The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1940-08-21
TheCO-OPTIMIST
of the F.U.G. t. A.
Incongrous Congress
They Asked No Profit
Their Blind Spot
In Old Wineskins
Is 1t Any Wonder?

In Old Wineskins
Is 1t Any Wonder?
In this world, which at the present
writing, seems composed mainly OF
paradoxes, Inconsistencies and contra
ldictions, it should not be amazing II
the farmer discovered his path to be
LOT the current incongruities OF con-
gress. This spring, representatives Of
the Farmers Union appeared before
congressional committees to plead for
a law-the Income Certificate Plan
which would insure to the farmer a
parity or cost Of production price for
the things he produced. The pro-
visions carefully scanned by our ma
tional solons. Then, with the sudden
press OF foreign upheavals rising out
OF Europe gone mad, the measure
was put aside as being of secondary
Importance to the ominous issues that
confronted our country.
At this point 1t should be definitely
understood that the Farmers Union
representatives were not asking an as
sured profit for the farmer. All they
asked was that he be given price
that was on par with the price he
had to pay for the commodities he
bought. Nor did these representa-
tives demand that the farmer be ex-
empt from taxation for 5 years so
that he could catch up with himself
and recoup part OF the loss he had
sustained in the past when he fed and
clothed the world without margin of
profit. To his representatives de-
mands there was no Or else!" The
farmer did not tell the country "Un-
less we get what we want, there'll
be no wheat, corn, cotton or dairy
products" They made no threat of
famine nor did they menace the peace
or happiness of their fellow-citizens.
What they asked was denied them,
yet in spite of that denial, the farm
ers of this country went back to their
farms to produce at loss the food
and clothing of this nation. Some
scorn the farmer as "red" or at best
radical" but no group his ever shown
more real, sacrificing patriotism.
By contrast to that, take the atti-
tude of the munition makers and the
industries expected to supply the
planes, tanks, ships, trucks and guns
for the defense Of this country against
possible attack. This columnist has
been keeping an eye on the debates
in the Senate on the bill to conscript
about 100000 men for military serv-
ice The newspapers you get seem
to have a distant blind spot" when
it comes to giving you an idea Of
what actually is being said. Only the
Congressional Record" carries the
story and there it Is buried
from public view-for the average
man has neither the time nor patience
to wade through its dull gray columns,
unrelieved by headline or picture.
Here is a bit from the August IL
ISSUE Senator Bone Of Washington
had stated that when 1t came to deal
ng with the men who would manu-
'acture the planes and ships, he found
hey would not cooperate unless they
we're guaranteed "a considerable
measure of profit" Said he: There
vas no suggestion Of sacrifice. On
he contrary 1t was as cold, hard and
ruthless a business proposition as
1 q 1ioto
esented businessmen all my profess
ional life" Did you read all about
hat in your favorite daily newspaper?
You did not-and if you knew who
controlled it, you'd not expect 1t. Even
oday they do not put new wine in old
vineskins.
tor Clark of Missouri. He inquired
it were not significant and strik.
ng" that Immediately following the
raft bill on the program Of the SEN
tie is the bill to repeal every limita-
ion congress has imposed on war pro-
its" and another ito permit munition
manufacturers to amOrtize the estab-
oHluCiilS lOI WHICH tuS SOfSl
, substituting them, over period OF
i've years" The trouble with the
armer has been that he will not be
cold, hard and ruthless" and demand
considerable measure Of profit at
he very moment when the nation Is
| danger. No sir, the farmer only
sked cost of production" or parity
18th the other fellow. He did not
ven get that and now he will have
} give his boy to be soldier-for
he did not, where would the profit
2 for the men who sell the rifle he
ties or the tank he steers? The
unition makers would be tax-exempt,
18th the sky the limit for profit-this
their idea of sacrifice for American
situations and the ideals of democ-
cy! Is it any wonder that the Pres
ent gets discouraged when he has
deal with a congress that seems
have gone over to the munition
akers' view of patriotism?
ould extend social security old age