The Independent-News, Volume 88, Number 40, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 1 October 1964 — Page 4

THE INDEPENDENT NEWS — Oct. 1, 1961

4

Let Your "Voice” Be Heard

Let "Your Voice" be heard. We have again been receiving several letters for our "Voice of the People" column which we greatly appreciate. This is one of the privileges we enjoy as Americans, the freedom of the press. and every newspaper is glad to pass on to its readers the opinions of others through their columns. A good voice column expressed the thoughts of those who care to contribute. This is an interesting article in a newspaper. The opinions of everyone varies and those who care to express theirs are always wel-

There Is Thought Behind This One

The week of October 4 through the 10th is designated as "Employ The Physically Handicapped Week". Every week of the vear .seems to tie set aside for something as weeks are observed such as "National Cat Week". National Pickle Week." etc. These go on and on as .someone in the various industries has been behind this move to make their particular product more publicized However, the "Employ The Handicapped Week" has more merit to it than most of the seemingly ridiculous weeks that come and go. It is not expected that everyone needing help will go out and hire a handicapped person, or even consider one for the job they may need filled. However there are many jobs that can be handled just as well if not better, by handicapped people.

*7^ Robert E. Urbln, Editor PUBLISHER Independent-News Co., Inc. Walkerton, Indiana PUBLICATION TIME: Thursday Os Each Week Second Class Postage Paid At Walkerton, Indiana SU3SCIPTION RATES: $3.00 Per Year -50 c Additional If Mailed Out Os State — [jSO ’ /r\ "~~p\ K Ogi V ' 7 (YH T-" 1 ili^* l Mm* l» W " I ' •'tile down, Marcia.”

come to the publishers of the newspapers. The only thing we ask of you who wish to contribute, is that you sign your name if at all possible We want to us your name on your articles, hut in cases where it is felt for a legitimate reason, it will be withheld from publication, but must be signed for the newspaper. For this reason, we do not publish anonymous letters which usually are quite outspoken and radical in their views or are personal. Keep your letters coming, but don't be ashamed to sign your name.

A handicapped person does n">t want privileges. All they want is a fair shake. Usually a person who has had to overcome handicap, has something a little extra in them. They have already made a great stride battling back from whatever handicap they have had to overcome. It may be a birth defect, a crippling disease or the result of an accident. But. whatever it is. those who desire to overcome it also desire to continue to take care of themselves. They usually have more desire than the perfectly healthy people. It might take a little more effort on their part, but they will get the job done if at all possible. We always will urge local employers to hire local people, but nevertheless, the handicapped. wherever they are from are good dependable employees.

ELIMINATE RRE HAZARDS x^FAULTY HEATING i n > a '-- /" K?! 'PgZ GET RID OF rubbish. ^^SNUFF OUT CIGARETTES I A • ' "V") Cu/ OPEN /\ CANS ARE 73^“’^ . .. •t ( . WIRING / (J /'■/, PREVENTION '‘•“J ?| ^1 WEEK

Voice of the People I would like to comment on the editorial, "It’s Just the Trend of Things." First. I would like to correct you in a few of the remarks that were made. You say your information is limited to what you read in the daily papers. Don't you know our opposition controls these daily papers and they natunrllv aren’t going t > print the truth! Why don’t you attend our local NFO meetings and find out what we stand for or how we are progressing in the holding action? The NFO holding action is to reverse the downward trend in the prices every livestock farmer has been getting for his cattle, hogs and sheep. How many years has it been since those prices met. even the cost of feeding livestock? Our purpose is to stop this punishment at the market. Bulletin EC242 just released by Purdue Ag Econ. Div., indicated 119 medium size farm co-opera ters earned $1.07 per hour for 40 hour week, plus I’j for overtime. These farmers are among the top 10 per cent of Indiana farmers and it is estimated on good authority. that only 3 per cent of the farmers earned over $1 per hour. 30 per cent earned 50 to 90 cents per hour, 32 per cent earned 10 to 50 cents per hour, and 35 per cent didn't even cover costs for the year's work This wasn’t because of crop failure, but for highest average production per acre on record The average investment of the 119 reporting farmers was over SIOO,OOO per farmer Second, you say the NFO is attempting to be their own means to control the market prices to raise the income of the farmer. We are not stopping trucks of animals on their way to market or at the market as our opposition would like to make you think We are not stopping anyone from selling' We are asking members and nor members to hold with us for a price which is the only way to get the job done The farmer has a right to bargain for h s produce. How else can we get our message across unless we demonstrate at th- market place pacing out literature and talking to n si members when our opposition goes to such length to discredit us. Tie violence that has been caused has not been in the hands <>! the NFO tanner They are law

abiding citizens and Christians. But we also are not willing to sit idle and let "unlegalized stealing" keep on at the market place. If the farmer would go into any business in town and lay down three-fourths of a fair price and walk out with the article, we would be arre ted for stealing Yet. these buyers pay us every day we go to the market threefourths of a fair price The livestock buyers work togrther and they know what they want the lowest enforceable price for the products of un ugar zed farmers! You al- > s’x-ak of small businesses being hard 1 t Every time seventeen farmers are forced off the farm due to depressed prices, so does the business close its doors If th' farmer prospers, so does rural business prosper. It also effects rural churches. Almost all rural businesses depends on the farmer in one way or another If these downward trends continue or corporation farming takes wer. it won't be five years until Walkerton will be a ghost town. The economy of a country follows the economy of the farmer How far are we from a depression at present prices’ What would happen to the economy of our country if the farmers economy improved’ The average county would receive from 5 to ' imllion dollars, more with NFO pices. In 1951 353.000 tractors wire sold whin hogs were 2f clits In 19«4 171.000 trmtorb wire sold withjH cent b )gs Em Uerv dollar a farmer spends, it rjeafes 6-7 dotms in the rest of the economy. An’t it worth holding vour production for awhile to gain a contracted price and to improve the entire economy’ You say we are not getting tire job done’ in the holding action Here again, you are willing to believe what you read in the papers or hearsay! We have information centers and counters set up at all the terminal and local markets A group of farmers visited the Union Stockvards in Chicago where they claimed large runs of hogs and cattle, many cattle nens were empty and growing weeds! Many packers have alreadv ne;*otiated contracts with NFO. Other packers are negotiating now. We are holding for the punpose of getting contracts Manv people are in doubt if this is the right wav to solve the farm problem. But take a look at the rest of the economy and

see how they solve their problems, tltey either hold their services or products to force solution at the bargaining table. Mr. and Mrs. Loyal Burkholder North Liberty, Ind. WHY DON’T YOU DO VOI R SHOPPING IN VOIR HOMETOWN? Yes. why don't you? Do you know what your merchants do for you ? The lo< al merchant buys from the same salesman ar. I companies as do your large city stores. Their tastes may not be the same, but they do have the same suppliers. If the local merchant does not have the particular Item you want, most of them will bend over backwards to get it for you. Also check your prices. Compare! You’ll find on name brand items your local merchant's price is the same or less than the larger city merchant. The reason, most local mercants want to compete and can compete due to rent expense differences. Rent in neighboring cities is extremely high. What does your merchant do What does your merchants do for you? Do you know? Besides always being there to supply your needs with a smile, they donate time, energy and money to local projects When someone in the community is seriously sick or injured, they are the first to be asked for a donation. The local merchants are constantly striving to make this a better community in which to live. Constantly striving to bring you more advantages by improving his business The local merchants decorate your city for Christmas They work together to bring new industry to town to help make new jobs for the people The local merchants need and want your business today and tomorrow and next week Therefore they strive to please you in all your needs. So visit your local stores, help the man who helps you. A I-ocal Merchant ' XSH IN ON Dl-jCB.^S