Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1918-11-01

| lions exercise an influence far great
or than is warranted by their num-
bers or the service they perform
We therefore urge upon congress the
necessity OF such an amendment to
the antitrust laws as will clearly
permit farmers organizations to
make collective sales of the farm
ranch and dairy products produced
by their members. Such organiza-
lions, with liberty of action, can in
sist that the agencies engaged in pro-
cessing and distributing sell such
products at prices as low as may be
consistent with the cost of produc-
ton and distribution.
s. We demand that the agricul-
ural affairs of the nation shall no
longer be controlled by the city man
and the city mind, but that in those
things which concern life in the
country the farmers of America shall
have the same chance to be heard
and to control their affairs that COM
mercial and financial interests have
long enjoyed and that was properly
demanded and lately obtained by or
ganized labor.
8. We call attention to the dis
tinction in the principles applied in
regulating the different industries of
the country These principles may
be stated generally to be, one a regu
lation of profits. the other arbitrary
fixing of prices. The latter is the
principle that has been applied to
farm products. SO far as regulated
by government. actual and in a sense
arbitrary prices are determined. In
ether Industries, so far as there has
been governmental action, it has
been by a regulation Of profits or
OF price based on assured profits,
thus assuming that such industries
first received their costs of produc-
ton, while with agriculture prices
are determined without sufficient
consideration given to the questions
of production.
10. We have heard with real in
terest the recommendation Of the
Federal Trade Commission that the
government acquire the rolling stock,
stock yards, privately owned refrig-
orator cars. branch houses, cold stor-
age plants, etc, Of the meat packers
and that the owenrship and opera
ton Of these agencies be declared
government monopoly, to the end
that there may no longer be private
monOpolies of these vast agencies.
We heartily concur in such recon-
mendations of the Federal Trade
Commission and urge their adoption.
II. To waste any of the neces-
saries of life is now ineXcusable. We
deplore the waste of man power, of
fuel and of food, now committed in
the manufacture of alcoholic bever-
ages. We urge the immediate pro-
hibition of the liquor traffic during
the war, and we further urge the
ratification of the amendment to the
federal constitution forever prohibit
ing the liquor traffic and call upon
forward-looking men in all the states
to work and vote for the same.
70. We favor the permanent ac-
curing and operating by the govern
ment of the telegraph and telephone
systems of the country, and urge up
on congress to enact proper legisla-
ton to that effect.
10. We are observing with keen
interest the experiment OF govern
mental operation Of the railroads,
and urge that it be given fair trial
to the end that if found to be advis-
able it may become a permanent pol
icy of the government.
IA. The natural resources of
America belong of right to the peo-
pie thereof. We hold that the coal
and iron, the oil and natural gas,
and the water powers still remain
ing in the public ownership should
never be allowed to pass into private
hands, and we believe that the coal,
iron, copper and phosphate rock not
now controlled by the government
should be acquired and taken over
With the least practicable delay, and
if leased to be leased only for a lin
tied period for immediate develop
ment
Is We extend a fraternal greet
ing to the great labor organizations
Of the country and express our ap-
probation of their determined stand
in the winning of the war. We, as
they, labor with our hands. We, as
they, have found how impossible it
is to individually cope with the great
organizations of middlemen and en-