The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-10-24
Who Is on Relief?

Who Is on Relief!
In the face Of current attacks on
the government agricultural program
by those whose vision Is limited to
espousal Of pet ideas. 1t is interesting
to note who in North Dakota has
benefited by the governments activi-
ties. ranging from direct relief to men
and animals to bonus payments for
crops which never were planted and
which, had they been seeded, would
never have matured.
The answer is every man, woman
and child in North Dakota, with the
exception Of the favored few whose
income is derived from investments
In properties outside the state.
The person employed In store, fac
tory or office may find It difficult to
imagine himself on the governments
bounty roll. Yet no = almost - d.
rect . beneficiary Is though his name
were actually inscribed upon It.
The same Is true Of the public Of
ficer, merchant, banker or other
businessman who, now that business
has improved. may b inclined to
consider himself . pretty smart indi-
vidual.
All he need do to get the connec-
ton i to ponder what shape he would
DO in had not the government stepped
into the breach. We have been re-
galed with the figures, but too little
emphasis has been placed on the con-
dition which obviously would have
existed had the government failed to
adopt measures to meet the emer-
gency.
Had not the government interviewed
business failures by the wholesale
would now blacken the record. starva.
ton would not be merely something
to talk about, it would b . grim
reality for many Of Us. Ruined lives
and shattered homes would b the
commonplace rather than the excep-
ton, as now Is true.
Most important among the federal
moneys received have been the vart-
GUS agricultural bounties. Soon they
will total $as.ooo.0oo, every dollar Of
which passes through many hands,
paying many bills and improving the
lot Of everyone.
Next most important Is the $l4,-
100000 Of relief money. It has
Tended the wolf away from thou
sands Of doors and enabled hundreds
Of thousands to get by" in comfort
which amounts to luxury when COM
pared to what might have been.
The refinance measures for farms
and homes have been Of tremendous
help In putting our people on : sound
basis. but their full benefits have not
yet been realised. They viii not be
until good times return and the farm
er can again begin to pay his obli-
cations from normal sources Of In
come. Much Of this money has gone
to persons outside the state who had
Investments here. The real saving
to tho average farmer Is that repre-
scented BY reduced interest payments.
which amounts to several million dol
3ass . year. OF tremendous benefit,
too, Is the feeling Of increased secur-
1ty which has come to many homes
where these adjustments have been
made.
In reviewing the activities Of the
present administration one cannot
blame certain individuals in the east
for their opposition to them. Men
who thought to profit by killing the
goose which laid the golden egg can
b expected to protest when that
goose Is granted protection. But how
anyone in North Dakota, with the ex-
ception Of the few previously men,
toned. can fail to endorse 1t Is be-
yond the scope Of sound reasoning.
Nevertheless. political blatherskites,
for their own selfish ends, are bustly
engaged In throwing mud at the men
and policies which have saved our
state from destruction.
Il people would only compare the
situation In which We find ourselves
with that which would have prevailed
had not the government stepped In,
these individuals would receive Z cool
hearing indeed.
Clarifies the Air
Announcement by T. H. H. Thore.
sen that he Is supporting Tom Noodle
for governor brought CONSERVATION Ia
Tho LANCER political camp and clart-