AGRICULTURAL DISCONTENT 



On October 4, a few hours before the speech, an estimated crowd of 

 two thousand farmers paraded through the downtown area in protest 

 against Hoover. Among the paraders was Senator Smith W. Brookhart, 

 who had supported Hoover in 1928. Although the demonstration was 

 peaceful, anti-Hoover sentiment in the traditionally Republican state of 

 Iowa was very strong. Some of the placards read : "In Hoover we trusted ; 

 now we are busted"; "Cost of production only will save our homes"; 

 "Mr. Curtis: We are not so damned dumb in 1932. Signed Mr. and Mrs. 

 Iowa Farmer"; "Hoover, Hyde, Hell and Hard Times. The Republican 

 4 -H Club." 40 



Angry mobs of farmers must have had some effect on the politicians 

 and others who dared break the strike lines, but there is no evidence that 

 the low prices were cowed by them. In a few regions there were increases 

 in fluid-milk prices; but in other areas the tendency was to flood the 

 market with goods and hence depress prices. For instance, livestock ship- 

 ments into the Iowa markets were slowed down, but those flowing into 

 the Chicago area were increased and prices lowered. Also, farmers and 

 railroads in the nonstriking areas captured the business of those in striking 

 communities. Truckers who had purchased their trucks on the installment 

 plan stopped their monthly payments because of the strike; some had 

 their trucks taken away and even lost their equities. In Minnesota stories 

 of connivance on the part of holiday leaders were reported. Some were 

 said to have hurried their produce to market before the lid was "clamped 

 down." Market quotations were also lower after than before the strike. 41 



Strike activities slowed down, or else were modified, as 1932 turned into 

 1933, presumably for the purpose of allowing the new administration to 

 show what it was going to do, and also because of the passing of the mar- 

 keting season. 



One major exception was in the state of North Dakota. There promi- 

 nent political figures Congressman Bill Lemke, Usher L. Burdick, later 

 elected to Congress, state legislators, and Farmers' Union leaders took 

 part. In a convention held in Bismarck early in 1933 strongly worded 

 resolutions urged the farmers to organize councils of defense in each 

 county 



40. Ibid., October 5, 1932; Iowa Union Farmer, October 5, 1932. 



41. Minnesota Farm Bureau News, October i, 1932. 



