Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-09-15
CONTROL
IS FARMERS PLAN
National Council Asserts That Is
Necessary to Reduce Living
Cost.
ECONOMIC DANGERS SEEN
Statement Declares Production
Must Receive Most Careful
Consideration.
tBN Universal seryicn

WASHINGTON. Sept. Ia--C;ovcrn
mont ownership IS essential to .perrna
ncht reduction Of the high cos, of
1!Fihs' according to the contention OF
inc Farmers National Council.
Unless the government retains CON
foi OF its natural resources. the coun
cii says. the cost OF raw materials will
constantly increase, with the result
that production VIII <c lcssened and
,c snc cost OF al finished products en-
George + Hampton. managing direc
toF OIL the council. today issued a state
nent, in which he pointed out the eco
honic dangers which the council sees
.2om ing up ahead unless the principle
oi government ownership be recog-
med In his statement Mr.. Hampton
said:
The seriousness of the farm si,ua-
ton requires most careful considera
ton of the economic factors OF pro
duciion. 1t is most unfortunate that
some farm leaders have seized upon
.ne present SITUATION TO attack labor
as responsible for the high cost Of liv-
ing. Such action Inadvertently plays
into the hands of the privileged class
ss or the country. which have always
farmers and tho other labor forces OF
America II is testing time for
American farmers. The predatory in
terests are working overtime TO divide
on false leads.
Must Eliminate Causes.
The great economic causes OF the
hiGh cost o. living must be eliminated
TO improve the economic condition of
both farm and city labor We must
have government ownership OF the nat
ura! resources with democratic opera
ton, the products TO be sold at cost
The Council OF National Defense points
out in It's analysis OF the high cost of
living problem that even IL prices of
finished products be brought down.
while prices OF raw materials and the
value OF those properties which con-
tain the resources Of production are
allowed TO continue in the ascendant
there will be danger that the cost OF
raw materials will soon approach so
goods into which these materials may
be converted, that there will remain
no prospect of reward TO induce either
labor or capital to keep the process OF
manufacture going.
The natura! resources of America.
basic ra" material for ali industries,
ownership. while the United States
Congress is attempting practically 10
give away its resources yet remaining
under public ownership.
Says Farmers Are Mulcted.
The American farmer has been
mulcted under private ownership of
the railroads and OF shipping. Neither
railroad freight rates nor ocean freight
rates can be reduced II the railroads
are returned TO private owners, and we
sell the ships built with our money
under the plans being considered by
Congress today.
"A 1920 model OF I trust-the meat
packing coT1bination-seeks TO con-
tinue its undisputed dominion over the
food supply of America. eXacting tri-
butte from producer and consumer
alike. The huge debt incurred. to win
the war which has made our per cap
ita Indebtedness sa30, is hanging
around the neck of the producers and
of America. a very heavy
burden upon the farmers. while the
war profteers got away with 100000
100000 net prof: since the war broke
out in Europe. No organization can
claim TO represent the inter
ests of the farmers o: America which
fails whole -heartedly toAwork for gov
crnment ownership of the railroads
and of our ships. TO the carrying out
of the Federal Trade Commission rec
to deal with the meat
packing industry--thc food trust-for
ownership and develop
ment OF American natural resources.
and for just system OF taxation
which will remove from the farmers
and other workers of the country the
unjust burden of war costs which eN-
listing legislation levies upon them.
1t is time when farmers must care
fully appraisc the motives of those
claiming to speak for them. and refuse
to he led UP any blind alleys of futile
q yi 81 a tiOn ~