In February 1933, the circuit courtroom was full of farmers who formed the Daviess County Protective Association in an attempt to help those who were carrying loans on their farm lands. It was hoped they could arouse the representatives at both Washington, D.C. and at Jefferson City to act and respond on the committee’s 10 resolutions.

Three of these 10 resolutions give us a gist of what they were seeking:

      1. Resolved that the organization notify the agent of the loan company that in a foreclosure, the holder of the mortgage must bid in the land at a value of the mortgage; and further resolved that there be no foreclosures unless an agreement is reached by all parties concerned.
      2. We petition the treasurer and prosecuting attorney of the county to withdraw all tax suits from court for the year of 1933 and that there be no tax penalty until 1934.
      3. We petition the state legislature to abolish the deficiency judgement law; also, penalties for back taxes be abolished for the coming two years of 1933 and 1934, and that hereafter the only penalty on back taxes be interest at six percent for a period of delinquency, and further that delinquent tax sales be made at minimum expense.

— researched and presented by Wilbur Bush, Gallatin, MO (2003)