Feeding the Hungry, P. C. Hiebert, 1929

Russian conditions, and at the same time to enable the A.M.R. to assist more farmers with the same capital. Under this plan the farmers were expected to pay all the expenses, so that the A.M.R. bore only the depreciation on the tractors. The price of fuel and oil was relatively low; and as a result this method found favor with the people, since the expense was not heavy and the plowing was done much better than that done with their poor horses. During the months of April, May and June, 1076 acres were plowed under these terms. By that time the demand for plowing became so great that all the tractors were put to work under these terms from the 19th of June. But this popularity could not last. Difficulties and troubles came in, one of which was the charge that in this way the A.M.R. assisted ‘those villagers who were well-to-do, and able to pay, whereas it had always been the policy of the relief workers to give preference to such as were most in need. This was not ideal and could be remedied in part, but the fatal objection that arose against this method was the soaring of the price of fuel and lubricants to such figures that plowing under these conditions was decidedly unprofitable; as a result the tractors all ceased plowing in July. FINAL DISPOSAL OF TRACTORS The above explanations give some idea of the much spoken of tractor part of the reconstruction work. Suffice it here to say that the movement had many advantages, but also some disadvantages; it had a large number of very warm supporters who were enthusiastic from start to finish, and at the same time there were such that sup- 306 FEEDING THE HUNGRY ported the movement half heartedly, and even some who saw only the dark side of the undertaking. The final generally accepted conclusion is, that while some things doubtless could have been better and more advantageously adjusted, the tractors brought much encouragement to the oppressed people, and provided the means for raising a large amount of food for the coming year, which greatly helped to keep the people from starving. This assistance was largely accomplished through the preparation of thousands of acres of land for seeding for individuals, institutions and villages. This was supplemented by the grain that was raised by the A.M.R. and used for general feeding and distribution among the needy. It was clear from the beginning that if the tractor undertaking was to be a success, it would be necessary to find a suitable means of disposing of the outfits to the people themselves. ‘This led to various plans of disposal and eventual sale. But all of the plans considered en- countered two chief difficulties; one was the lack of capital to make the purchase, and the other was the unsettled attitude of the government towards the various Mennonite organizations and their programs, which made it necessary ever to be on the lookout for proper terms from the purchasers, and for methods th