About 100 farmers gathered at DFW
Airport to catch a four o'clock flight to
Washington, D.C., it is all
apparently part of a national surprise
for the politicians in the capital city.
Earlier in their strike, the farmers
tried to get an audience with President
Carter. They sent a group of farmers to
Washington and found that President
Carter was not available and that most of
the other important congressmen in
Washington leaders were conveniently out
of pocket.
Now, instead of sending a few minutes
ago, a spokesman said that all 50
states would be represented in a lobbying
effort that will begin tomorrow.
When asked how many farmers that would
be. He said there is no way to estimate.
I've heard one hundred thousand and I've
heard a million.
The farmers say they will meet first with
the representatives of their local areas,
then begin putting pressure on the
congressmen and senators from non farm
states.
Farmer Larry Qof, accurately a spokesman
for a West Texas group, said the pressure
will have to get results.
The entire economic system of this
nation in the entire world is based
on raw materials, both agriculture
and the oils and minerals that we get out
of the soil. And if agriculture
fails, gentlemen, then
grass is going to grow in the streets of
our city. That's no threat.
That's economic fact.
Without the farm and the raw materials
of this world, the cities cannot exist.
There was no cheering, no jeering, no
chanting as the farmers boarded the
plane. They were courteous, quiet and
reserved.
A couple called out one hundred percent
purity as they passed.
Most said nothing, with a few exceptions.
All seemed very serious about the trip.
The farmers expect to get the attention
of the nation's capital and they may very
well do that.
Whether they get any action is another
question. Washington's been known to try
the patience of many pressure groups,
Loyal, says The Texas News.
At DFW Airport.