In Contest

A resident OF Antelope. Mrs. Flor
ence Blackmore, Is numbered among
the 554 prize winners In che nation
wide Camay Contest which offered,
as first prize, $1,000 a year for life
or $40, 900 In q lump sum, according
to am ouncement just made by The
Proctor &c Gamble Company, spon-
sors of the contest.
The winner Of the first prize Is
Miss Helen Duncan, t~hirty-two a
commercial artist, at present unem-
ployed, who lives with her sister at
6848 Dante Avenue, Chicago, Ill.
Mrs. Blackmore who won a prize
OF $1,000 for her letter on why
ramay Is the Best Beauty Soap for
My Skin was given an award be-
cause her letter was adiudged out
standing among over nine hundred
thousand received during the con
test.