The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1940-12-04
The CO-OPTIMIST
Of the F. u. c.. T. A.
We're Self-Conscious

| were SGlI-OOnSCIOu3
| II this column seems self-consciou
this week, credit the Mayor of tn
City OF st. Paul with an assist. H
has just issued proclamation desig
mating the week beginning December
as "Optimist's Week" Here is
quote from his proclamation: at is o
vital Importance that we refuse t.
succumb to fatalism and defeatisn
during these pressing times. but con
tinue to meet each problem with cour
age confidence, cheerfulness and 6
willingness to cooperate in a friendly
way to bring about solution" Fol
two years now this column has beer
pounding away at that very doctrine
but even in its most optimistic mo-
ments it never dreamed that it would
reach the chief magistrate of the
City of st. Paul and get him to shoot.
ing down our alley!
Its Wide Horizons
If you want an excellent example
of the very thing the mayor speaks
of, you should get copy of the plat
form of the National Farmers Union,
adopted at Denver, Colo. November
18, 10 and 20. 1t really is an ex-
preston of Courage, confidence,
and willingness to CO.
operate" 1t is plain-spoken, direct
and there is not weasel word in 1t.
Soon it will be available in pamphlet
form and it should become a sort of
pocket testament for every Farmers
Union member to carry. 1t carries in
document form the hopes, desires and
of the farmer not only
,etterment of his country. 1t escapes
he stigma of selfishness and of group
by its appeal for the
of living conditions not
merely among the jewellers on farms,
)ut for the wage-earner in the city
md the needy and the slum-dweller
10th urban and rural A little study
II it will give you a notion of its
vide horizons and it's generous vision.
Will Keep Us Free
1t divides itself naturally into four
ections: Educational, Legislative,
and Cooperative. Each
t these voice the same spirit of be-
evidence toward mankind and each
oints the way toward the actions
ecessary to insure "life, liberty and
he pursuit of happiness" Thus, in
rging education in economics for the
arm youth, it stresses the need of
UGH education for citizenship in a
in a time such as this
hen democracy seems in peril. It |
SKIS for study of civil rights and |
he method of their continuance and |
points unerringly to cooperation |
s the method by which we shall at |
lin peaceful world. 1t, in effect,
avs: We are free Americans and CO. |
peration will keep us free.
'acks a Wallop
There is no squeamishness in the |
,gislative demands. The platform en-
orses the income certificate plan for
arity income for farmers; the debt
1justment bill; crop Insurance.; fl
ancial help to the low-income farmer
no wants to become member of a
marketing organization;
eat increase in the FSA rehabilita-
on Of farmers who are ION the
cks,o and distribution of surplus
rm products to the needy. Those
q the main planks and are followed
Z about 20 others, among which are
opposition to the poll tax
a requirement to vote; demanding
o defeat Of the Walter-Logan bill
hich would put independent admin
trative agencies of government I'M
II the impeachment of long drawn
It litigation; insisting on income as
.ainst the ubiquitous sales tax; de-
anding that the Farm Credit Admin
ration be held where it is-in the ,
apartment of Agriculture-and out
the hands of the farm loan shy
cks urging passage of the dairy !
utilization bill-a Farmers Union {
easure-and slapping the Commodity
edit Corporation for getting into
9 warehousing and marketing of cot
4 and corn and trying to do it on
leat-quite contrary to the spirit of ,
2 law. You'll get kick out of this :
wallop in every
ction.
hanks to Labor
The hand of fellowship is held out q
organized labor and the labor boys \
> thanked for their share in help +
, to enact the farm legislation we
W have and which would have been i
Titled down or wiped off the law \
oks of the nation" without their Q
p. 1t tells the wage-worker that s