The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1946-08-02

just question of being our brothers
keeper; 1t is also question of being
our sons and grandson's murderer
Peace must be maintained. Zone world
or no world" is no joke.
Farmers Should Strike
Against Monopollsts
If farmers want to strike and really
make it count, why not refuse to buy
anything not absolutely needed? That
would help drive prices down and give
real benefits. Why not strike against
the huge monopolies that go on play
ing BALI with the cartellists in all ma
tons? The war has increased their
control over us all. Their leaders in all
nations have escaped war crimes trials
though the militarists are often only
their tools. Why do we go right on
helping build their power by careless
use of our buying power?
Why don't we go on strike against
politicians that have proved they are
but tools for special interests? Why
don't we go on strike against corrupt
press and radio that prostitutes every
thing, including truth, to the lust for
profit? The wealthy that stand to
make killing" out of every weak
ened price control will be just as
happy over farm strike as they often
are over labor's strikes. Should we
strike and be their sucker again?
Farmers have really been right all
along in their analysis of strikes. They
have proved costly and too often
futile. They are negative method at
best Where managers have been wise
and statesmanlike in dealings with
labor, all sides have won through posi-
tive, constructive action.
There can be no economic peace as
long as greed, selfishness and narrow
class interests alone dictate our poll
cies. Though declining in number and
weakened by lack of organization,
farmers could WELD constructive lead
ership through their balance Of power
position If they could unite on con-
stuctive program. The following sug-
gestions are not new but they could |
be helpful!
Farmers Need Unity
First We need strength and unity.
This requires organization. We have
The choice of strengthening what we
have or starting anew. Let's study
what we have and make choice.
Second. From the early Grange to
he present Farm Bureau Cooperative
every real effort to help farmers has
ed to the co-operatives. Let's get our
money out of other peoples business
where it is so often used against us
Ind put it into our own where we can
'etain ownership and control Let's
,ulld co-operatives better and faster,
10Th producer and consumer. They
lave proved more powerful than gov
in combating monopoly; they
AVE given farmers greater parity
han any other policy; they are the
arrest to all groups. The farmer must
yer remember that the policy that
elps his customers most, helps him {
nost. '
Third. Well thought out plans of ac-
ion require the discipline of long and
areful preparation. The majority of
must get into some such edu-
ational effort where we can discipline
urselves to think, plan, and act to- {
ether; where friendliness and fun are
GENEROUSLY mixed with facts and dis '
ussion of our problems.
These suggestions have none of the s
pectacular qualities of strike. They c
ill not pay off in immediate divi-
ends of any great size. They will be {
idiculed by many. They could, how
yer, redeem agriculture from its
teadily weakening position and make
factor to be reckoned with in all
sues.
We can take our choice between the
IMMEDIATE gains Gf we can even get
lem), gains that may easily boomer {
ng, and the gains that come less
but more surely from {
thinking, planning and act Z
lg together.-Ohio Co-operator 6