The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1935-03-15
Farmers a Want Unity
In the Fight for Relief and Production Credit

olouA FALLS, S. D.-The following resolution is
mer Sen oy the arrangements committee of the Far
&c e emergency Relief Conference to all the hundreds
VI farm groups that are sending delegates The reso-
n WIN De discussed at the conference and in order
6;Sa a oIganlzatlons chance to approve, amend
- IT, and instruct their delegates accordingly
" Is placed into the hands of the farmers now
+h me committee emphasizes the great Importance of
S resolution and asks that it be discussed in all the
AS saT anu aC mass meetings Immediately. need
tooay as never before there is burning need for
farmers of the nation to unite their power
IL ueleISe OF their families homes and lives. We know
INV we Always have been robbed of practically all the
wealth. which produce We know there is no longer
Even pretense that the average farmer has any out
Iooh lor improvement of his condition The bitter terms
OF the national administration for such crop loans as
tney aloW are second mortgages crops; thus
"a % twice over that whatever our labor brings
IN shall be legally seized by the government collectors
win the agents of the bankers and insurance companies
lurking close behind This leaves our families to grub
along IN endless poverty These terms which OBJ
souCey refuse to accept matter what agreements
may nave been forced to sign Even the law states that
contracts signed under pressure (duress not bind
lng we say that our families hold the first mortgage
We have already proven that united action
protect U.s. Thousands of farm families still hold their
farms because whole communities have turned out to
DOCK evlctons Thousands of families cash relief
and coal and groceries this winter by demanding these
necessities united body We propose to organize
our mass strength to the point where whole sections
can be called out to stubbOrny press for their needs
til they win them. There is food, fuel clothing medical
supplies, etc. in the country in great abundanceevery
thing is here quickly be procured to guarantee
a high standard of living to all who work. Through
united action we can force the distribution of these ne
cessiteS.
'The only class of farmers who have shown any
opposition to the policy of united action for winning
basic necessities those richer farmers who still be-
heve that they can beat the game. But with the eX
cepon of those who receive special government favorS
they too being surely swamped by the rising tide of
bankruptcy. Even the country merchants are being
forced to choose which side they support They
themselves being gobbed up by their creditors and
fast learning that ruin faces them surely does
the farmers Many merchants and professional people
who realize this giving their full support to the
of the struggling farmers and wage workers as
the most direct way of improving their own condition
We welcome all such support
What Unity for Necessities of Life Means
There is no violation of the principle of unity for
the members of each different organization to actively
put its particular program before wide areas OF farm
ers for the purpose of gaining their support and mem
bership We all realize that there important diff
ferences in policies between the different organizations
We count the good sense of the mass of farmers
to decide which policies they support This competition
far from disruptng the farmers unity actually clears
UP many questions Thus the call for unity in way
nterferes with the local activity independence of any
group or organization. 4sif.s
DisruptOrs
"But there is a type of descriptive activity which
tries to split the ranks of the farmers into mutually
suspicious and hostile groups. The agents OF the I'M
ancial interests who sprned within ranks are
instructed to seize every opportunity to divide o
ranks Thev try to encourage splits the basis of ma
tonalitv setting Bohemans against Scandnavians the
Americans against the foreign born Negro against thu
white or else they encourage one state to IGNORE the
needs of their neghbOr state again. they divide mer
and women by discoUraging women from taking leadms
parts in the actions; else they try to plant suspicion
between the ranks of farmers and the wage workers
Since all ruined farmers and wage workers of Amerlc
are suffering from the cause the time has CONF
to do away with boundary lines and unite all who wor
| in the fight for living necessities.
However. the most serious split on which the dis
rpors have set their highest hopes has been in build
inc ND suspicion between those thousands who honesty
hold the conservative view that if just hang on an
mass few laws things will get better pretty soon an
those thousands who hold the radical view that ther
will he no end to the crisis until the policies of the ma
tion are controlled by the of working people. Tn
rand development of events is demonstrating before on
ewes which is the correct policy. Meanwhile, the mos
conservative agree that while they waiting for tn
laws TO be passed which they hone will bring on the UT
turn thew must keep up the health of their families
insuring the necessities of life. The most radical
their mart are ready to throw their whole weight benin
the STRUGGLE for the necessities of life. This is the tyI
Of unity which the Farmers Emergency Relief COME
ence is called to establish.
Working Farmers Unite!
"We the delegates from hundreds OF communt
scattered all over the country know that the cause
nitv lies close to the hearts of all working farmer
We all want it. If we remain divided, we, have notnlr
70 look forward to but miserable peasantry Iherefo
~ sound the call over this land: Working farmers uni
IN nrotect your homes and your childrenG