The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1940-03-14
ANNIVERSARY
IS OBSERVED
Prominent Hurdin Men
Attend Seventh Ami
versdrY of Form Program

The seventh anniversary of
the establishment of the Ma
tional Farm Program was OBJ
served in Hardin Friday eve
ming, when between rs and 100
farmers and business men of
the Hardin community gathered
at dinner served at st. JOS
eph's Catholic church by the
Catholic Ladies' Aid.
George w. Gustafson, Big
Horn county agent, presided as
POSTMASTER, and after a brief
talk setting forth the occasion
for the gathering he called on
various farmers and business
men for brief, informal talks.
Jacob A. Koebbe, one of the
large wheat growers of the
county gave a resume of the
benefits the farmers of the
county have received under the
program from it's inception in
1888 to the present time.
George Miller, president of
the Big Horn Agricultural Con-
servation association, was intro
duced by Chairman Gustafson
as perhaps the best posted man
in Big Horn county on the farm
program. President Miller spoke
at some length. He stated that
recent surveys show that rs per
cent of the people of the ma
ton are either directly or in
directly connected with agri-
culture, and that when farm
ers receive a fair price for the
commodities they raise, their
buying power increases, and
this has a tendency to stimu-
late other industries and in that
way benefits millions of peo-
pie.
During the past ten years, he
stated, the farmers have not
received their share of the ma
tional income for the commodi-
ties they have produced. This
has decreased their buying pow
er and the effects have been
felt throughout the nation.
Farm leaders and farm organ
izations have for many years
been working on 1arm prob
lens and their solution, and
through their efforts the farm
ers of the nation are now par
ticipating in the AAA program.
After listening to the broad
cast on the farm program an
niversary from Washington, D.
c., by Secretary Wallace, Post
master General Farley and Pres
ident Roosevelt, Charles S. Elder,
who holds the record for hav-
ings been engaged continuous
ly in business in Hardin longer
than any other individual, was
introduced and gave a brief
talk on the benefits the bust
ness men receive from the farm
program. One pronounced bene-
fit was the approximately one
and one-quarter million dol
lars distributed through the
farm program to the farmers
of the county during the past
three years, thus adding that
much to the purchasing power
of the farmers of the county
and to the volume of business
done by the business men of
the county, a conclusive proof
that what helps the farmer
helps the business man.
Hon. John E. Rice, Lodge
Grass stockman and farmer and
member of the lower house of
the legislature from Big Horn
county was called on and
among other things said that
he believed the farm program a
good thing and that should it
be discontinued, the country
would feel the effects for years
to come.
Ed Torske, one of the pion-
eer wheat farmers of the bench
west of Hardin, spoke briefly
in favor of the farm program
and expressed a fear that it
may not be continued by con-
gress, which he believes Is get
ting tired of digging up mon
ey for the farmers"
The last speaker was Guy
Milligan, in charge of the farm
security administration in Big
Horn county, who stated that
his department is making small
loans to farmers and is trying
to educate those who are in fl
nancial difficulties on how to