The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1942-12-11
farm BUREAU
MEMBER
REBUkES 0'NEAL
To the Editor:

Bureau members think he is off tn
track. | have written what hop
is a mild and reasonable protest.
wish you would use it on your ed
torial page. James Hearst, Ceda
Falls, Ia
Editors Note: The major part o
Mr.. Hearst's protest which appeare,
in the Des Moines Register follows:
To Mr.. Edward O'Neal. president o
the American Farm Bureau Fedora
ton:
The right of farmers to be heard II
national councils is now taken fol-
granted. The fact that organized
agriculture is now recognized as one
of the great pressure groups in Wash
ington seems incredible, when you re
member the shut doors and brusqut
brush-offs that met the farmers and
the farm problem 20 years ago. The
farmer through his organization is
now a powerful influence in national
affairs.
responsibilities
With this power, l think, go Ger
tain responsibilities. The usefulness
of an organization largely depends
upon how wisely it discharges its OBJ
legations not only to its members but
to society at large, to the general well
fare.
In the past, our organization has
been scrupulous in its regard for
these two major duties. Like a man
who is sincere, diligent and self-re-
specting, the Farm Bureau had char
acter.
1t is because of this character that
it has been respected by its oppon-
ents as we'll as it's friends. Whenever
the Farm Bureau has made a stand
for the farmers on some crucial issue,
it has always stood on substantial,
grounds. Even when its
action seemed most partisan, it could
generally be shown that the sword
was drawn in public as we'll as
class interest. Never, so far as | can
did the Farm Bureau for
get its social responsibility by pref
ldicing the accomplishments of some
other group in order to give the farm
ar greater advantage.
Policy Disavowed
| think that you no longer stand
IN such good grounds. AS member
If fhp orUonizatiop of ubioh uo,, orc
president, / disagree sharply with
your policy of indicting labor in order
o make the farmer seem to stand in
! more innocent light. The laboring
nan has never been an economic enc
ny OF the farmer. In fact he is the
armer's best cash customer.
When the laboring man is well paid
lie is well fed and we'll clothed-and
he farmer is the man who furnishes
he food and clothing.
This is easily translated into dol
ars and cents. The relationship of
arm income and factory payrolls has
)een shown so often that | am hest
ant to mention it again. Instead of
attacking the position of labor we
hould support it where we can and
eciprocate the support that the en-
ightened labor leaders have given the
armer. These men, the laborer and
he farmer are the men who do the |
York of the world and every inch of |
rogress that labor makes is progress
Dr. us, too.
, Red Herring
You accuse labor of inflationary
ressures. | think you are drawing a |
ed herring across the initiation issue.
con Henderson, in a speech several |
reeks ago, said that farm income has |
lcreased 76 per cent, wages of labor
ave increased rs per cent, and cor
Grafton profits have increased 400
err cent.
In your effort to point out the rea-
On for initiation, why aren't you point
lg your finger in the right direction?
Thy do you fail to mention the prof
s of these industries?
1t has never been the policy of the
al III BUREAU " Idhe IT'S liBul lULO
'me one else's back yard. | am
;hamed to see us farmers standing I,
, beside the labor baiters, the Grid
RS and the Weirs. If this is the
century of the common man. as
enry Wallace has said, then you are
ying to arrest it's progress by driv-
g a wedge between labor and agri-
Ilture
oward Cooperation
do not think the times will be
Itient with you, Mr.. O'Neal. The
,licy of the common man will be to-
ard greater cooperation and I'M
between the men and
omen who live by their own work.
ne world should have had enough of
scord and antagonism after this war
last for long time.
Insofar as the evidence for infla-
IN can be determined, neither Presi-
mt Roosevelt nor yourself have pre-
nted all the facts. The statistics
ow that neither the farmer nor the
borer is yet receiving his proportion
e share of the national income.
no then is receiving too much?
by doesn't the Farm Bureau find s
t who these secret profit-makers Z
e?
hereabouts Questioned
And where were you, Mr.. O'Neal, 5
len the treasury department intro
ced tax measure designed to pillow
ese profits back into the United 5
ates treasury? (
You neither spoke in favor of this Z
i nor against the inadequate one