The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1954-12-10

Montana, by virtue of falling
water, has the greatest potential of
power in the United States and at
the present time all use of this po-
tential is at stand still. The poten-
tlal represented in the falling water
OF this area is also one of the great
est national assets in material way
that we have. We must preserve it
through conservation practices and
we must develop it to the greatest
benefit of the nation.
The problem at present is too much
water or too little water or unstable
water. Conservation practices, such
as proper management of our water
sheds, are vitality important to the
continued stability of our water sup
ply. 1t is Of tremendous interest and
Importance to all of us to see that
our water potential is preserved, not
only for US but for future generations,
and it must be preserved from the
source to the mouth.
Development of our potential can
mean advancement of the Pacific
Northwest, it can provide jobs for
many people and opportunities for
our young people who must now seek
their advantages in areas thousands
of miles from here.
We must share our water with
other states and it must be managed
by some agency which can handle it
from its source to it's mouth. 1t can
not be used for selfish interests. Our
resources have been mismanaged by
the state because we do not have the
know-how on the state level that is
available at the national level.
States rights is only the war cry
of those who want to grab those things
they can not get their hands on
through the federal government.
We must have power at a price
industry can afford to pay so they
will move into the state and build
their factories, use our manpower
and develop our state.
FARM PARITY
Farm Parity, that problem so diff
ficult to explain in three thousand
words or less was beautifully handled
by Robert Dunbar, professor at Mon
tana State College. He traced the
history of farming as a business and
it with the history of in
1ustrial development.
Prof. Dunbar told how farming
was a highly competitive business in
he hands of many small operators
hat industry was made up of large
with production on a
factory basis. Historically, the fac
ory-in- the-field corporation farm |
arm has not produced the necessary
God, has resulted in low wages for
agricultural labor, migratory condi-
ions, wretched housing.
The family farm has been proved
more socially desirable and more eff
icient than the corporation farm.
The Soviet Union abolished the
amily farm and has gone into fac
production, but from
II we can determine the collective is
lot a success and the Soviet Union
5 very much concerned about the
allure of the collective to produce
nough food. They are putting on
to get the collectives to
ouble their production.
The family farm is highly COM
etitive bushes. Being more desir-
BILE, farm businesses will continue
o be many and small as against large
Industrial businesses. Corporations
an control production by turning
IF the juice and sending their work
lg force home. How can the farmer
urn off the old cow? Or stop the
rowing wheat? His labor force is
imself and his family-he can not
end them out to pound the bricks.
Farmers have the fixed cost of in
crest and principle payments be-
ause they finance their businesses
than industrial business.
Then a farmer goes into debt he
his farm and pledges to '
ay so much interest and principal at
esignated intervals. Whereas when
ldustry goes into debt they issue ]
on-interest paying stock. When hard
mes come the farmer keeps up the ;