Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1936-05-07
THE RELIEF BURDEN
A PERMANENT PROBLEM?
DROUTH AREA SPREADS
SEVEN STATES AFFECTED
REPUBLICAN PROSPECTS
LANDON AND BORAH GAIN
PRESIDENT ENCOURAGED
Nj FARLEY
MANY ISSUES COMING UP
THE POWER ISSUE AGAIN


With 1858, 900 heads of families or
unattached persons receiving a liveli-
hood for themselves and their families
from the Federal Government, as of
March list, it is assumed that nearly
l5,oOO,OW persons are dependent upon
Federal assistance. The estimates are
that millions of persons are dependent
on local aid throughult the United
States. How long this state of affairs
will continue is uncertain, but the
Administration has taken the position
that no one shall starve and appar-
emily env other administration will be
confronted by an empowering de-
mand for the continuation of some
similar form of relief.
=
In the early days of the Roosevelt
administration, unemployment was APP
parently regarded as an emergency
matter but recently it has become ap-
parent that the viewpoint has changed.
In his Baltimore speech, the President
practically said that recovery will not
solve the unemployment problem" He
cited the increasing unemployment
during the prosperous years of 1928
and 1929 and suggested shorter hours
and age limitations for workers as a
partial solution.
Apparently, the Administration will
stand by the principles of work relief
outlined by the President in January
and resist the pressure that is building
up for PWA undertakings and direct
relief. The history of relief shows that
the methods have peer changed fire.
quently and there is no idea that the
present works program will be contin-
ued unaltered. Basically, it seems in
evitable that the Federal Treasury
will, for some years, have a burden on
account of unemployment. Regardless
of what method is used, such aid will
probably continue until private enter
prises absorb into normal employment
those now receiving public assistance.
Slipping up on the nation is another
drouth, which officials fear will be as
serious as that of 1884. Weather Bur-
eau records indicate that a large sec
ton of the nations farm land, since the
first of the year, has been in a drouth
area which o envelops seven states.
Kansas, according to the records, is in
the grip of a drouth that is worse than
any covered by the bureaus figures
and much the same condition exists
in Oklahoma. Out of the dust bowl
area in Oklahoma and Texas, the
drouth has crept over these two states
and is moving into Missouri and
southern Iowa.
The Department of Agriculture Of
fcials point out that the drouth period
has not ended and that it has been un-
broken for five years in certain sec
tons of the Southwest. The 1884 CAL
amiuE caused damage totalling five
billion dollars, ruined thousands of
families and killed livestock in droves.
OF course, the area affected may be
visited by heavy rainfall any time but
until there is general precipitation,
crops in the area will be below nor
NAL.
1t is about time for us to survey
again the political field. Several weeks
ago, in an extended discussion of the
Republican situation, we pointed out
that it revolved largely around four
men: Hoover, Borah, Landon and
Knox. Since that time nothing has
ldPP1li1 w hi0i1db1 ally lOcDCAt Vi
the nomination of Mr.. Hoover. The
Illinois primary, carried by Col. Knox,
was a doubtful triumph for him be-
cause of the strong showing made by
Senator Borah in the rural areas. In
fact, Borah supporters claim a moral
victory because, except for the vote in
have carried Illinois. The Landon
! ctro,or+l lor -o,x,,Ia+ ,~,r1orol 40
Gently, due to a write-in vote in Neb-
raska, and the conviction is general at
this time that he has much the best
chance of securing the Republican
nomination. .
Political observers attach consider
able significance to the large vote re-
ceived by Senator Borah in Illinois,
where he ran a little less than 100, 900
votes behind Colonel Knox, who had a
much better organization as well as the
support of the party organization. The
Idaho Senator boasts that he carried
Illinois" thus discounting the heavy
Chicago majority for his opponent and
seems to think that he has demon
strated his strength in the corn fields
of Illinois and wheat lands of Nebras-
ka. The fact is most observers agree
that the coming election will be de-
cided in the farm belt. The conse-
quences of Mr.. Borah's strength with
the people are predetermined and un-
practicable.
Governor Landon has steadily shown
strength in the Middle West and the
idea is general in the East that he is
the best hope of carrying the wheat
and corn legions. The tentative line
up of delegates last week put Cover
nor Landon in the lead so far as GER
tain delegates are considered, with the
idea general that he has by far the
best standing among the uninstructed
group. Moreover, sentiment for the
Kansas Governor in the East seemed
so strong in places hat some of his
supporters feared it might lead to the
impression that he is the candidate of
certain interests" There is nothing in
the record at this time to sustain such
an inference and it may be taken for
granted that at the proper time the
Governor will make clear his indie
pendence of these allies of doubtful
political value.
OF course, there is no doubt of the
denomination Of President Roosevelt
In fact, he has been greatly encour-
aged by the large vote cost for him in
state primaries, notably Illinois anc