Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-10-19
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PAGE TEN.
BLOW AT THE PRESIDENT
Farmers Threaten to Take Freight
Rate Question Into Politics if Com
mission Comedies Per Cent Increase
Recommended by Wilson.

Washington. oct l9,-That the rail
ties and made an issue in tho next
presid entail campaign II the railroads
are given the advance In freight rates
Is the implied threat contained In set
OF resolutions addressed 10 the inter
state commerce commission passed by
the National Council of the Farmers
| Co operative Associations, an organ
| ization of 100000 farmers owning 800
elevators in the middle west.
This organization has sent a eoteric
of lawyers headed by Clifford rhornc,
resent them before tho commission at
the : per cent hearing which begins
today.
Opposition Comes as Surprise.
The fact that they are to encounter
serious opposition to their plea for an
advance in freight rates based on the
war conditions 1t is believed, viii
come as a surprise To the railroads 1t
was understood by the commissioners
that none OF ,he large shippers who
contested the application of the rail
roads at the previous hearing would
roads at the previous hearing would
appear this time. ana consequently
only two days have been assigned for
| taking testimony and for the argu
ments
II Is conceded tonight however that
there viii be vigorous protest against
granting the advance. not only by Mr..
nv. 4 n .l.,,lf AL
Mr. Brandcis viii appear as special
counsel for the commission again. and
while lac has not outlined his case, It
Is practically certain that he VIII argue
| aga inst the advance.
Resent Presidents Actions.
The ground for mulliug a political ls-
sue ont of the railroad case. II Is snid
is the fact that after iilc interstate
commerce commission had decided that
the railroads. in official classification
territory. had employed period OF
prosperity since 1910 whirh did not en-
| title them to an Increase IN freight
rates. the president. after llstcnng 10
~ plea presented by group OF railroad
1 presidents had issued an open letter
| practically recommending that tho rail-
| roads be given a new hearing and al
+ mort linlnchlul'iN tiltifdi|t' iti' ii''f
I state commerce commission had en-
/ tered the order rcopening the case.
( Besides representing the Farmers Co
/ operative Association Mr. Thornc vii
/ represent twelve middlcwest and inter
! m ountain states az follows; Iowa, Kan
I sas. Nebraska. North Dakota. Souti
! Dakota oklahoma. Arkansas. Idaho
Arizona, Nevada. New Mexico ant
J Utah
He and the coterc OF lawyers whr
arc associated with him also represent
the Corn Belt Meat Producers Associ-
i alton. an organization OF 1000 stool
shippers. and the National Live Stoci
/ Association. representing cattle ship
! pera In twenty two states
These statos and associations ar
/ strongly opposed 10 any advances N
/ crally. thnt since the commission eounC
: last July that the railroads In the en-
! tire east we're In n prosperous condi
! lion it Ia Impossible that n few month!
| OF depressed business should have on
tirciy overcome tia; prosperity
| Statistics complied by the railroad
show thnt they have 10000 900 OF Sc.
curitics maturing In the near future
It Is not their purpose TO pay thes
| securities In money but to renew them
and their plea FOR an increase In frclgh
rates is based upon the fact that the.
VIII have TO pay higher interest rate
to obtain renewals or possibly a casl
| premium.