[no source, no date]
LANDOWNERS SIGN
PETITION TO FDR IN TNT DISPUTE
Appoint Committee of
Five To Look After Interests In Case Condemnation Follows
300 ATTEND
One Man Lays Blame On
Senator Clark; People Urged To Follow A Sane Course
Landowners
in the TNT area, who gathered Wednesday night for a protest mass meeting in the
Weldon Spring Evangelical Church Hall, were urged to take a sane course and not
do anything drastic if they hoped to win out in the land dispute with the
Government.
Former
Circuit Judge B. H. Dyer addressed the crowd, estimated at 300, telling them of
the meeting with Chester C. Davis, chairman of the National Defense Commission
agricultural division. Dyer said it was his opinion the contracts are binding
and the Government will have to take care of its obligations. He said the
Government was not dealing fairly with the people and has made refugees out of
them. He predicted when the true and meritorious facts are sifted out payment
will be made.
The meeting
was presided over by Fred Hollenbeck, superintendent of the Howell High School.
He told of people crying when they had to leave their homes but said those
tears represent an added value when payment for the property is considered.
A telegram
from Congressman Cannon was read to the attendants. Cannon termed the action an
outrage and violation of contract. He said conditions in the War Department are
still unfavorable and he is doing everything possible to help the local people.
A petition
asking President Roosevelt to intervene and order the War Department and
Attorney Generals office to make settlement immediately, was read and later
signed by more than 100 land owners who have not been paid for their land.
The
petition reviewed the history of the case and then told of the condition the
land owners are in as a result of the delay. The petition contended the farmers
would lose a year in their occupation and found it difficult to obtain credit.
Morris
Muschany, one of the sponsors of the meeting, said Davis visited the site
yesterday and announced he was 100 per cent for the landowners. Davis said the
Department of Justice was interested in trying a test case within the next ten
days but official information has not been received by any of the landowners.
Davis made
an effort to get an official here from Washington but [one or more lines
missing]
==========
[no source, no date]
Owners of TNT Plant
Site Adopt Plea to Roosevelt
Indignation
of the St. Charles County landowners involved in the dispute with the
government as to acquisition of the property for the TNT plant surrendered to a
more calm approach to the problem last night as they adopted a petition to
President Roosevelt and heard encouraging reports from government officials.
Meeting in
the Evangelical Church at Weldon Springs, these owners of the 140-odd parcels
of land whose options have been canceled by the War Department because of
“excessive prices,” heard a telegram from their Congressman, Clarence Cannon,
read, in which he declared the cancellation was an outrage and assured the
landowners he is trying to arrange for “prompt compliance with the contract.”
The
petition to the President, signed by 94 of the 350 persons attending, asked him
to order the War Department and the Attorney General to make the payments for
the land as stipulated in the contract; claimed the contracts were binding;
pointed out many of the farmers have purchased other homesites and paid earnest
money and concluded with the comment that it is now seeding time and unless
“something is done, we will lose a year in our vocation.”
Copies of
the petition were sent to Senators Clark and Truman and Congressman Cannon.
The
landowners were told that Chester C. Davis, chairman of the National Defense
Commission’s agricultural division, visited the site yesterday and said he was
for payment of the option prices in full. Fred Hollenbeck, chairman of the
meeting, told of some of the farmers weeping when leaving the land where their
ancestors settled, “and these tears were added value in considering the price.”
Former Circuit Judge B. H. Dyer said it is his opinion the contracts are
binding, but admonished the farmers against any drastic action.
