The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1935-04-15
By JAMES L. KILGALLEN
ICopyright. 1885. by International News
Service)

LA1LOEN I'll L, ndAA., APAA 40'
Dust storms Swirling across the
great plains of America are DESC
lating farms, running property,
creating desert areas, menacing
productivity, hurting business and
forcing farmers with families to
relinquish their plows and take
Federal relief jobs at wages rang
ing from IS to $40 a week.
Here, in the heart of the dust
storm region, the seriousness OF
the situation becomes immedi-
ately apparent. The stranger
quickly sees the havoc that is
being wrought. On all sides there
is evidence of the blighting touch
Of misfortune.
Day becomes transformed into
night by the dark, foreboding roll
of the dust storm. The country
side Is enveloped in yellowish
pail of dirt particles, whipped
along by the wind. Farms, in
Guiding buildings and implements,
are half buried in huge dirt
drifts. Desolation settles down
for miles around. Business places
in towns nearby are as brightly
lit at noon as though it were
midnight.
Keep Up Courage
Courage shines brightly through
all this gloom, however. It is
the one bright spot in the pic
ture. It is the courage of the
Farmers themselves. They have
che "never-say-die" spirit OF the
american pioneers who first set
tied on these great plains.
Alex Gillen, 42-year-old farmer
of this region who has been
financially ruined by the dust
storms, is typical of them.
No communistic ideas run
Through his head as he grimly
fights to keep himself, his wife
and five children alive. His
theme song, so to speak, is:
eff we could only have some
rain!"
Rain is what they all need
and pray for. Moisture to give
the drought-stricken soil so m e
body and prevent it from blowing
away. When it rained a little
in this part of Southwestern
kansas one day recently many
of the people of this town stood
in the streets and cheered.
Mr.. Gillen is now ION relief"
Like many other farmers in this
part of the country, the dust
storms have forced him to evacu-
ate his 100 acres, bring his fam
lily to town and get a job from
the Government relief agency.
He works three days week and
draws weekly check for $40.
Women Are Brave
Women folk, too. are doin g
their part with as much courage
and fortitude as their men. This
correspondent, on tour of the
region, talked with many farm
ers' wives, including 26-year-old
Mrs. Phillip Kaiser, whose young
husband is trying to make a "go'
of the 320-acre piece of land
they have been farming n r
Friend, Kansas. Mr.. Kaiser. like
Mr.. Gillen, is ION relief" because
the dust storms this spring have
made it impossible for him to
work his farm.
. Mrs. Kaiser, who has been mar
!ried seven years, was ironing in
her two-room home with her six
iyear-old son at her side when the
international News Service re-
porter called at her place. She
was so glad her husband found
something to do, even though his
job fixing up the highways with
other relief workers didn't bring
lin much money. OF farming she
'Said:
"It's a hard life. But I don't
! mind it. You see, I was brought
up this way. I am farmers
: daughter"
LIVE IN FAITH
That's the way the farm men
and women in this region are
meeting the tragic blows the dust
storms are dealing them. No
grumbling. Making the best of
fate. They are living in faith.
There isn't morning they do not
look into the skies for signs of
rain. For that's what is needed
rain.
Rain-and help from the United
States Government. The haraSsed
farmers in perusing their daily
papers read two things first: The
weather forecast and the latest
J news from Washington on what
: the Government intends to do
= about farm relief. Avidly they
I discuss the 4,880-million-dollar
! public-workS relief program and
I what it may mean to them. They
' are watching the soil erosion &C.
' tivitieS of the Government and
are hoping for the best. For the
! most part they seem to have
I abiding faith in President Roose-
! welt and his plans.
Mr.. KiIgallen will describe q
trip through the dust storm
ouoo Nth VarSa@ forTroar IN