The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1943-04-15

GU OaklanderS must prepare
yourselves for distinct shock! 1t has
been written that some fear Oakland,
the county seat of Garrett county, will
become a ghost town, Who wrote that
bunk? Robert Sullivan, quoting the
supervisors of the Farm Security Adj
ministration. Where did it appear? In
the New York Sunday News. in two
page article entitled "U. S. Trans
planting Defeated Farmers"
Now don't tell the many hundreds
of people who throng the streets of
Oakland especially on Saturday. They
might not believe you. And don't in
innate this to the business men who,
although there is scarcity of some
commodities, are still doing a fair
business. Nor should you whisper this
to the banks which have greater as
sets today than at any time in his
tory.
In fact you had better keep this
even from your own family for they
hadn't noticed anything too unusual
war had taken away lot of men, and
that number of others were working
in defense areas.
Evidently it is only the Farm Sc
curity Administration which sees such
a calamity approaching, an agency
which the House Appropriations COM
mttcc in Washington has declared
would be abolished with number of
other New Deal farm agencies and
programs. Ludcrous, isn't it, except
for the fact that some people might
believe it.
The article which appeared in the
April l issue had the following to
say: Back in Garrett County, the
population of which has shrunk from
$4,000 to $4,000 since 1910, there is
some fear that Oakland, the county
seat, will become a ghost town. The
Army and Navy have taken a lot of
lIIC NtuIlS ilICIl anu many ONllCIS wv
migrated to Cumberland or Hagers-
town or Baltimore for war work"
Census figures give the population
of Garrett county as 81 900. While the
armed forces have absorbed about
1000 of these persons, it has done the
same thing in proportion to every
other county in the United States. But
they will return after the war is over.
There may be 1000 persons who are
now working in defense areas, but the
families of most Of them remain here
and after the war they will return to
this county to accept positions they
held formerly. At present business
places and farms are getting along as
best they can without their necessary
employees because they consider it a
patriotic duty. The same situation is
being faced by business men in every
county of the United States.
1t is possible that some individuals
may be benefited by migrating, but
we're willing to bet that the system as
a whole will prove unsatisfactory
"You can lead a horse to water but
you can't make him drink"
Farmers in Garrett county are
looking for any man or boy who will
honestly work, and there is plenty OF
land in Garrett county that is produc-
tive and would be available to any
enterprsing person who actually
wanted to exert himself.
The program of this migration
project was to move only people who
were unemployed but the first five
who went from this county were per.
suadcd to leave other jobs at which
they were then working.
As one farmer remarked. "'ThesC
Farm Security people remind me Of
high powered statesmen, They act like
they have to move someone or clSt
lose their Job" No matter whether
they arc farmers, squattcrS, prop cut
ters. coal miners, or what not. Recent
" a New Deal loan agency, of whicl
there are many, was rcbuNcd because
it hadn't persuaded more people t
borrow more money. Anything t.
make a showing even if they have tt
cram the program down an unwilling
farmers throat.
The article in the Sunday paper ad
mits that LISA agents first have t.
convince the farm family that
would be wise to move" And in an
other place, at has taken some sweat
ing and fast talking on the part o
the Farm Security Administration
The writer Of the article receive
much of his information apparent
from Kenneth II. Wagaman, FSI
field man, who is quoted at length.
Some day these New Deal agencic
will disappear and leave Gus ghosts
to carry on as usual in the America
way, where there is opportunity TO
the person who seeks it, right in hi
own community, and where regimen
tation is left for dictator nations.
$500
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