The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1939-12-20
LARGE STOCK
GROWERS RULE
MONT. GRAZING

The Montana stockman, by virtue
of early training and self-reliance, /!
the most independent and individual
istic of Montana citizens but he il
easily subjected to the will of the
powers that prey upon the morgan.
lied and unthinking, the person who
thinks they can protect their interests
single-handed and alone is as one
rookie" opposing well-trained and
well-equipped army.
Those who are aware of the need
of any organization joined either the
| Wool Growers or the Stockmen's AS
ISOLATION only to find that these two
| organizations are run from the top.
ANY good they do is mostly for those
at the top. The reason for this is
that these organizations are not dem
ocrtically setup or administered. The
big boys run the show and the good
that accrues is for themselves and no
one else. II you doubt this Mr.. Small
Stockman just request some consid-
Grafton and see what you get.
A very good example Of this is the
grass conservation commission that
was hand picked for the governor
last February by these powers that
be" for appointment the latter part
of March. Again | suggest that If
you doubt that yours is the short end
of the deal ask this commission for
some consideration that the big boys
want and see who gets it.
A very good illustration of the way
they act and think can be seen in
their bylaws for districts formed or
functioning under them. They say
we MUST adopt these as they dictate
them to us. Especially as they state
the manner of electing officers and
directors of these districts. This was
a very novel method. Please take
special note and then tell me if their
rules for us that are as
binding as state laws, are very bene-
fetal to the big boys at the top and
for a majority of the members of this
commission themselves or not?
We must for purpose Of electing
our directors divide the members of
our state districts into classes, five |
classes for each district. The first |
class is found by dividing the total |
number of animal units in the district |
by five and finding enough of the
smallest operators to fill this class.
The second class is found by find
ng enough of the next smallest OPP
orators to fill the next one-fifth and
so on up to the top. In one district
he first class had rs stockmen when
he fifth class had four stockmen.
Which class do you guess the COM
came in? They are very
to give out information
bout themselves so ! am asking any
me who belongs in their home dis
riot to give me this information.
10 really want to know
We in our district (as little as we
liked to- adopted these bylaws as we
we're told we would be dissolved by /;
he commission if we didn't. Feature (
ur lot if we had been dissolved The
commission has the right to put a
nan in to run the district when this
, done.
We held an election under this man. :
atory bylaw and the result was
here was one man in class five pres ,
mt so he voted for himself and was
lected. There was one man in class !
our present so he voted for himself
nd he in turn was elected. Verify ;
e do have splendid commission for .
rass conservation. Who would you
iy was getting the breaks? Would
)u say that these men meant TO be a
lir? Do you Mr.. Small Stockman,
ow think that the big boys are not
inning the show? Do you think that
)u can do any more for the rights
justice than the Rookie" | men, /
Dned above, What are YOU going
do about it2
Just one more point, the Taylor dis /
let number one of Montana held an
ection of advisors. Several of the
6 boys of this district had not paid
cir grazing fee for two years, but
ey voted and were counted just as
e others that had paid their fees.
lis was federal law. What do you I
ink of that Only one in ten knows
ything is wrong and only one in
'enty will try to do anything about I
The Farmers Union Livestock J
is appointed to inform the
lall stockman and to encourage him /
organize for justice. = Alvin T.
Lhlquist, chairman Livestock Com
ttee, State Farmers Union. 4