Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-10-09
ST0CKBR|DCE's ACTION
REPUD|ATED BY STRANGE
chairman OF Farmers National Con.
gress Executive Committee
Writes to McAdoo.
ASKED TO HELP LIBERTY LOAN
President of Organization Had De-
ciined to Assist, Because He I'm
dcrstood Administration Favored
increase for Sccond-C Class Mail.


Increase for Sccond.CIass Mail.
WASHINGTON, October s.-An I'M
favorable response by Dr. II. e. Stock
Drudge. of Atlanta, president of the
Farmers National Congress, to an ap-
peal Tor aid In the second Liberty loan
campaign. has been repudiated by
Joshua Strange. chairman of the con-
gress's executive committee. In a let
ter to Secretary McAdoo. made public
here tonight, Mr.. Strange says he
deems the request recognition Of
the farmers. and that the executive
committee was in no way responsible
Tor DR.. StockbrIdse's action.
In connection with this letter tho
Treasury Department gave out a state
ment explaining that Secretary Nc
Adoo withdrew his request after DR..
stockbridge had notified him that 'the
appeal meets little response from u.s."
pasinS his position on the ground that
the secretary favored the Mcclellan
amendment to the war tax bill in
creasing sccond-class postage rates.
Chairman Strange's letter to Secre.
tary McAdoo follows:
Tho inclosed Clipping induces me
to write you In regard to your gracious
letter to DR.. Stockbridge. president Of
the Farmers National Congress. for
aid In the campaign for the sale Of tho
next Liberty bond issue
AS chairman of the executive COM
mtttee OF the Farmers National Con-
gross. desire to inform you that tho
executive committee is In no way re-
sponsiblc for the manner that Prcsi-
dent Stockbridge treated your request,
II tho contents OF the clipping gives
facts.
L deem your request n recognition OF
the personnel of the rank and file OF
tho farmers that compose that great
national organization. which is duo
them.
The farmer IS the worlds greatest
factor and the rise or fall Of nations
depend on agriculture.
Just recognition Is stimulus,
though 1t may be for service.
Most respectfully yours,
JOSHUA STRANGE.
Chairman Executive Committee"
Have you a son who has volunteered
bic service? III so. would you fail to
buy Liberty bond to help his fight
TO save his country and TO protect his
own life because the rates on second
class mall matter may be incrcascd?"
This was the reply of Secretary Nc
Adoo, whose own son Is In the service,
to telegram from DR.. StockbridEe.
Dr. Stockbridge had wired the secre-
tary that he would not assist In the
second Liberty loan campaign because
. he understood that the administration
and the secretary favored the Nc
kci!ar amendment to the revenue bill
increasing the second class mail rates
Secretary McAdoo denies that he ia
rored this amendment. He says he has
always believed that the second class
mall rates should be considered In
postal bill and not as part OF the
general revenue measure. He then ad-
dresses DIR. Stockbridgo as follows:
but even IL favored II, Is that
reason why you should be unwilling
to buy or assist in selling United
States government bonds? Is that a
reason why you should refuse TO lend
money to your government TO enable
1t to supply the gallant sons of farm
ers and evory other class OF American
CiNiLcuS "Ho nave bceI1 or WHO
have volunteered 10 give their lives to
protect your liberty and property the
necessary guns with which to fight;
the necessary clothing and food TO sup
port them in the field: the necessary
life insurance and means to support
t.eir dependent families while they are
at the front?
IF you haven't son. you cannot
feel what every mother and father OF
gallant boy must feel when they
see that boy go out to fight for his
country.
II am happy to believe that you
speak OF yourself alone and that you
do not represent the sentiment of any
other farmer in America.
The gallant boys now going into
training must fight for the safety and
liberty and property of every man,
woman and child in America, you in
cluded. II you really entertain the
sentiments you have expressed In your
telegram it is a pity that these brave
men must fight for you. because you
are not worth fighting for.
II withdraw my request Of your as
sistance In the sale OF government
bonds, The patriotic people Of America
will sustain their gallant soldiers and
sailors and carry this war to victory
without your aid"