Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-02-27
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In the event that the committee
representing the newly formed al
lance between the State Federation
of Labor and the State Grange is
able to work out a plan for direct
buying of foodstuffs from farmers
by members of labor unions such
as has been under discussion for
the last three or four months q
will solve one of the greatest prob
lens in Pennsylvania to-day ir
opinion of men who have beo-.
studying the food and labor situa-
tion. This state, remarked a man
active in the work of the State Com
mittee of Public Safety, is one of
the most diversified in the country
and its labor question is going to
be uppermost. The reason for this,
he pointed out, is that Pennsylvania
must not only be the arsenal of the
United States, as Governor Brum-
baugh has said in his speeches, but
the Clyde of America. At the same
time, said this student, it must in
crease foodstuffs. One of the states
college presidents, great student
of economics, declared that labor
and the farmer had to get closer
together. Labor will be moved from
place to place more or less auto
matically through the law of sup
ply and demand will insist that
enough food be supplied for next
winter. The farmers are short of
farm labor and the limited number
of tractors which the state will be
able to place on farms and which
will be available through private
and community enterprise will help
some but not to the extent desired
Hence, the laboring people must be
in closer touch with the producers.
If they understand each others
problems things will be materially
improved. The general plan is for
the purchase of food in carload lots.
Labor unions will unite, arrange
credits and deliveries and farmers
will pool their produce. 1t will
simplify some problems which have
been worrying many men.
The predictions that potatoes will
be plentiful in the next month.
which have been made at the Capt.
tol, bid fair to be realized. There
are already signs that many bushels
will be on the markets soon. Far
mers have saved over the winter
more potatoes than usual. declare
some of the people who follow food
movements and quite a few have
been frosted. The farmers in some
cases held back for higher prices,
as do many other people with other
things, but it is q fact that many
who had hoped to get their pota-
toes into the market by the middle
of January ran up against weather
which stopped all chance of any
satisfactory movement. The result
was that the potatoes had to be
held on the farms and the farmers
suffered. Judging from what has
been said here the last few days
by representative farmers the fixing
! of prices for wheat and the making
plain of the situation in regard to
potatoes will cause as many ship
ments as the railroads can care for
and the truck will be a big factor.
James X. Linn was in town the
other day. 1t is a long time since
"Jim's' friends have been able to
| shake his hand and inquire as TO
| the reasons for his prolonged alb
! sence. At present this former Har-
/ risburger is identified with the en-
ployment bureau of the Pennsylvania
railroad. His headquarters are at
Philadelphia, but he is more fire.
quently away from his office than in
| it. Keeping the Pennsy forces up
| to the limit in numbers just now, is
some task. There is a scarcity of
| help, but by good missionary work,
Mr.. Linn has been able to furnish
goodly supply of men to various
departments and divisions. This is
not all. James K. Linn is also gem
eral director of the Tobacco Fund
for the Pennsylvania railroad in the
East He is also treasurer of the
Mutual Beneficial Association for
Pennsylvania Railroad Employees. He
| is an associate editor on. the Mu-
tual Magazine, the official organ.
When there are any labor contro
versies, the order is send for Linn"
He gets to Harrisburg frequently
but only for one or two hours at
night to see his mother. When
here the other day he said, "I ann
always glad to get back to Harris
burg, but everybody must do his bit,
and must keep. going these days"
"When it comes down to climates
| give me Porto Rico over Florida
! baugh, talking about his trip to
the sunny part of the sunny south.
"It is too hot. Porto Rico is hot,
| but it is not the kind of hot Florida
has" There are suspicious about
| the Cipatol that the Governor likes
| North Carolina better in winter
than some other states.
"If I had my way about IL, 1t
would be up North for me-" re-
marked Attorney General Brown,
talking about winter trips. "I have
been in Florida and know the whole
state, but think that what we need
| is a change of climate that tones
up. 1 like going where it is real
winter and a Canadian winter has