Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1941-03-28

is complex problem involving eco
nomic, political and social forces. More
important-it is the problem Of the
dustry and agriculture.
American agriculture built American
industry. but now American industry
is slowly but surely destroying Ameri-
can agriculture. The devastating re-
suits of this situation have been ac-
centuated by the fact that the farmer
has been an individualist in a time
when mass movements were rampant.
Since the land is necessary to individ-
ual operation. the result has been that
neighbors are distances apart in rural
,, areas. This sparse settlement. or lack
OF population concentration, relative
to city conditions. puts the farmer at
disadvantage in attempting to draw
together enough persons to start a
movement or effectively block move
ment should it be adverse to rural in
terest
The trend toward a stronger central
government during the last twenty
years has also lessened the political
power of the farmer. It may be said.
without regard to the political party
! in power. that the greater the function
of the central government. the worse
off the farmer has become.
Thomas jefferson was a farmer and
statesman. He understood what GEN.
| trail government would do to farming
| That is one Of the main reasons that
| he opposed it, He felt that states
rights" which allotted to the state the
sovereign power, would best protect
the interests of our rural communities
The agricultural system. such as that
known to early America. had very SIM
| pie requirements as regards its relation
| to government. Politics which have
crucified American agriculture. began
to crop up with the exploitation of ma
terial resources. particularly gold. SILL
YER timber. coal and. in later years,
petroleum. This movement. together
with the railroads that resulted.
| brought with it a series of political
! manipulations which served as the
seed of rural explorations. From that
time. until the present day. the poll
tical history of the United States has
been a record of sweet words to the
farmer. accompanied by occasions that
have continually sapped the political
| strength. the property rights and eco
nomic status OF rural America. The
! farmer paid the bill for Americas
| transportation system and. before he
| had finished the last installment. the
burden OF American industry was
! dropped at his doorstep. The history
of the protective tariff of the United
States is one OF special concession to
American industry. paid for by Ameri-
can agriculture. After the war, indus
| try adjusted itself: then went thru
a depression. The results: The Ameri-
can farmer Will pay this bill as he
has paid every other: the millions
spent for relief and the millions spent
for new equipment will all become the
famer's burden. How Goes this all come
about? The answer is simple As pop
ulation became more concentrated. po-
litical power passed to the center OF
population. These people. in their an
xiety to take care of their selfish in
terests. quickly forgot their farm
| friends, and the balance of power
shifted from legislators who had their
backgrounds on the farms to those
who knew only the noisy city streets.
We have become industrial minded.
both economically and politically. This
nation has forgotten that agriculture
cannot continue to pay the bill The
haunting anxiety written on the faces
of rural America should be sufficient
warning that American industry and
government must direct their efforts
to help the farmer get more income,
less expense and increased security of
ownership.