By Karen Larsen

Besides revealing many of the problems early Douglas County farmers faced, I found this letter published in The Big Bend Empire on April 21, 1921 exceptionally witty and well-written.

Takes Exceptions to Publicity Matter

Mansfield, Wash., April 13, 1921

Dear Sir:

In your issue of March 31 appeared a letter entitled “Want new Settlers.” This letter is very beautiful, but I fear that it deals not with the real facts as they are, and I doubt if it would be fair to those “new settlers” should they take it as it is.

Also, in one place it says, “we make appeal to those — who love the soil for what it will produce.” Now, if they ever find out what our soil has produced in the last four years they will not love it very much.

And, although — to quote further — I would be glad to let some of them get my share of “cow dung” on their boots, and take all the “smell of the cow” on their hands instead of mine, still is it fair that they should, unless they know what reward they can expect? Before we “offer them a cordial welcome” let us feel that they are coming on their own rash judgment, but don’t let them blame us for it.

It is too bad the word “taxpayers” was brought into the letter, for that is a sore spot with us; we hate to be reminded of it.

Further — “Bureaus will see that all parties, taxpayers and new comers alike, get a square deal.” Bureaus?? A Bureau, a bureau, my kingdom for a bureau! Why wait for the new comers, why not start in now with the taxpayers?

In the fifth question of the questionnaire the new comer is asked as to his mentality. Now if he is willing to come here under prevailing conditions, don’t you think that this part of the questionnaire is superfluous? So I say, let us stick a little to the truth, for instance, that regardless of crop production taxes have more of a tendency to increase every year instead of remaining within the bounds of reason, and that often the taxes on land exceed the net income of said land. That we sell our produce for less than what it cost us to produce it. That nearly the entire taxable property, real or chattel, of Douglas County is mortgaged. That farm labor in Douglas County is higher than in any other county in the state. That farm machinery and all other things the farmer has to buy are still at war prices or higher. That we pay the highest rate of interest in the United States. These are facts, and to be honest, we must not hide them, but face them squarely. So before we call in the guests let us clean house. Let us give the taxpayer a square deal right now, and not ask him for his entire belongings to pay taxes thereon. Let us have courage to demand a little profit on our produce that we may receive a just wage for our labor and a small rate of interest on our investments. Let us buy our necessities for farming and living at a price that is in keeping with the times. That our rate of interest, either that we pay out or receive, be in accordance with modern justice and enlightenment.

When we have accomplished these things we will have done well, and we will not have to advertise or coax innocent new comers to fill our abandoned farms, for our own boys and girls will be glad to stay and carry on the work that we have begun.

But today, it is a sad fact, that our children, seeing what we are getting and what is in store for our old days, are turning away from the farms, and I say, “Can you blame them?”

Very respectfully,

Chas. A. Whalley