The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1934-12-14

very clear in the entire program
thai rehabilitation clients" are
not to enter the commercial field
this is being reserved for rich
farmers who will have the field to
themselves, and who will reap all
re gain of the rising prices
while their unfortunate reighbor
will be left in a backwash, with
just enough to eat so that his fam
lily will not be a burden to the
rich taxpayers and so that he will
not complain enough to make
things uncomfortable for those in
positions of power.
A further comment on the adj
visibility of the program from a
capitalist point of view, by David
R. Williams, chief of planning in
the rural rehabilitation division,
IL lows:
Industrial decentralization APP
pears to he in progress as a nat
ural consequence of present con-
ditions. During the depression
large numbers of people in cities
haunted by the specter of enforc-
ed idleness and dependency sought
refuge in the open country where
there is always some outlet for
constructive effort. Countless
others now experiencing the reali-
- of unemployment eagerly
await an opportunity to follow
the xample."
It is not necessary to point out
to anyone familiar with the plight
Of the farmers of this country the
hypocrisy and absurdity of the
ten"en+ that there is always
some outlet for constructive eff.
fort" on thu farm. And the fact
that industrial workers are driv.
en- down to poverty is not neces-
~ar'ilv or even probably an ind1cs-
ton that they are Eagerly" await.
ing a return to the country.
In 1880 two and one-half mil.
lion people packed and moved be.
tween country and town. Depres.
sion determined that the create ST
number moved away from town
But it also forced tenants and
workers seeking relief towards
welfare agencies in urban areas
The stick that stirs this whirlpool
of migrating millions is stark DOW.
erty.
! Added to the two and one-hal1
millions which trundle their good.
and chattles back and forth be-
tween town and country must b,
added an equal number of farm
ers who are pushed by the sam,
force to seek some ether farm ioE
or contract within their local re
gion. And to these must be addeC
large proportion OF the tire,
million farm workers who are al
ways on the move in search O.
temporary eddies where they cal
work and live for a little while
A conservative estimate woul,
place the total annual migrator,
movement at ten million peopl
desperately riding about the coun
tryside searching for that mythica
independence" and fireside whicl
we like to visualize as the farr
home.
In the summary of rural reha
bilitation progress, given at tn
end of the bulletin, the widespread
character of the movement is EN-
phasized. Funds for rehabilitatio
have been granted to 45 state:
and $4,000 families have alread
been accepted for rehabilitation
Rural rehabilitation corporation
have been set up in 81 states.
The program is thus becomin
one Of the chief answers of til
New Deal to the chaos and suffer
ing of the present crisis. It
being undertaken on a nationwid
scale, and viii put more and NOR
: of the victims of capitalism in
! position where they must exc OF
: IN cyl teHee 1~ainst homeless odd
! rrfemil;ar problems of farm an
: Bore management. lac1 of rs
: income, and mounting debt to tn
2 government.