Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-12-24

trust law places upon all organlza-
tons that operate in interstate
trade. The Clayton act, amending
the Sherman act. specifically
exempted from the operation Of the
antitrust law. farmers Organiza-
tons which had no capital and
were not operated for profit. But
some of these organizations have
an operating profit. They want .
clear field to work In interstate
commerce. The Capper-Hersman
measure will give them this. 1t
will be q bold candidate who re-
fuses to endorse this bill.
This Board OF Farm Organiza-
tons is really . live political or
ganization. It is the rural equiva-
lent OF the American Federation Of
Labor. The Federation has recog-
nized this fact by asking the Ma
tional Board to affiliate with 1t. The
two organizations have been flirt-
ing gracefully with each other for
some time. The question whether
it should affiliate with the labor cr-
ganization was referred by the
board to its member organizations.
They refrained from acting upon
it rather than give labor direct
snub. So the afiiliation did not
come about. But it il emphasized
that the atmosphere between the
two organizations 10 distinctly
friendly.
There are few more significant
things in American political lie to-
day than this tentative effort ON tho
part Of labor and the farmers to get
together. For q long time 1t was
never thought OF. The farmer imag-
ined that be was . capitalist He
could not see the identity Of his in
terests with those Of the labor:ug
men. Now he has begun to zee.
The Board of Farm Organizations
has refused to affiliate with the
Federation of Labor because It does
not want to adopt such an aggres-
sive political attitude as the labor
Organization mas taken, and not be-
cause 1t does not sympathize with
labor.
Most agrarian movements have
come to grief On controversial
Questions" said an Official OF the
board. I'VE 90 not want a. yet to
express an opinion on any con-
troversial questions which do not
concern us directly. We are for
the Capper-Hersman bill because
We need 1t . law. We opposed the
Lane bill, because We did not be-
lieve it was sound. We intend to
have something to say about tie
choice Of the next secretary OF ag-
riculture. We want . strong gov
eminent control Of the packers. But
We have NO railroad policy, no land
policy. no policy with regard to
coal and other natural resoureeA
In a word, We have no political
platform. Political power is based
, On economic power. We are now
engaged in decorating cur economic
lpower."
There is vast wisdom in the Inst
. two sentences.
j. The political power will como
!, later. So in all probability will the
affiliation with organized Labor.
4 The chief difference between
these two great groups is really
in their attitude toward the Land
question. Labor is in favor OF
land law which will provide for the
reclamation of arid, cut-over and
swamp lands by the government,
the making Of these into equipped
!, farms, and their leasing to individ-
uals, or else their sale under pro-
visions which would prevent specu-
lators from getting hold Of them.
. Such q law would give surplus
labor an outlet to the land. and 50
; tend to keep wages up, as In the
old days when q good homestead
was to be had for going west It
would also tend to drain the con-
gested portions Of the great cities,
and so to remove much OF the fes-
tering human material which
makes for unrest and revolutionary
] propaganda.
But the farmers are afraid OF
such . land program because they
j. fear it would result In over pro-
, duction and hence lower the price
, Of farm products.
/. There are some among the ag.i-
cultural leaders who do not agree
with this view. They point out that
II the government created farms II
would have to create proper ma
. chinery for the disposal Of their
products. As q matter Of fact, all
, the ladn colonization schemes
have provided for marketing sys-
tens. In this way, they claim, COL
onization would promote the COOP
erative movement which is prov
, ing to be the farmers salvation.
, And there is really no danger what
ever Of an overproduction Of food.
: Our export market can take care
Of the surplus. A marketing sys-
, tenn designed and controlled by the
: producer rather than the middle
: man is the thing needed, they say.