Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1919-10-29

Washington, D. George P. Hamp-
ton OF the Farmers National Commit
tes on Transportation sends out a
warning that unless the farmers wake
mp and protest to their respective con-
gressmen and senators, they will be
saddled with huge additional charge
IN freight rates, due to the return Of
the railroads to private speculative
operation.
His analysis of the situation is up
held by the address Of Commissioner
Woolley OF the interstate commerce
commission, in which that official
shows that freight rate increase Of
at least rs per cent is likely to be the
price we shall pay the private oper-
ators for their kindness in taking the
roads back. This, too, in face of the
TACT that the roads are now earning a
clear profit each month.
But the rs per cent raise in rates is
TO be multiplied by five, in the final
charge upon the consumers. That is
tho experience of past freight in
creases. Give the roads 10 per cent
higher rates on beans, and the price
Of beans at retail is loaded down by
five times the actual added freight
cost. Everybody grabs at new profit
when the rate goes up. The consum-
or pays.
This is the one chance upon which
hangs the saving Of the railroads this
winter from new chaos under spec
ulattve control. If the 30,OO0,O0O
families In the United States can be
brought to understand what they will
pay, In grocery bills, clothing bills,
rent bills and every other item Of ex-
pense, for the return of the railroads
to private hands, congress will never
give them back. Instead, congress
will take orders from the country and
will pass law extending federal con-
troll for a period of three years more.
Vote on Cripple Aid.
On the bill providing federal aid to
the states, on a half-and-half basis,
| for the re-education in trades Of men
and women who are crippled in indus.
try, the final vote in the house stood
| 1876 to los. Almost every liberal and
semi-l1beral in the house voted for
this measure, while most of the south.
| ern Democrats and a good many OF
the more hard-shelled Republicans
voted against it. The chief argument
made against the bill was that it was
4 "bolshevistic" extension Of the pow
Or OF the government into field which
should be left to the states. The same
argument was used against the federal
child labor law some years ago by the
| same group. They knew exactly how
much the states would do for indus
trial cripples If left to their own dis
posal Of the matter.
Among those voting against this
humane legislation were Good and
Haugen OF Iowa, Sears, Ayers and
Anthony Of Kansas, Clark of Mis-
souri,, Cannon Of Illinois, Fordney oil
Michigan, Evans Of Nebraska and
| other western men, Many of the more
t1mid members who had talked
against the bill in the cloakrooms de-
cided at the last minute that they
were making a political mistake. They
either voted AYE" or stayed away
| AIO4u Inc TOllCdll.
OIL Lobby Winning.
In spite Of stubborn opposition or
the part of Congressman Baer the
mineral lands leasing grab has nov
been voted favorable report by the
house committee on public lands
Representative Knutson Of Minnesota
the majority whip, announces that ar
attempt will be made to bring it tt
q vote before November l. The OF
lobby is tremendously pleased, an(
is beginning to have faith that its 10
year campaign to get hold Of the las
Of the natural resources belonging tt
the people is over.
Baer is going to take the fight tt
the door Of the house, where he will
have a good deal of support for many
Of the amendments he has arranged tt
offer. Among other things, he pro
poses that state as we'll as municipal
governments may have a preferential
right to take leases of federal coal, oil
phosphate and sodium lands. The OF
IL given the states, although ever
railroad companies may have Goa
land leases.
Monarchists Not "Dangerous."
When the house was about to adop
the bill providing for a years exten
sion OF the powers Of the president t
exclude undesirable aliens from thu
Countrywide word undesirable
meaning, in this case, labor agitatOr
and radical thinkers generality!