The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1940-02-07

Ill luCOIIle VI llluuotl ldl ldOoi.
The reduction in the appropriation
engineered by the reactionary "econ-
omy bloc" made up of republican
minority and conservative democrats
led by Representative Woodrum, des-
troys the purchases of surplus farm
products and the food stamp plan,
which up to the present has, where
it has been inaugurated, gone a long
way toward relieving the suffering of
the unemployed. 1t also stops the
progress of the farm tenancy program.
The fight, as stated above Is not
only a fight for life by the organized
farmers. of the northwest, but curtail-
ment of their probable income, will
inevitably be reflected in curtailment
of income from reduced working time
for industrial labor. The organized
labor bodies of the state are urged to
lend all support possible by using
their influence on the senate for re-
storation of the cuts in agricultural
appropriations, at least up to the
amounts recommended by the presi-
dent which are nearly four hundred
million dollars below the appropria-
tions for the current year.
The fight is being led by M. W.
Thatcher, legislative representative of
the Farmers Union and president of
the National Federation of Grain Co
operatives. ~
AS an opening gun, the following
telegram was sent by Mr.. Thatcher:
st. Paul, Minnesota
February 2, 1910
Honorable Marvin Jones, Chairman
House Committee on Agriculture
and Forestry
House Office Building
Washington, d. c.
One week ago at Chicago the ma
tional officials of the National Farm
ers Union, with most of the state
presidents in attendance, unanimously
chose me as chairman of their ma
tional legislative committee. The
next day at Chicago the affiliate mem
bers of the National Federation of
Grain Co-operatives unanimously re-
elected me president for the ensuing
year. The affiliate members of the
National Federation of Grain Cooper
atives are large regional cooperative
grain marketing associations at ANA
rillo, Texas; Denver, Colorado; Ogden.
Utah; Kansas City, Missouri; Spo-
kane, Washington; Omaha, Nebraska,
and Saint Paul, Minnesota. Both the
National Farmers Union group and
the National Federation of Grain Co
operatives enthusiastically and unani-
mously approved the statements of
attitude on national legislation which
| discussed with President Roosevelt
on January Is, 1910. We have fur
nished to you copy of that state
ment Therefore, | authoritatively
speak for these two great farm groups.
We are most grateful for the fight
you are making for appropriations to
carry on the farm tenancy program
and we are equally in support of ade-
quate appropriations for the stamp
plan program. How any informed and
intellectually honest congressman can
oppose adequate appropriations for
these two programs is difficult for our
groups to understand. The two pro-
grams mean much more to our I'M
fortunate and loyal American subjects
than a couple of battle ships. In
representative government 1t is our
right and duty to follow representa-
tives in congress and to advise our
people relative to their political con-
duct We greatly appreciate the crit
icism of congress made by Secretary
Wallace with reference to the econ
omy drive made against agriculture
while at the same time these econo-
mixers are supporting huge appropria- |
lions for ornaments. All of us are |
firmly supporting your intelligent and |
militant fight for $25.000,000 appropri |
alton to carry on the farm tenancy |
program. We are equally militant in |
our support for substantial increase
to the appropriations for the very i'm
portant stamp plan program. Regret
illness precludes personal contact with
you. We will be greatful If you will
place this statement in the Congress
sional Record. Please accept our
gratitude and best regards.
M. w. THATCHER,
Chairman, National Farmers Union
Legislative Committee
President National Federation of
Grain Co-operatives.