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

can interpret Tor us the complicated
moves which are now being made ant
give us some idea of what implica.
lions those moves carry for the flu,
lture The present government of the
United States is to very large ex
tent government of administration
A principle is adopted in a law but
the administrative orders written for
the application of the law sometimes
defeat its purposes or change the
results from what they were intended
| to be. Good administration strength
ems good laws and may even modify
the bad results of poor laws. 1t is
necessary, therefore, that we. have a
brilliant legal mind, not only to help
write laws, but one who knows where
the various legal pegs are found upon
which administrative decisions and ac-
lions are hung. We need one who
can interpret to us ways and means
of securing administrative orders in
line with the interests of family type
farms and in the direction of an econ
omy of abundance. We are seriously
in need of someone who can effective
ly give information and publicity to
our members and to others who may
be interested in helping our organi-
cation. This publicity work should
include the Interpretation of Farmers
Union philosophy and thoughts to
the other great working group in
America-organized labor. We seri-
ously need to have full time organi-
rational people in new areas who are
trained to train others and who can
seek out those who can become eff
fective local and state leaders. We
need several full time educational
field workers as an "army Of occupa-
ton" to establish our philosophy and
program in newly organized areas.
This may sound to you like ire
mendous job 1t is a big job, but
neither agriculture nor the Farmers
Union have ever before faced the
crisis they face today. Great national
and international political and eco
unless we have more members and
more influence and more power we
cannot do too much about the direc-
tion in which these forces may take
us. Matters of great importance in
the national domestic policy are being
determined every hour and every day.
The farmers place at the national din
ner table where national income and
economic security and health services
and educational opportunities are di- |
vided around, is being determined, |
and the farmer is at the present time |
very inadequately represented in the |
decisions.
In this great and trying hour the |
farm organizations of America are di- |
vided. This is regretable, but I do |
not believe we can find common |
ground with the other two In their
present position without the sacrifice
Of fundamental principles. So the
Farmers Union, with some liberal peo-
pie in government and few farm
leaders outside of the Farmers Union,
are fighting lone battle unless we
can secure the support and co-opera-
lion of organized labor And unless
we are ready to meet the challenge
If doing a bigger task than we have
aver done before in the way of raising
'unds and in the way of educating
our people, | seriously doubt that we
shall have much effect upon the shape
If things to come. In fact, we may
De facing the turning point in Farm
srs Union history. Do not misunder-
believe in our program. l believe in
he future. / believe we can wini
)ne road-the about effort-can lead
is to the position of strength and
character and influence where we can
% a great and often the final force
n the decisions for the future. The
,ther road-"It cans be done, or 1T
,osts too much" or 1T is too diff
ult," or "The problems are too COM
lex and confusing" - leads us ulti-
nately back to the pillow in silence
nd into mute ineffectiveness. l can
lot believe that this will be our
hoice. Therefore, it is necessary ,
hat we make now every possible eff ,
ort to raise the funds and to provide ,
he leadership, the man-power, the vi
ion to give to that majority of Amer .
can farmers, the lower two-thirds as
D income, decent, continuing and eff
ective representation. This is the
roper destiny of the Farmers Union.
he Road of Abundance II
Within the framework of political
emocracy we must set up an organ
,ed force to shape our future econ
my into one of sustained production II
nd consumption of plenty. The very II
act that wartime prosperity" is pos Il
ible is double proof that we can be II
July prosperous in peace-time, when II
lr energies are turned to producing
nd using new wealth instead of forg-
lg weapons of destruction to protect II
lie too scant physical and social
oods we now possess. Our first need II
to remember that money is but a
ymbol of wealth. We ought to II
orry less about boarding our money
farmers don't need to do II
ny such worrying-less about the ma
onal debt and more about conserv-
e and developing the human and
lysical resources which are the real
ealth of the nation.
The tremendous productive capacity 4
the American agricultural and in
Istrial plants is the foundation upon
hich abundance can he buiIt Ma II
rally, the production Of true abun-
lnce must be of useable goods. By
is | mean it would be futile to pro Ii