The Producers News
1918 - 1937
Introduction
The Producers News began publication in Plentywood, Montana in 1918 as the weekly organ of the Nonpartisan League (NPL), an organization of farmers founded in North Dakota in 1915 with Socialist roots. Its editor Charles "Red Flag" Taylor at some point in the 1920s joined the Communist Party, USA (CPUSA) and the paper began to reflect its views. In 1929, the CPUSA and its allies created the United Farmers League (UFL) as a radical alternative to the larger but less radical farmers' organization, the Farm Holiday Association. The Producers News soon became the official organ of the UFL.
In November 1931 veteran Communist Erik Bert was made editor of The Producers News and it became the "leading rural communist newspaper in the nation," faithfully reflecting the CPUSA's Third Period politics. In particular, the paper paid close attention to the mass struggles of US farmers against foreclosures and evictions in the face of the depression and economic crisis.
By 1934, however, declining circulation and disputes over policy reduced the paper's political role and impact as well as Communist influence over its contents. The Producers News ceased publication in March 1937.
For a number of years The Producers News issued both a national and a Sheridan County edition of the paper. The copies here are the County Edition.
1931
Volume 14, Number 35, November 27, 1931
Volume 14, Number 36, December 4, 1931
Volume 14, Number 37, December 11, 1931
Volume 14, Number 38, December 18, 1931
Volume 14, Number 39, December 25, 1931
1932
Volume 14, Number 40, January 1, 1932
Volume 14, Number 41, January 8, 1932
Volume 14, Number 42, January 15, 1932
Volume 14, Number 43, January 22, 1932
Volume 14, Number 44, January 29, 1932
Volume 14, Number 45, February 5, 1932
Volume 14, Number 46, February 12, 1932
Volume 14, Number 47, February 19, 1932
Volume 14, Number 48, February 26, 1932
Volume 14, Number 49, March 4, 1932
Volume 14, Number 50, March 11, 1932
Volume 14, Number 51, March 18, 1932
Volume 14, Number 52, March 25, 1932
Volume 15, Number 1, April 1, 1932
Volume 15, Number 2, April 8, 1932
Volume 15, Number 3, April 15, 1932
Volume 15, Number 4, April 22, 1932
Volume 15, Number 5, April 29, 1932
Volume 15, Number 6, May 6, 1932
Volume 15, Number 7, May 13, 1932
Volume 15, Number 9, May 27, 1932
Volume 15, Number 10, June 3, 1932
Volume 15, Number 11, June 10, 1932
Volume 15, Number 12, June 17, 1932
Volume 15, Number 13, June 24, 1932
Volume 15, Number 14, July 1, 1932
Volume 15, Number 15, July 8, 1932
Volume 15, Number 16, July 15, 1932
Volume 15, Number 17, July 22, 1932
Volume 15, Number 18, July 29, 1932
Volume 15, Number 19, August 5, 1932
Volume 15, Number 20, August 12, 1932
Volume 15, Number 21, August 19, 1932
Volume 15, Number 22, August 26, 1932
Volume 15, Number 23, September 2, 1932
Volume 15, Number 24, September 09, 1932
Volume 15, Number 25, September 16, 1932
Volume 15, Number 26, September 23, 1932
Volume 15, Number 27, September 30, 1932
Volume 15, Number 28, October 7, 1932
Volume 15, Number 29, October 14, 1932
Volume 15, Number 30, October 21, 1932
Volume 15, Number 31, October 28, 1932
Volume 15, Number 32, November 2, 1932
Volume 15, Number 33, November 11, 1932
Volume 15, Number 34, November 18, 1932
Volume 15, Number 35, November 25, 1932
Volume 15, Number 37, December 9, 1932
Volume 15, Number 38, December 16, 1932
Volume 15, Number 39, December 23, 1932
Volume 15, Number 40, December 30, 1932