The Omaha guide., 1935-09-07
SharecrOppers Strike
To Shake Cotton Belt
Cotton Pickers Demand Hike in Pay,
Less Hours
Relief Situation Wretched

VAUDEVILLE Ala.@(CNA)-lne
greatest strike movement in the his
tory of the cotton belt was predict
ed by the 35 delegates to the g.
county convention of the ~Sharecrop-
pers Union, held here recently, Tala-
poosa, Chambers and Lee counties
were represented. Each report en-
phasized the determination of the
masses of the wagehands, troopers
the strike, to win their demands.
and relief workers, solidly behind
Preparations for the strike includ-
ed not only raising funds for strike
relief and preparing for terror and
evictions, but also forming United
Front with churches, community
clubs, and fraternal societies which
are represented on the strike ON
mittees and on the plantations. The
Union is appealing to the small
farmers for support in the strike.
Dissatisfaction With Rehabilitation
Farms
Widespread dissatisfaction with
Rehabilitation Farms was expressed.
One delegate said, IL have been on
a Steer Farm for 2 years and | would
rather be in the penitentiary." An
other delegate said, "the government
cleans the cribs cleaner than the
landlords"
A "Steer" farmer reported that he
received relief checks Of $14 a month
for January and February, $12 a
month from March through June and
$40 for July. Ell had IA in the fam
lily and had to fed a mule out of this
check too. When the mule died this
spring the government accused him
Of starving the mule to death and
forced him to pay rs for it.
Others reported that the landlords
who rent the land to the government
for "Steer farms, try to force the
"Stser' tanners to work out the
rent by day labor on the plantations.
When the farmers refuse to do this,
the landlords go to the Relief stat
ton and have the rent cut out of the
relief.
The Government is the Landlord
R K. Greene, Rehabilitation chief
in Alabama, states that it cost an
average "Steer" farm family sos for
everything, and that Sc percent Of
the money advanced by the govern
ment had been repaid This is reflec-
ted IN the poverty-stricken conditions
Of these farmers. Delegates reported
that the government took ALL the
peas and fodder and MOST of the
corn they had raised, and that is
it is greedily awaiting the sale Of
cotton from the z acres allowed each
farmer to collect "othkr debts.
These farmers will be evicted if they
don't sign the papers binding them
to another year of slavery by Aug
ust 1st. These papers, signed
trustingly by the farmers, at first,
have turned out to back-fire with all
sorts of bills of which the farmers
know nothing.
Direct Relief Stopped and Projects
Cut Down
The Relief Station has been NOV
ed miles away to Montgomery; and
all relief has been withdrawn.
The demand for zoe an hour, 40
hours 2 week, pay in cash, is being
pushed as a strike demand. Also, a
demand for return of the Relief Sta
ton to every County seat and direct
relief at the rate of Sc cash weekly
Tor the head Of a family plus 81 for
each dependent. This demand will al
so apply to those held prisoner on
"Steer" farms.
A strong fight for the right of
choppers and tenants to receive gin
certificates, AAA land rent checks
and parity premiums is being made
with successes in many places. The
meeting also decided to wage a real
struggle for rent reduction of %
percent this year. The issue of s
months school, free books, free
school buses and free hot lunches
will also be raised.