New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-08
Whitman-BroWn
Fight Will Go
Before Farmers
Contest Over Food Likely
to Prolong Session to
September l
rrrm , STAT Correspondent. Of The rraSunsl

a
ALBANY, Aug. THE fight between
Governor Whitman and the "old guard
In the Legislature over food legisla-
ton Is likely to continue the present
extra session until nearly September
|. This became evident to-day when
Il was learned that Senator Elon X.
Brown, the "old guard" leader and
chairman Of the War Committee, like
the Governor, intended to carry his
case to the farmers. He announced
this afternoon that he would speak to
the fruit growers at 0lcott Beach, on
Lake Ontario, next Saturday afternoon.
Whether he intends to carry on his
speech- making campaign to other sec
tions has not yet been made known.
The Olcott Beach speech is looked
upon here as an effort to offset the
plea which Governor Whitman will
make at a meeting of farmers at Sodus,
Chautauqua County, tomorrow after
noon.
Governor Whitman is determined to
fight for a bill which will give COM
mission named by him complete con-
troll over the production and distribu-
ton of food, and it is understood that
he will spare no effort to have George
W. Perkins as q member Of this COM
mission. Governor Whitmap's bill has
not yet appeared in the Legislature,
and it is believed that before submit
ting it he will wait to consider the
many amendments which are TO be
offered to the Brown committee bill at
the session tomorrow night.
Plan Fight to a Finish
Legislators opposed to the drastic
food control provisions sought by the
Governor took heart to-day at the
hearing on the Brown committee bill,
when the representatives of ware
housemen, farmers and fruit growers
made plea not to be interfered with.
They also showed strong opposition to
George W. Perkins as head Of the food
control commission, particularly the
Western New York fruit growers. They
plainly made it known that they are
firmly against Perkins and will Eight
to a finish" the Governors attempt to
name him. While Mr.. Perkins's name
was not mentioned openly in the hear
ing, the members of the committee had
no doubt who was meant.
"If the reports that certain man
is to head this commission are true,
said L. S. Beckwith. of Albion, fruit
grower and cold storage representative,
81 want to say that the farmers OF
Western New York don't want that man
at the head of it. If he is, we are
going to fight. We are united in that.
No halfway methods, either"
Judge Isaac II. Signor, of Orleans
County, approved of the provision in
the Brown bill naming the members Of
the Food Control Commission, declar-
ing that he considered this a safeguard.
Cold Storage Plea Heard
s. X. Chadwick, of Syracuse, a rep
resentative of the cold storage interests.
attempted to show that the ware
houses were making no money, and
l0ht any lCGlSldLlNt N'bAN
give the warehouses of adjoining state.
an undue advantage over them.
The only representative Of the con-
sumers who spoke to-day was Mrs.
j. Wells Wentworth, chairman of the
food committee of the Woman's Suffrage
Club Of the 10Th Assembly District of
New York. She opposed the Brown bill.
declaring that there was a demand for
adequate food legislation from the
whole people, and that the Food Com
mission should have absolute power
over the entire situation. She offered
several definite amendments, one Of
which was that the food commission
ers should have power to regulate prices.
She thought there was too much red
tape about the provision in the Brown
bill to refer back to the Federal gov
eminent violations regarding vhe hoard
ing of food.
The hearing will be continued to-
morrow, when large delegation Of
New York clubwomen Is expected to
appear against the Brown bill.