The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1916-12-16
NATION URGED BY
FARMERS To TAKE
OVER RAIL LINES

ST. PAUL, Dec. 15.-Government
ownership Of railroads and all public
utilities.
A national plan for buying and
marketing, based on the Rochdale
system and which will eliminate
competition.
Either prohibition of speculative
future trading in grain or a taxation
of future trades
Lower tax on structures and i'm
provements than on land.
Defeat of the Shields and Meyers
water power bills.
Resolutions embodying these de-
mands were adopted by. the Equity
Cooperative exchange at it's con-
vention here just ended.
FIGHT EMBARGO ON GRAIN.
An embargo on farm produts
effective at the source Of production
was advocated by B. c.. White, Mon
| tana. as retaliation in case an embargo
is placed by songress on grain expor-
tation.
I'm the event congress passes the
embargo act. and the bill becomes a
law, there is one thing left for the
farmer to do" he said, land that is
to hold his stuff on the ranch. They
| can't steal it,"
The curtain has been rung down on
the little, individual farmer trying to
adjust independently the great prob
lens with which he is confronted, he
SAND, and it is necessary to organize.
HIT WATER POWER STEAL.
Robert Bridges, president Of the
Seattle port commission, criticized the
laxity Of the people of st. Paul in
their failure to make the most of the
transportation facilities offered by the
Mississippi river, and attacked the
Shields bill that proposes to deliver
| water power grants to private COR
porations.
American farming never will be
what it should be until it is thor
oughly organized and organized in
the hands of the farmers" said Mr..
Brand, chief of the marketing divi-
sion Of the federal departement of
| agriculture. 1.-THE farmer must see his
product through to the consumer just
as far as economic conditions will
permit.
URGE MORE EFFICIENCY.
'"The growers. by proper organiza-
ton. can conduct their business lust
as economically and just as efficient
ly as any other class of citizens
j. G. Gates, manager of the Equity
Cooperative exchange, discussed the
railway problems confronting the
farmer and the fight being waged by
the Equity Cooperative exchange, ad-
vocating government ownership of
railroads. He read a telegram from
j. Fl. Hall Of the Montana railroad
commission relating to the progress
made by that organization in it's in
vesigation of causest for the car
shortage.
Alter citing numerous causes con-
tributing to the "tie-up" in part on
che railroad, the r ~-~ - concluded
with the opinion that "there are
enogh cars, if prope.ly handled. but
the shortage is on argonization and
MANAGEMENT"
HUNGET STAAS .ilE SAME.
Discussing the practice of gam
bling in grain, former Representative
James Manahan ridiculed the theory
that grain prices are regulated by the
law of supply and demand declaring
thai the hungar of man governs the
demand, and that H. - fluctuates.
A. G. Schmidt, Wausau, ..o, editor
of The Organized Farmer, described
the business success of the American
Cooperative association, with head
quarters at that place, "4..~., .,e said,
sells anything from tooth brushes to
threshing machines, pays 8 per cent
dividends and saves customers Is per
cent on purchasest.
A committee on five appointed
to invite all cooperative institutions
to join in central plan "to eliminate
competition in cooperative efforts"
WOULD TAKE RAIL LINES.
Resolutions advocating the "imme-
date taking over of the railroads of
this country by the government of
the United States" and further de-
handing government ownership of
te'egraphs and telephones, terminal
elevators and warehouses, ammunition
factories am: all public utilities were
adopted
The Shields and Meyers water
power bills were condemned. A law
was urged to eliminate all speculative
future trading in grain exchanges, or
one which shall impose a moderate