The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1941-10-29

ana ABOVE all SnOulQ provide an IL
centive for the tenant to improv
property. Even in a country like Al
gentina, where 1000 large land owl
ers hold about 80 percent Of the lant
tenure law which gives the tenan
right of occupancy for a period 0
five years.
/ g. AS rapidly as experience make
it safely possible to do so, co-opera
tive farm leasing and cooperative
farm purchasing associations such a
the Farm Security Administration il
now undertaking should be increased
7. The Farmers Union has long in
sisted that the farmers of this nation
be given an adequate credit system
and although some Improvement
have been made we have yet a lonf
way to go. In this field there is Ger
tainly some better way of providing
funds for farmers to seed and worl
their crops than is now in use.
| If these detectives could be put into
effect Immediately we would have ap
proximately the following picture:
| (a) Something like a million farms
operated by tenants under long time
leases with security on the land and
some incentive for improving their
farms and homes. A million rented
farms would meet the needs OF
young people, allowing them to test
their ability and management be
fore attempting land ownership.
OBJ 1t would mean somewhere in the
neighborhood of million federally
financed and supervised family type
farms capable of maintaining a de-
cent standard of living for the FAM
lilies thereon.
(c) 1t would mean somewhere in the
neighborhood of three million addi-
tional owner-operated farms vary
ing in size and earning power but
not requiring governmental financ-
ing or supervision.
Cd 1t would probably mean some
where in the neighborhood of mil
lion farm families or farms operated
comparatively under long time
leases from their cooperative asso-
Citations in which all have equal
voting rights and strength.
(e) 1t would probably mean another
million part time farmers who rely
primarily upon Industrial work with
supplemental income in terms of
food produced for their own use.
This latter would probably answer
the problem of farm couples who
are too old to actively operate large
farming units.
Such a set of detectives for land
policy would mean many other things
than those | have mentioned. There
isn't any reason why we shouldn't
have minimum health standards with
rural capitalization and medical care.
There isn't any reason why we should
MT fill the housing need for two or
three million farm families. There is
every reason why we should The
reason for making these
changes is that if we continue the
ever increasing trend of making ten
ants, then hired workers, then mi
grants out of our farmers we yield
the basic principle for which we are
spending billions-namely democracy
For democracy will not survive in
America if family type agriculture dis.
appears by such process
After defense, or war, we must have
seem kind of rural works program
which will take up the slack, until
we can find ways and means of get
ing our industrial productive machin-
cry into gear for future production
If abundance. | need not remind you
hat we need new housing for two or
.hree million farm families in this
that we need community
buildings and identification, that we
need federal aid for rural education
md many other things in the provid-
ng of which farmer whose income
nay be too small can have some COM
)ensation for useful work creating a
peter community in the intense adj
ustment period which is sure to fol-
ow.
Obviously such program of objec- |
ives such as | have outlined, neces- |
itates the operation of our industrial |
economy on a basis Of full production,
over prices, adequate distribution
nd the elimination of monopoly.
The Farmers Union last year in its
lational convention definitely stated
is position for adequate old age Sc
urity and retirement and we should
gain state our position more affirma-
lively and seek a higher level than
7e have previously sought. There
sn't any fundamental reason why peo-
lie who have given to this nation a
inc family of citizens should have to
o treated as paupers or as wards of
harity. We in the Farmers Union
lust strike out and strike out hard
or an adequaet old age security and
etirement program for all people,
specially farm people who are not
enefited by the Social Security pro-
ram.
In the post defense period the great
st need for working farmers will be
strong independent Farmers Union {
hich co-operates with and uses gov
national, state and local, but {
hich does not permit government to
Sc it. K
The cooperative movement needs t
} awaken to a new challenge and '
eeds to reaffirm in action its stated {
)sition of providing abundance. 1t i
ust dream new dreams and put G
lose dreams into action. There must
: new services and better co-ordina- t
on I suggested Recently for exam [