The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-03-29
The Farmers Voice in the Plumb Plan

Is 10 DC C20CSito OI QEkfN<S>0t X
don't sound good TO me-"
Unfortunately, the question
was crossed here 90 y stime" pro-
gram which Was a pitrQ. for
sfterward we found quite num-
Der Of men who would like to
have asked questions or made
statements.
one said: Il would like to
know where he gets that stun
about .watered stock. That's
ancient history. He hands us
figures we cannot refute, but
which he cannot prove. and
builds his argument on these
questionable hypothesis. All the
water that was added TO first
values has Long ago been ab-
sorbed as the country has devel-
oped- Call il unearned Increment
or what you like, but | believe
our railroads have more actual
value today than is represented
in the stock that has been author
lied and issued. ! don't like to
hear about confiscati0n or repudi
alton, anyway.
We've come here to learn.
gentlemen" said a steady-going
gray-be2rd. There's no doubt
about it, that man is In earnest,
and is dead sure he's right. Only
he cannot see this thing from
any other angle than OUT Of an
engine cab.
We have tried the govern
ment plan for two years and
what have we got? The rates
are going up, am told, on an
average of % per cent. which Is
fair in comparison with other
rises. Then we are, l believe, to
be taxed $500, O00. 900 on top OF
this to make up for the deficit in
ealuings-in spite Of the % per
cent. raise in rates. We can
stand for this, too, because Of the
extra expenses on deadheads and
material during the war and de-
mobilization.
What do kick about under
government control is that we
don't get service. 1t is prompt,
efficient and reliable service that
counts.
Now, we farmers lost some
millions OF dollars this year on
account Of car shortage and slow
freight on perishable goods. We
are told by the powers that be
how many cars we can have and
that Is the end. There is NO
one to take up the slack-nobody
to try 70 make good even with q
makeshift."
What Scudder said about
farmers representation was very
much to the point, | think" said
another. III any government
plan is to be adopted, they've got
To count the farmer in on the
deal, as he represents half the
nation Getting our stuff to mar
ket is more than half the battle.
We can't afford to be dominated
by a transportation monopoly
government or otherwise-i0
which we have no voice"
Right" said the elderly
farmer. What is the use of our
growing stun out here in Cali
fornia unless we can count on
prompt service and reasonable
rates-rates that won't put pro-
hibitiye value on our goods after
they arrive in the east.
What is to prevent board
with a two-thirds majority of
railroad men in control raising
wages right along il any profit
shows up. Would they be inter-
ested in running affairs to the
most economic advantage to KEEP
down rates, or would they have
an advance in wages and political
pull in sight? Who are we 70
sue in case Of delayed contracts?
This thing seems to me to be
pretty crude in IS present stage
and I'm not for 1t. had rather
pay a little more for service and
know l was going to get it than get
a handout from a jack-in- ONCE.
Well. so long"
What pity it is that SO many
of the thinking farmers are SO
backward in expressing their
opinions on the floor! We are
the same all over the world. You
always learn more from opinions
expressed in the vestibule than
you do at the meetings. But the
politician with his ear to the
ground doesn't have to listen
very intently these days to be-
come aware that If he wants to
get anywhere from now on, he
will have to consult the farmer.
Big business comes second.
For the farmers are rapidly or
ganizing. and united federation
is In Ri1hf