The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-10-26
Make a Worse Showing Than
Those of Railroads.
THEY ONLY KEEP EVEN
By Making the Entire Family
Join in the Work.
Automobiles Cited as All Evil
dence of Prosperity.

Chicago, Oct. 26.-That the railroads
get a better return on their investment
than the farmer, despite the latter
much talked of ability to buy automo-
biles, was the position taken at the
rate hearing today when the shippers
who opposed proposed advances IN
freight tariffs put H. c. Wallace OF
Des Moines on the stand as the hrst
witness. Mr.. Wallace is farmer ana
editor, and was elected president OF
the National Conservation congress at
st. Paul recently. Attorney Clifford
Thorne, in introducing the testimony
expected from Mr.. Wallace, said:
1.-THE great question to be deter
mined in this case is what constitutes
a reasonable return for the railroads.
They have based some of their pleas
for higher rates on the prices paid 10
farmers and other producers for their
products"
1.-The statistics show he said, that
in 1907 the average renter of a quar-
ter section lost 1898. In 1908 he lost
$780, and in 1909 he lost $3O5. 1t IS
only by denying himself all luxurles
that the farmer has been able to make
q fair living. The apparent loss
shown is overcome by the farmer mo-
hiring the labor, but getting the work
done by his children. The average
farm boy of fourteen years is consid-
cred a full fedged field and stock
hand"
Witness said the prosperity usually
ascribed to the farmer was an error.
Statistics, he said, showed that the
small farmer was being frozen out,
while there was a large increase in the
land contained in big agricultural
estates, with their managers superln-
tendentS and SyStemat1zed LABOR.
Commissioner Lane said:
I'VE have heard much about Iowa
farmers buying automobiles. Is there
a large number of them, and does that
show that the farmer has prospered!
We'll" replied Mr.. Wallace, Il do
not know how many automobiles are
owned by farmers, but undoubtedly
there are a large number and the fact
does show prosperity. The farmer mas
been able to buy them because ne
and his boys work together on the
farm instead of hiring labor. And
then, an automobile is less of luxury
to the farmer than to the city man.
The tiller of the soil uses it in his
business to advantage
Cross Examined.
On cross examination Mr.. Wallace
admitted he had taken no account of
the live stock cattle, horses, Sheep ana
hogs nor of milk nor eggs in his taDu-
lation of the returns on Iowa farm
lands.
was punctuated with constant refer
ence to Iowa's children, and toward
the time of adjournment Commissioner
Clark observed then childless farm
mot exactly" replied Mr.. Wallace,
"but he would have to work mighty
hard to keep from 1t.
on cross examination Wallace de-
clared that his figures on the grain in
Guided what was shipped and what
was fed to the live stock and said he
had not sought to show that renting
farmers operate their holdings at a
loss.
'What was your purpose, then, in
giving those figures ?'' asked Attorney
J. B. Payne, general counsel for the
Chicago Great Western. -.
Il wanted to show actual conditions
and what we might expect If live stock
raising was discouraged" replied the
witness.
rs there a farmer in Iowa who does
not derive revenue from live stock or
any of the items omitted from your
list?"
mo. they all are getting something
from these things" replied the wit
ness. The question then turned on the
value of land in Iowa and the witness
said that he believed the farmers we're
more prosperous now than ever before.
Mr. Wallace also assented to the state
ment that money was now being sent
from Iowa for investment. whereas If
formerly was being borrowed by Iowa
farmers. Commissioner Lane inter
posed, saying:
TT is undisputed here that the Iowa
farmer is getting along pretty we'll"
ITO what do you attribute the pros
perity of the farmers?" asked Mr..
Payne.
His children have worked for him."
was the reply.
Has Iowa a record as a child rails
err" asked the attorney
Not exceptional" was the answer.
Mr.. Lane asked if a farm managed
as a stock company would return any
yearly interest on stock or bonds and
Mr.. Wallace replied that he did not be-
lieve it would. He contradicted an as
sertiOn of Attorney Payne that retired
farmers went to live in towns and
cities because they could afford it,
THE farmer goes to live in towns
not because he is rich or can afford it
hut because he is too old to work and
his boys have grown up and he mus
hire labor or leave the farm
In reply to a question from Attorney
Lyon, counsel for the commission
What keeps up the value of lows
farm lands?" the witness said:
The values have increased in Iowa
just as they have in other states be
cause of the higher prices paid fol-
products
Commissioner Clark interposed witt
the comment:
The railroads say they lose none,