c. This farmer went to Washington WOODSTOWN, N.J. Merton Coles and his wife, Pauline, support the actions of fanners demonstrating in Washington, and they claim that news reports on the farmers’ activities are slanted against them. That, in fact, is why they went to the nation’s capital two weeks ago. Coles says he couldn’t believe what he was hearing, seeing and reading, so he went down to witness for himself. “They weren’t giving the story of the farmer,” he ex plained. “They were talking about violence and tractors on fire,” he complained. According to Coles, the farmers didn’t cause any disruptions. Rather, incidents of bad conduct were in stigated by law enforcement officers and then one thing led to another. The Coles also maintain that if fanners here in the East were as informed about agriculture and natiohal affairs He claims there’s more to it than meets the e By DIETER KRIEG as the farmers in the Midwest, many more would support the American Agriculture Movement. Coles says he went to the nation’s capital not because he was so dissatisfied with his own farming situation, but rather to see for himself what’s going on and because he sympathizes with the plight of Midwestern fanners. His convictions grew considerably after he made the trip to Washington. He returned an excited supporter of the American Agriculture Movement. He says he can no longer just stand idly by. “Normally I’m a quiet, peaceful citizen,” he explained. “But we weren’t getting the coverage, and I believe if people were properly informed, they would see things differently,” he continued. He wants to do his part to spread the kind of thinking the American Agriculture Movement represents. (Turn to Page 18) Lancaster Farming, Saturday, February 24,1979 • Farmers in the East aren't as well informed about agriculture, government, and World affairs as their counterparts in the Midwest, says Merton Coles, a New Jersey dairyman who supports the American Agriculture Movement. If it weren't for his Midwestern contacts, he added, he wouldn’t be informed and enthused enough to support the cause. As it is, he firmly believes that if others were as informed as AAM members, they too would support such activities as the tractorcade in Washington, D.C. 17
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers