Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-08-16
FARMERS ALARMED,
SAYS GRANGE ENVOY
Joint Committee Is Urged to
Abandon Wheat Price
Regulation
U. S. AGENTS PR0FITEERS?

~ ~ TNS" ~ wv W --''S'
Washington. Aug 16. - A. NJ.
Loomis, representative Of the national
grange, told the House and Senate
agricultural committees the farmers of
the country were alarmed over the
trend of proposed federal legislation.
adding that in view of the Presidents
attitude toward agriculture as indicated
in his veto message on the bill repeating
the daylight saving act, the farmers felt
something must be done to balance the
situation"
Mr.. Loomis made number of sug
gestions as to proposed legislation to
countcract the influence of the present
agitation and thereby increase food pro-
duction." They included:
Abandonment of wheat price regula-
ton and all price fixing on any primary
food or clothing materials at the end of
the present crop season.
Immediate termination Of all restric-
tions and regulations based on war
powers of Congress.
Removal of all internal revenue taxes
on food products.
Revision of tariffs schedules to af
ford protection for farm products equal
to protection of manufactured products.
The defining of the constitutional
power of Congress to deal with hoard
ing, conspiracies and combinations to
advance prices of necessaries.
T N Mi11or nf Spspnoba
senting the National Board of Farm
Organizations. told of prosecutions of
farmer organizations in Ohio and ILL
nois under state ANTITRUST laws and
charged that there was a''veiled propa
ganda" throughout the country to place
the blame for high prices upon the
farmer.
Profteers in Department?
Evidence at a secret investigation OF
the purchase of beans for the food ad
ministration during the war so incensed
Julius H. Barnes, of New York, presi
dent of the United States Grain Cor
poration, that he forced two employees
of the administration to resign, the com.
mittce was told by G. A. Turner
president of the California Bean Grow
ers' Association.
Asked if it was not true that the tive
men had been profteering a little il
beans" Mr.. Turner said that in view o.
the fact that the investigation was sec
ret he preferred not to say what the
findings were.
The names of the men were not dis
closed. Mr.. Turner said, however, thai
he believed the evidence taken during
the investigation was in the hands o.
the Department of Justice.
Mr.. Turner said more than 81 900,
600 worth of Oriental beans were pur
chased, and that Oriental peas also wert
bought by the food administration.
The witness denied there was a scar
city of beans in this country at this
time, and said there was no reason fol
prevailing high prices.
Farmers Present Case
Unless capitalstic monopoly" and
organized labor cease profiteering in
goods and wages" the next cycle OF
the seasons will effect q condition OF
living now undreamed of, the comittees
were told by J. r. Howard, president
of the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation.
Mr.. Howard appeared as spokesman
for the committee recently appointed at
conference of farmers from Iowa,
Nebraska, Indiana, Ohio and Illinois,
Denying farmers were responsible for
present conditions, Mr.. Howard said:
The high cost of living is not due
to lack of desire or effort on the part
of farmers to produce to the limit of
their physical ability. The farmer has
not struck, walked out, or otherwise
slackened in production. He has in
creased his effort, extending his opera =
tiOns to the limit of physical ability and
financial credit, and striven to feed the
world, believing the world would fairly
and gladly recompense him.
Instead, he finds those who. in their
eagerness to find an answer where there
is none, and to shun the real facts of
the situation, point to him with scorn
and malevolence, saying, Thou art the
culprit.
Kansas City. Mo-. Aug. 16.-(By A,
PD-The seizure of $4,000 pounds OF
beans, said by federal authorities tc
have been stored here throughout the
war, was ordered today by District At.
torney Francis NJ. Wilson.