Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-12-21
BY WILLIAM HARRISON MOORE

BY WILLIAM HARRISON MOORE.
IN HE discussion in the Senate o.
the Cummins railroad bill. in
volving the return of the roads
to their owners within thirty
Gays after the measure becomes law
and against which the American Fedora
ton of Labor, the railroad brotherhoods
and certain agricultural organizations
have been waging persistent hght
brings forcibly to the public mind tht
question: Just how far are the farmers
of America linked up in the movement
10 nationalize public utilities:
There has been considerable talk ano
printed document anent the far-reachinG
powers Of a number of wideiy-adver-
tised farmers protective. or farm
ers' non-partisan' leagurs- The union
ization of farm labor. with single tax
government control and numerous so
cialist doctrines. has been blamed on
the farmers of America but the rep
resentatives of the mass of steady, SEN
sible agriculturalists" are now rising TO
refute such assertions and place the
farmer in his true light
Believes Farmer. Careful.
Prof. T. c. Atkeson. the Washington
representative of the National Grange.
an organization which claims MEM
bership of more than 100000 farmers.
and more than 1000 oranges represent
ing thirty-three states. declared the
farmer is not going to stand for any
thing being put over on him in the
future. Professional lobbyists. and
others, who claim to have the interests
of the American farmers at heart, in
the Capital are repudiated by the mass
Of clear-thinking farmers, he believes.
Letter to President Wilson.
In a letter to President Wilson. made
public yesterday, Prof. Atkeson sets
forth the resolution adopted by the Ma
tional Grange urging the return of rail-
roads to private ownership. Prof. Alike
son states that it is his belief that "a
large ma jority of the farmers Of the ma
ton believe that government operation
Of all railroads should cease at the
earliest possible moment.
cit is also my belief" says Prof At
keson. that persons who have sought
recently to give currency to statements
that organized farmers favored govern
ment ownership are not farmers them
selves and do not represent any consId-
cradle proportion of the men or women
actually engaged in farming. In this
belief 1 am strengthened by the fact
that the agricultural press. with few anc
inconspicuous exceptions. oppose gov
eminent ownership and continuation of
government operation. and the leaders
of the great agricultural organizations
other than the National Grange are
unanimous in opposition to government
ownership"
Prof. Atkeson. in discussing the
question of how many farmers are
actually in favor of government con-
troll of railroads or the Plumb plan.
told the writer that less than per
cent Of the agriculturalists in Amer
lea believe in government ownership.
A high official of the A. F. of l..
however. declared that the sentiment
expressed by the Mason Grange of
Mason county. Mich, expresses
the feeling of every farmer with
whom / have talked The Michigan
farmers organization expressed it's
regrets" that the National Grange did
not send delegates to the labor con-
vention, which was held in Washing
ton recently
Published Visit to White Hose.
Articles appearing in the press OF
the country last week gave promi-
nence to the visit OF a delegation of
twenty-seven men to the White House
TO protest against the return of rail-
roads to the owners for a period of
at least two years" said Prof. Alike
son. This delegation. the newspapers
stated. was composed of representa-
;,anizations.' Now this is a fallacy
There was a large number of union
labor men present. all right. but only
two men claimed to represent the
farmers of the country These men
are George p Hampton and BENZ amin
c.. Marsh. They claim to represent
the Farmers National Headquarters
Hampton is in charge. and Marsh is
his assistant.
The delegation which waited upon
the President-they were greeted by
Mr. Tumulty. by the way-sang loud
the praises of government ownership,
according to the newspaper reports
A letter to Mr.. Wilson, setting forth
in one part how strong the farmers