The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1955-06-17
Editorial
Montana Business Has Vital Stake In June Is Election
CAN MONTANA AFFORD A mo" VOTE ON
wheat REFERENDUM?

week from Saturday wheat growers the nation
will the polls register their opinions whether
accept marketing quotas the 1856 Because of the
severity of the cuts and the rasca reduced
price imposed by Secretary Agriculture Benson many farm
mind that they would do better by voting
quotas next years
But would elimination marketing quotas preferable
dollars cents-wse the 76 per of parity
by Benson the support price for wheat next under
marketing quotas?
thing the wheat grower bear in mind that
should marketing quotas fail to the
approval the 35
ordered by Benson will continue force for all who
elect to under the federal and receive
supports of SO cent of parity Only those grain producers
who decide gamble the market with their entire
crop will be permitted many of their they
choose In other words grain who not inclined
gamble with their economic future by voting NO the
referendum trading s1S1* (766 of parity
bushel for $19* 50 of parity bushel their 1856
crop. It's simple that.
Now what about effect on the Montana economy
should marketing be voted down 25? What effect
would such vote have Montana farm income the dol
lars flowing through main street cash registers into the pockets
OF professional men, and men IN overas! few figures may
suffice
Let's take 1854 for example The states wheat crop that
totaed 900 bushels somewhat drastic
the 35 cutback that will be in
effect 1956whether not marketing quotas approved
Inc support price Tor the 1904 crop was at 9 OF parity ana
s224 The total price value of wheat in
the that year at the terminal markets.
Now let that despite the greatly increased
cuback of 80 cent weather and other conditions should
be favorable Montana produces another 900 buhe
crop IN 1886 marketing quotas approved the price VIII
be supported ST. bushe for total price support value
$685. crop This ITSELF represents
substantial income loss to the state of about million
dollars However marketing quotas NOT approved that
1857 O00bushel at $119 500 of parity will
have value of only forty seven and onehaf
million dollars less than the will bring quotas do receive
the twohrds vote by the nations grain
Already businessmen in rural Montana communities
feeling the pinch of drascay reduced farm ncome tractors
combines, other farm equipment not selling fast
they did year Collections difficult
However, that's only the beginning of the story Should market
ing quotas be voted down. the loss of another $500 million
(Which closely approximaes the S868 million 1854 tourist
business) single will bring financial stress and bank
ruptcy much rural manstreet Montana nothing
what the income loss will do to the ovency of their customers
the farmers. c
Montana businessmen have stake stable c
Montana agriculture Their survival hinges
great degree helping to almost so cent cut
the akehome pay of their farm customers in short
to be hoped that they will join GTA Farmers Union
and others in this final week before the June 25 election
encouraging their farm customers to FOR quotas.
price support grain Montana
81 90 wheat will be back with again. Up
I'VE DON'T WANT A STATE SALES TAX REGARDLESS OF
HOW 1T is DRESSED
In speech before the Montana Public Health Association