The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1960-09-09
Freight Rates and Railroads

Freight Rates and Railroads
We pledge that in order to increase the
prosperity of local business and to make
Montana more attractive for new industries,
the Democratic Party in Montana will con-
tinue to strive to eliminate the discrimina-
tory freight rates that are strangling the
economic growth of this state.
We urge pressure from Montanans on the
Interstate Commerce Commission to elimi-
nate unfair hump in rates at Montanas
eastern border which penalties Montana's
farmers. ranchers, and businessmen by add
ing to transportation costs both to and from
our state.
We also urge efforts in Congress and
through our Montana Railroad Commission
to safeguard Montana rail service and the
jobs of Montana rail workers. Unjustified
cuts in service and discontinuance of Mon
tana trains constitute a severe threat to
Montana's economy Our transcontinental
railroads are public utilities with monopoly
rights along their routes, and some of them
received land grants and earn huge sums
from non-rail activities in Montana We be-
lieve they ought to be required to serve the
communities through which they travel.
Farm Program
Montana farmers and ranchers have been
among the leaders in the fight to develop
sound national farm program in the public
interest.
Legislation and administration of the pres
ent agricultural program of Eisenhower,
Nixon, Benson, and the Republican Party
have increased the profits of the professors
and of the other dealers in farm products.
1t has also failed to reduce SURPRISES or main
tain farm income. The cost of the program
and cost of food to the American housewife
have skyrocketed and still the farmers are
receiving an increasingly smaller share of
the consumers food dollar This points up
the need for constructive measures to cor
rect such shortcomings, and especially the
shortcomings in administration.
Individually it is impossible for five mill
lion farmers to balance production with con-
sumption and thereby enable themselves to
maintain price level that will give them
parity of income with other segments of our
economy Therefore, deem it mandatory
that the federal government maintain and
improve the farm program so that agricul-
ture may act collectively in securing its fair
share of the national income.
Since agriculture is Montana's largest in
dustry we feel that it's falling net income is
one of our gravest problems, affecting not
only farmers but practically all segments
of our population. And as such, government
SHOulu give It's fullest cO-OpordLlOn ana en-
couragement in the efforts of the farmer
to improve his status.
We re-affirm our longtime policy of sup
porting co-operatives
Small Business
The Democratic Party places special en-
phasis upon small business. Under the pres
ent administration, both state and national,
small business has been Disseminated
against by an unfavorable business climate.
We favor elimination of the tight money
policy and at the same time the lessening
of the interest rate. Under the present Re
publican administration money is available
to large corporations at low rates of interest,
all to make large corporations larger and
small business bankrupt.
To encourge new business, we urge that
there be no discrimination against any legi-
innate business selling and promoting their