The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1910-04-28

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PETER POWER WRITES
DEMANDS OF
FARMERS UNION
"BACK TO THE
FARM"

When representatives OF the
100000 members of the Farmers
union meet in st. Louis May 2, one
of the chief demands that will be
made will be a call upon congress
to pass the bill appropriating funds
to establish national agricultural
university.
The farmers declare that If man.
ufacturers are to be protected by
tariffs and railways and steamship
combines by various subsidies, the
government should pass around its
"paternalism" and assist in educat-
ing the husbandman to produce USE
full commodies in a scientific, COM
mon sense way.
The slogan, back to the farm" is
sweeping all over the country owing
to the unprecedented increase in
the cost of living. The farmers
want not only the boys, but the
girls as well, to remain on the land,
but they likewise want the old time
drudgery and toll substituted by the
latest and most improved methods
of production, not only to tighten
the labors of the agrarian workers,
but to cheaper the necessaries of
life for consumers in the cities.
The reading and thinking farm
ers are no longer deceived by the
false hopes that their sons can be-
come great business men and their
daughters new women" and lead
independent lives by rushing into
the cities. They have learned that
their boys, in most instances, are
fortunate If they can earn as much
as an average mechanic, and that
too many of their girls become new
women" at beggarly wages in fac
tories, and not few are forced
down into the red light districts in
the Intensified competition for jobs
and fair living conditions.
I'VE want this great industry
placed upon the plane where it be-
longs" said an officer of the farm
ers' union. "We want to draw our
boys and girls from the congested
centers, where disease and crime
are on the increase, to the country,
where health and morality are nat
ural. where true and noble man.
hood and womanhOOd are given the
fullest expression"
The combination of farmers, min
ers and unionists seems to have
captured Australia. Brief special
cables to several American labor
papers state that In the general
elections just held the labor party
scored a signal triumph over the
protection conservatives and free
trade liberals and will probably
have a majority over both old par
ties.
The labor party is credited with
having won 10 seats in the house
Zone report places the gain at 10
and six in the senate. This would
give the laborites 20 out of SO men,
bers in the senate, and 81 seats In
the house in a total OF rs, or one
short Of an actual majority over
both old parties if the gain was 10
seats. If the laborites won II new
seats their majority will, of course,
be disputed.
In any event the labor party will
be the government in Australia
(strange sound, thatD and his royal
majesty's new premier will be An
drew Fisher, a common miner,
whose cabinet will probably en-
brace farmer. carpenter printer
and a number of other mechanics.
There is little fear that the labor
party can be overthrow even by a
combination of the old parties, and
legislation along more radical lines
than ever before may be looked
for in Australia
The Labor party is socialistic, de-
claring for government ownership
Of monopolies, single tax. old age
pensions and other popular re-
forms. The principal cause that led
to the victory of the Labor party
at this time was the attempt of the
Australian mine owners and other
capitalists to import and enforce
the open shop schemes practiced in
America, and outlaw the unions.
Great strikes were precipitated and
the greatest was at the ballot box.