The Bismarck Tribune Newspaper, July 30, 1935, Page 3

\ Wy seo , THE BISMARCK TRIBUNE TUESDAY, JULY 30, 1935 Croppers Trampled in Rush for Easy Money Hunt Finds Spirit and Letter of Cotton Reduction Pro- gram Violated Intimate and enlightenin, talks with the fear ture this eighth article in the ser- les of 12 which Frasier Hunt, noted author and journalist, has written for The Bismarck Trib- une. Hunt has traveled the length and breadth of the land, “Listen- ing to America” and impartially reporting what he has heard. By FRAZIER HUNT (Copyright, 1985, NEA Service, Inc.) They were “chopping” cotton in the brown and black fields when I drove through Poinsett county, seat of the share-croppers war in eastern Arkansas. “Chopping” is a local word for hoeing out the unneeded cotton plants. Groups of white and colored cot- ton workers, men, women and child- ren, marched across the rich fields, each on his own row. In some strange way they reminded me of Chinese coolies working in the fields of soya beans along the South Manchuria railroad in what is now Japanese- controlled Manchukuo. Only there in distant North China there happened to be no children in the fields. Here in our own mid-southland no one fee bothering to protest against child Scattered over the landscape were unpainted one and two-room shacks. Many of them had no outbuildings of any kind. They were hovels where human beings could eat and sleep. It would be @ little unfair to the pre- cious word to call them homes. Home Life I stopped my car in front of one ‘unsanitary homes, climate, ignorance, disease and hopelessness had told on their faces and bodies. They seemed to belong to another land than the America I knew and loved. At first they were suspicious of me my questions. I might easily be trying to find out for the land- lord if they had any connection with the Southern Tenant Farmers’ union. Gradually I got the man to open up. The plantation owner, he explain- ed, furnished his house, the 10 acres of land he planted, the shed,- mule and plow. He must put in the crop, cultivate it and pick the cotton. He receives a half of the return, The owner must “furnish” him with food supplies until the grand settlement at the end of the season. He buys at the company store and the land- lord keeps the books. “Cotton’s been so low until last year that a man was lucky if he got a little somethin’ to eat out of his work,” the man went on, glancing up at me out of pale blue eyes that had @ beaten look about them. “Things ts @ little better now—but I don’t see how we gained much out of this AAA ‘business. Reckon the company got the most of that.” It was this matter of AAA crop re- duction and payments that was the real basis for the formation of the union, with its resultant terrorism, night riding and ejections. Accord- ‘ing to Sec. 7 of the AAA cotton con- tracts every fourth row of cotton was to be plowed up in 1933 and in the year following 40 per cent reduction was to be affected. Tenants and croppers were not to be dispossessed but were to havé free use of the re- leased lands and free use of their houses. Tenants—who furnished their own supplies and equipment— were to share in the adjustments, and of the one per cent per pound parity payment they were to receive half, My own brief investigation of this ite problem of the cotton lands fails to exonerate the AAA from some blame in its failure to see that both the spirit and the letter of the cotton adjustment program was car- ried out. The tenant and the share- cropper were swept over in the greedy rush for easy government money. Owners Tempted It was too much of a temptation to most of the owners and companies who through the lean years had bor- rowed so much money that they were practically bankrupt. Ways of reducing tenants to the status of share-croppers, and croppers to day laborers were found, and trouble- some men were put out of their houses—all in direct opposition to]? the government contracts. In the summer of last year H. L. Mitchell, a and bordering the Mississippi and near Memphis, there were probably 300 and more croppers and ex-tenants thrown out of their homes. Those who were known to be union mem- ! read from an official report: in 13 cotton states there were 1,001,944 white families and 698,839 colored families on the. land. One-third of the whites were croppers and one- half the colored families. Seventy per cent of all the farms in the south were farmed by tenants. The prob- lems the cotton states faced were worn-out soll, a single cash crop, race prejudice and a traditional shiftlessness. The tenant and share- cropper system was brought on after the Civil War when the southern owner no longer had his slave labor and little or no money. The aver- age income of the share-cropper is $210 @ year, or 57 cents per day. Many of the* ‘children get no education whatsoever, and few more cultural advantages than natives in the center of Africa. More than 300,000 cropper and tenant farmers have been forced off the land by the AAA reduction plan. Underground Union Tugwell Talks About New Harvest Loans Washington, July 30.—(4)—Govern- ment purse strings loosened Tuesday for benefit of Dakota’s harvests, A way to make loans available to midwest farmers, particularly those in North and South Dakota, appeared in the meking on assurances from Rexford Tugwell, rural resttlement director, that his department had money to lend. Farmers would pay it back on har- vest proceeds, but new regulations must first be worked out, Tuggwell informed Senator Gerald P. Nye. J. D. Lawrence, assistant coopera- tive bank commissioner of the farm credit administration, said he under- stood the Production Credit Corpor- ation had made arrangements to loan on farm-stored small grains. Farmers in Minnesota and Ne- braska have asked loans for oats, wheat and other crops on a basis similar to the corn-loan program. - Army’s Technicians Study ‘Mystery Ray’ Fort Monmouth, Highlands, N. J., July 30.—(?)—Double details of mili- tary police paced outside the army reservation Tuesday while officers, amid utmost secrecy, studied a new “mystery ray” said to be capable of detecting. the presence of a ship 50 miles at sea through fog and dark- ness. Signal corps technicians declined to confirm reports that they already had begun a series of nightly tests designed to demonstrate the ray’s effectiveness in spotting not only ships but airplanes at high altitudes. Large Crowd Attends CMTC Boxing Matches A large crowh attended the fourth by C. M. T. C. youths in the open- air arena at Fort Lincoln Monday night. Harold 8. Walker, Westhope, outpointed Clifford L. Dauphanis, Walhalla, George R. Hull, Hunter, N. D., deci- sioned Joseph T. McIntyre, Rapid City, in the featherweight matsh; Weldon C. Thomas, Belle Fourche, S. D., won from Maurice A. Strand, En- derlin, in the lightweight class and Harry E. Sankey, Belle Fourche, de- feated L. A. Weydahl, Killdeer, in the welterweight division. i Meat Packers Join Process Tax Battle Chicago, July 30.—(4#)—Seventeen meat packing companies Tuesday were aligned with many of the na- ton’s leading flour producers against of @ series of boxing matches staged) in the flyweight bout;| . federal processing taxes which are collected under the agricultural ad- justment act, The packing firms Monday followed the lead of the millers and began suit in United States district court against the validity of processing taxes on pork. Tuesday they planned to ask temporary injunctions against guv- ernment collection of the levy until the validity of the act is decided by the courts, Forks Firm Awarded Warehouse Contract The state industrial commission Monday awarded Johnson and Gil- landers of Grand Forks the general contract, on a low bid of $49,350, for construction of a new warehouse for the state mill and elevator at Grand Forks, A second Grand Forks firm, the Lundseth Plumbing and Heating com- |pany, won the plumbing and heating contract on its bid of $2,824. The commission deferred action on the bid of $4,749 of the Electrical Construc- tion company of Grand Forks, sole bidder for the electric contract. John Wishek, commission secretary, said construction of the warehouse will start within a week or 10 days. Johnson’s Baseball Future Is Undecided Cleveland, July 30—()—Alva Brad- ley, president of the Cleveland In- dians baseball club, said Tuesday that Walter Johnson’s future as manager of the fifth place tribesmen would be determined at a week-end conference at Detroit. Bradley said he advised Johnson Monday night he would meet him in Detroit to discuss the manager's fu- ture with the club “and the welfare of the Indians in general.” The club president declined to dis- | cuss pessible successors in the event Johnson should relinquish his post. Alleged Pickpocket Arrested at Fargo Fargo, July 30.—(#)—Police Tues- day held a pickpocket suspect tor filchings Monday night in a crowd hearing Dr. F. E. Townsend support his $200-a-month pension ‘plan. George Morgan of Grand Forlis lost small change and papers. Ole Bulie of Fargo yielded about $10. A woman said she saw the suspect taking a billfold from a man’s pocket. GETS LONG PRISON TERM Chicago, July 30.—()—William L. Ganshaw, 59, was under a 25-year prison sentence Tuesday for the mur- der of his invalid wife, Elizabeth, 59, who died, the defendant said, in a suicide pact which he failed to keep. le- ¢ | Would-be Cowboy | | Hits ‘Open Trail’ J RRB cranks Sitch eb el Clifford Schnew, 19-year-old -Drake boy, is determined to be a yodeling cowboy, Monday he left home mounted on a black pony with a guitar slung over the saddle headed for Montana and the wide open spaces. Schnew’s parents, fearing that the boy will meet with some acci- dent or go hungry, have enlist- ed the air of sheriffs throughout the state in an effort to locate the wanderer. Health Service to Make Disease Survey Washington, July 30.—(#)—Presi- dent Roosevelt Tuesday allotted $3,- 450,000 of work relief funds to the public health service for a survey of! chronic diseases. Surgeon General Hugh S. Cun-! ming estimated that the three-fold study would give a year's employment to 3,500 white collar people now on relief rolls, At the same time, Harry L. Hop- kins, works progress administrator, announced that adult education c'ass~ es—designed to provide work for needy teachers as well as an oppor- tunity for self-improvement to grown- ups—would be continued under the work relief program. Small Child Sleeps As Mother Is Slain Kansas City, July 30.—(?)—While her 10-year-old daughter slept in the same room, Mrs. Ica Mae Stull, 30 of Wichita, Kas. was shot to death Monday night, allegedly by Frank Bohatch, 39, Great Bend, Kas., who then killed himself. The child discovered the bodies when she awoke Tuesday morning and notified the management ce ne hotel in which the trio had registered late Monda: SENTENCES TRANSIENT Marvin Loydon, a transient who was arrested by police on the charge of being drunk in a public place, was sentenced to 30 days in the county jail at a hearing before Ronald Crane, justice of the peace, Monday. Loy- don, two days previously, had appear- ed as a witness.in a hearing on a) street brawl during which he was in- jured, ~ FORKS WOMAN DIES ’ Grand Forks, N. D., July 30—(?)}— Mrs. J. H. McNicol, 58, wife of the Grand Forks postmaster, died early Tuesday after an illness of about a year. People’s Forum (Edltor’s Note)—The Tribune wel- comes letters on subjects of inter- ling with contro- est. Letters d versial religio: attack individuals which offend good t: play will be returned to the writ- ers. All letters MUST be signed. {f you wish to usé a donym, sign the idonym first and your own name beneath it. We reserve the rightto delete such parts of letters as may be necessary to conform to this policy and to re- quire publication of a writer's name where justice and fair play make it advisable. letters must be Mmited to not more than 00 words. WANTS CURFEW LAW Editor, Tribune: Under the caption, “Why Not Try It?” which appeared in the editorial column in the Bismarck Tribune of Friday, July 26, some poor tortured soul gives vent to his feelings in a modest way in regard to the different. kinds of noises that are almost con- tinuous during the 24 hours which is called day and night. I wonder if this patient in the hos- pital is not voicing the sentiments of many others who also suffer untold anguish from the same causes. A few months ago the writer re- members reading a similar article, calling attention to the same trouble. He also was a patient in one of the Bismarck hospitals. Selfishness and lack of consideration for other peo- Ple’s feelings are two of the causes of this deplorable condition. It seems to me that a curfew law could overcome some of this trouble. IT ask you, what right has a bunch of young people to meander past a residence after 11 p. m., and wake People up out of a sound sleep—if they are fortunate enough to get to sleep by that time—singing, whistling, and loud talking all at once, dis- cussing the merits or demerits of the movies they have just been attending. I have said enough to set people thinking, although columns could be written on how one class of people can make another class very unhappy and uncomfortable in a community. In closing, permit me to say that I would like to see or hear of the de- bate on the tax question between Julius Meyer and his opponent, or any one else for that matter. I wish to state that I am a pioneer resident, having come to Bismarck, N. D., April 7, 1884, and am a heavy taxpayer. Thanking you for your courtesy, I am, Respectfully, Mrs. R. H. Thistlethwaite. Many Are Injured By Typhoon in Asia Foochow, China, July 30—()—A typhoon which caused considerable property damage on the island of Formosa Monday struck Foochow Tuesday, injuring many persons and Washington, July 30.—(4)—The Great Northern railway applied to the Interstate Commerce Commission for permission to abandon 3% miles of its line between St. John and the inter- “This 1935 Studebaker Champion pictured here is a car you wouldn’t even mention in the same breath with the lowest priced. Its body is steel reinforced by steel from wheels to z0of panels, It has compound hy- draulic brakes, It’s inches roomier than any comparably priced car. It’s luxuriously upholstered and finished. . “Yet it delivers completely equipped in this city for only a trifle more than the lowest cost cars. Come in and try out the cars and see for yourself why I so confidently chal- lenge anyone in town to match this Studebaker value!” 304 Fourth Street D. M. Helland, D. Pippin Hdwe. Co., Halliday, N. D. Mott Motor Co., Mott, N. D. A. L. Garnex, Regan, N. D. lem Mere. Co., New Salem, N. WOULD ABANDON TRACKAGE jand Cavalier countes, WILDE MOTORS, INC. Bismarck, N. Dak. |national boundary, Rolette county, causing additional property damage.jand five miles between Walhalla and the international boundary, Pembina North Da- kota. The floodlight system of the Statue of Liberty is about 500,000 candle- power—enough to light 250 homes. every other dealer fo show you a value like this!” 5-Passenger Sedan 846 DELIVERED in Bismarck COMPLETELY EQUIPPED Nothing More to Pay Except Sales Tax This delivered price in- cludes bumpers, bumper guards, spare tire and tube, metal tire cover, and all necessary equipment. Telephone 1500 ‘Taylor Merc. Co. Taylor, N. D. Otto F. Schumacher, Turtle Lake, N. alc. Haumann Motor Sales, Wishek, N. D. Spielman Implement Co, Underwood, A. 'T. Zimmerman, Zap, N. D. Geo. Thom, McClusky, N. D. © 193S—The Studebaker Corp. NEW 1935 STUDEBAKER CHAMPIONS Then this courageous man who has sacrificed his practice and position to help out the lowly cropper opened up the book of the future. “We must end this vicious m of share- cropping. It is little less than slavery. The one solution is a vast system of small homesteads for these landless workers. The government has the money in hand now to start buying up tracts of land and sub-dividing them into 10 and 20 acre plots for these s and tenants. If the Bankhead bill is passed it will put ‘he great project on a firm basis. ... America must make up her mind now whether she will turn into a land of great holdings with ‘slave’ workers or become a nation of small, independ- ent farmers who can become useful, intelligent citizens.” Today in Arkansas these tenants and croppers have no vote and no way of protest except through their underground union. The last ses- sion of the state legislature passed @ law that permits only those who have both their 1935 and 1934 poll tax slips to vote. It is a virtual dis- franchisement of all tollers. It gives back to the old-time, black-hatted, pistol-toting political boss the power that controlled-voting has for long put into his inefficient and grafting hands. Wednesday: The new pioncers at Dyess colony. | Husband ‘Kept in’ | By Judge’s Order Vinelend, N. f 1 i | @ ., Juty 30.—/P}—John .| Swain, 56, burned his wife's clothes to keep her in. Felice Recorder Adams is keeping Swain in with a 30 ca; jail scutence. FORMER DAKOTAN DIES Minneapolis, July 20.—(#)—Funeral services for Ole I. Thon, 67, former Devils Lake, N. D., farmer, who died here Sunday, will take place Wed- nesday at Adams, Minn., his old home. CHICHESTERS PILLS "THE DIAMOND y Concrete Building Tile Drier and Warmer— Ideal Building Material See us for estimates BISMARCK BRICK AND TILE COMPANY Wm. Noggle, Supt. Phone 728 Walsh Construction Co. House Moving, Raising and Ce- ment Work. No Job Too Large— No Job Too Small. All Work Guaranteed. J. V. WALSH General Contractor Bismarck Phone 834-W WHAT'S A PICNIC WITHOUT LUCKIES ? Take me along {m Jam your ITS THE TOBACCO THAT COUNTS There are no finer tobaccos than those used in Luckies Copyright 1985, The Atericen Tobscce Company.