The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1940-07-17
Is This Our


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out, and we can retard or accelerate
it by the wisdom of our present acts.
1t does no good to blink the facts.
The laws Of the universe are inexor-
able, even though cruel as judged by
human ethics.
1.-THE river basin of this new civili-
cation lays between the Rocky noun
tains and the Allegheny mountains:
and the American farmer or peasant
makes the circle complete. Yet there
| is a danger here to our culture. he
has tasted a portion Of leisure and
luxury and is beginning to ferment
with discomfort 1t is absolutely nee
essary that this be checked, If he is
to continue furnishing sufficient sup
ply of cheap food, clothing and labor,
all absolute necessities on which our
present culture or art and science can
be based and grow.
"Our American civilization will be
wrecked il he is encouraged in his
present discomfort. He must be dis
tracted and convinced that he has no
problems. To that end, he must be
encouraged to support emotional rell-
gions of the Billy Sunday and Aimee
Mcpherson type. This makes an out
let for one of the oldest human emo
tions and with that implanted in his
mind, he will soon forget any present
misery. He must be led to marry
young and encouraged in having large
families. He must be discouraged
from spending too much on education,
especially of a scientific nature as
lit tends to make discomfort amongst
his youth He should be told that
science is taking his God away from
him."
How rapidly we are being diverted
from any consideration of fundamen-
tai problems of our agriculture! Is
mot the "ferment of discomfort" being
checked in your community? Are we
forgetting that sound agriculture is
the first essential to our democracy
and to the national defense? Is the
developing of war psychology replac-
ing in our minds an intense passion
for justice and equity within our own
national economy?
Is the very religion which declares
the dignity of human life to be used
by people of culture" referred to
by Attorney Robbins, to keep us will
ing. to furnish an abundant supply OF
cheap food, clothing and labor ON a
peasant basis? Emily Newbold, in an
article in July Harpers, writing under
the title Business and Religion, an
old Partnership Revived" says OF
current radio program sponsored by
General Mills, the big food combine:
when the economic and political sys-
tenn is springing assures right under
ones feet, and there is nothing else
left to try, why not try God? Business
is going to try God, and 1t wants you
all to join. General Mills, for one,
is betting you will" Does not such
a presentation of religion and for such
a purpose mock God?
I submit the proposition that the
form of our agriculture for hundred
years to come - perhaps for many
centuries-is being shaped now; that
sober thought and true cooperation
within the farm group was never more
needed; and that such an organiza-
ton as the Farmers Union had never
an opportunity to make so deep and
permanent an imprint on the future
of great people. Unless America
is saved from peasantry American will
not be saved. Justice and equity, and
not mere armed strength, are required
for a free people. What future do wo
want-and how badly? Are we allow
ing our exploiters to confuse and d.
vert us? How much do we believe in
ourselves and our program &C. E. H.