Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-05-24
FARMERS BOLT
STATE FOOD MEET
Charles Graft and Hundred
Others Protest Against Be-
ing in Minority and Hold
Rump Convention.

ktontbtu'h tv''a @"N' S''NFH
we submit for your consideration the
following as an expression OF what we
believe to be the farmers attitude in
the present national crisis:
|. The patriotism and loyalty OF the
farmer cannot be Questioned.
2. We recognize that the question
OF food is the all-important one, and
that in the solution OF this question
the farmer is the most important fac
tor Farmers not only recognize this,
but they are responding to it. They
could not work harder nor longer
hours than they are doing: Instead
Of being necessary. therefore, the
widespread and insistent urging OF
farmers to speed up only harnesses and
annoys. Neither can farmers sud-
denly change their methods to meet
the present crisis.
3. The policy OF the government to
stimulate production BY holding up
the danger OF world famine we be-
lieve to be bad. 1t encourages the
boarding OF products and promotes
speculation. That policy, we believe,
is largely responsible for the present
unreasonably high prices.
Would Discourage Farmers.
4. We believe that the threat to fix
prices on farm products discourages
production. Certainly we are opposed
to regulation OF the prices OF farm
products unless regulation. is applied
also the products Of mines. forests
and factories, and unless due consid.
Grafton is given to the high cost oil
farming under present conditions. IN
the general scheme Of regulation, Il
ono Is adopted, consideration should
be given to alloting enough steel and
other materials to furnish farmers al
adequate supply Of farm implements
and other equipment necessary to
grow. harvest and market their CROPS
S. One OF the primary reasons for
the present condition Of the food sup
ply IS that the trend OF population has
been cityward, due to legislation
fayoring manufacturing and COM
merce and neglect in the last fifty
years of the needs Of agriculture.
This trend Of population away iron
the farms cannot be stopped in day
or a year-or IT, time TO be OF beneht
IN the present crisis. For this reason
we decry the baek-to-the-iand agra
ton as an immediate remedy.
6. The most effective measures thal
can be taken. we believe, TO meet tne
present situation have to do with pre-
venting waste in distribution. Every
unneces sarv agency in the handling
OF food products and goods from pio'
Queer. to consumer smouio DC sun
mated. we respectfully urse, sLI ii.,,
fore, that steps be taken 10 es'api asa
simpler, less expensive ana more
expeditions method OF exchanging tne
products OF the farms and iactotes'
Should Adjust Taxation.
W. .,x.t;o, sbould be ad.
,,aa;t Vii, work the mini.
.us,e' - interference with and dis.
nun. y. ~ 20 nrod,ct;on and dis.
souraselh.is gpaJ a.,;.iss 4, 70,
triouuoh - nesa "a ho,L f,rr,,
speci 70 lnes p,oruuts. a,:s y, p ~, som,
ana factories. W. pSns a;~ht sb;n,
oil me taxes pIoposeu ~ N,.no , S
ments not only Wouiu paase i Liza :
pui uSns uPo,t ":.. -, ~
with dlsproportionate severity oh NY
poor--but, would act as a pr 1 on
the wneeis OF INDUSTRY ois.oal
agc proauctiph snu ',.e 49, 20 ~,
aronnssd increase mi tariff taxes
+ f ,Y,r;es should he taxed heavily
amonah % d;scouraye their use. bu,
the Same t;nd Il taSation that Is ap
,i;.d - Irxnr;es should not be an
pi;ed ~ rssfmi tb;nps
raves ,non lie earnings Of bust
,ess and industry do not operate t.
hammer nrodmct;on and distribution a,
do taxes upon Inc processes OF com
merce and The products OF useful en-
deayor. We urge therefore that heav,
taxcs be laid upon excess profits ant
incomes. These taxes should b,
&.