The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1935-05-24
By DIR. KURT ROSENFELD


Hitler's seizure of power was
hailed with great enthusiasm, par
ticularly among the farmers, for,
along with his program for the
rescue of the German worker, he
had set UP a special program for
the rescue of the German farmer.
Millions of farmers believed that
this program would bring them aid
and deliverance. Today they stand
aside, disillusioned, cursing at Hit
ler's promises, which have been
forgotten by the government, and
shaking their fists, although at
present their fists are in their
pockets. Enthusiasm for the swa-
stika has long given way to a
daily increasing dissatisfaction.
Hitler's Promises
Hitler promised the farmers,
first of all, more land. And this
promise was very effective, for the
farmers were starving for land.
In the east of Germany there was
and is a great deal of untitled
soil. Hitler gave his word to the
farmers, but he broke it.
He contented himself with ap.
pealing to the "self-sacrificing
spirit" of the large landowners,
and demanding that they give their
land to the farmers of their own
free will. But his appeal was like
talking to the stone-deaf. Who
ever heard of a large landowner
giving away his land of his own
free will! There is no such thing
in the wide world. But Hitler did
nothing more for the farmers than
to make this appeal for sacrifice"
to the large landowners. The
farmers were bitterly disappointed
in their hopes and expectations Of
receiving land.
Hitler further promised the far
mers that they would receive high
er prices for the foodstuffs which
they produced. 1t did not disturb
them, or else they did not know
that at the same time Hitler had
promised the cities cheaper food
stuffs. What did he actually do
to regulate the sale of farm prod
ucts?
Price Fixing
The German farmer was for
hidden to bring his product to the
open market. In fact, he is sup
posed to know nothing about their
market price. Recently a farmers
radio was attached for debt, and
when he protested, the Judge hand
ed down the following decision:
Farmers do not need radios
very urgently, for they can read
the news in the newspapers, and
it is not good that they should be
able to find out the market prices
Immediately"
The farmer may sell his poa-
toes, eggs, cattle, grain and other
products only to the agents of the
state, and only at prices prescribed
by the state. In order to carry
this system out, a whole army of
new officials had to be- created,
thus giving jobs to the Nazis, who
are nothing but the puppets of the
landowners, and consequently treat
the farmers very badly. They
have lost the last vestiges of free
dom. They must produce what the
government wants them to and
they must sell what the govern
ment demands and at the prices
that the government orders.
Junkers Benefit
The farmer receives only the
very lowest prices for his prod
ucts. And yet, the consumer suf-
fers from continually rising pric-
es. Only the large farmers and
large landowners are able to get
around the fixed prices. The small
farmer, who can sell only very
little, since he produces very lit
tie, is being choked. He gains
nothing from the rising prices for
foodstuffs but must pay rising
prices for the fodder and feed |
which he must buy. In this way. |
his poverty has become even great. |