THE FARM STRIKE 445 



Reno ordered a temporary truce, but the farmers persisted in blockading 

 the roads. 33 Before the governors met, there was a meeting of the strikers 

 in Des Moines which drafted a plea asking the executives to endorse the 

 food embargo. 34 About that time, George Shafer, the governor of North 

 Dakota, refused a plea to declare an embargo on wheat with the aid of 

 the state militia, charging that he had no constitutional authority to do 

 so. Governor Floyd B. Olson of Minnesota, however, offered to declare 

 an embargo on farm produce with the aid of state militia, providing that 

 the governors of the neighboring states joined hands with him. 35 On 

 September 9 representatives from nine farm states met in Sioux City to 

 draft a program calling for tariff equality, currency expansion, more 

 agricultural credit at lower interest rates, a moratorium on debts, and 

 surplus-control legislation. 36 



This failed to quiet the holiday association. On September 18 its execu- 

 tive council called upon the grain and livestock farmers of the South and 

 Middle West to declare a holiday; and if prices failed to reach a cost-of- 

 production level within thirty days, then the strike would be extended to 

 perishable products as well. At this time, the League For Independent 

 Political Action, sponsoring a third-party movement, warned that the 

 farmers of the Middle West were determined "to have relief either by 

 ballots or by violence." 37 



Meanwhile, Reno and his associates were planning a parade of farmers 

 in Des Moines for October 4, the date that President Hoover had selected 

 to open his campaign for re-election. 38 Stories circulated to the effect that 

 the Republican national headquarters were worried that hostile demon- 

 strations would break out, and it was felt that the proposed American 

 Legion escort ought to be strengthened by adding companies of regular 

 army soldiers stationed near Des Moines. 39 Democratic leaders also were 

 fearful lest hostile demonstrations against the President hurt the Demo- 

 cratic party ; hence Iowa leaders were asked to discourage any such moves. 



33. New Yor^ Times, September 1-3, 1932. 



34. Ibid., September 7, 9, 1932. 



35. Fargo Forum, September 8, 1932. 



36. New Yort( Times, September 10, 12, 1932. 



37. Ibid., September 19, 1932. 



38. Ibid., September 25, 1932; Minneapolis Journal, September 26, 1932. 



39. New Yor^ Times, October i, 1932. 



