Rockingham post-dispatch. [volume] (Rockingham, N.C.) 1917-1965, 1920-07-08

bank credits to the farming interests Of
America. In the first term Of this Demo
cratic administration the national bank
act was SO altered as to authorize loans
OF nve years, maturity on improved farm
lands. Later was established a system q
farm loan banks. from which the borrow
ings already exceed three hundred mil
lions Of dollars, and under which the In.
terest rate to farmers has been 80 mate
rally reduced as to drive out OF business
the farm loan sharks who formerly SUP
sisted by extOrtion upon the great aSra-
cultural interests Of the country.
Thus It was a Democratic congress in
the administration OF a Democratic presi-
dent which enabled the farmers OF Amer
lea for the first time to obtain credit upon
reasonable terms and insured their oppor-
tunity for the future development OF the
nations agricultural resources.
Smith Lever Act Praised.
Not only did the Democratic party put
into effect O great farm-loan system OF
land mortgage banks, but It passed the
Smith-Lever agricultural extension act,
CARRYING to every farmer In every section
OF the country, through the medium OF
trained experts and by demonstration
farms, the practical knowledge acquired
by the federal agricultural department In
ell things relating to agriculture, horti-
culture and animal life: It established the
management and passed the cotton fu-
lures act. the grain grades bill, the CO.
operative farm administration act. and
the federal warehouse act. ~
The Democratic party has vastly I'M
proved the rural mail system and has
built up the parcel post system 90 such
an extent as to render Its activities ana
its practical service Indispensable to the
farming community. 1t was this wise en-.
couragement and this effective concern OF
the Democratic party for the farmers OF
the United States that enabled this great
interest to render such essential service
in feeding the armies Of America and the
allied nations of the war and succoring
starving populations since armistioe day.
G. o. p. Condemned.
Meanwhile the Republican leaders at
Washington have failed utterly to propose
one single measure to make rural life
more tolerable. They have signalized
their fifteen months Of congressional
strip the farms Of labor; by assailing the
principles of the farm-loan system and
seeking to impair its efficiency: covertly
attempting to destroy the great nitrogen,
plant at Mussel Shoals upon which the
government has expended $4,000, 900 to sup
ply American farmers with fertilizers at
reasonable COST by ruthlessy Gripping
nearly every branch of agricultural en-
deavor, literally Gripping the productive
mediums through which the people must
be fed
We favor such legislation as will con-
firm to the primary producers of the ma
ton the right of collective bargaining and
the right of cooperative handling and
shop and the farm and such legislation as
will facilitate the expectation of our farm
products.
We favor comprehensive studies of farm
production costs and the uncensored pub
lcation OF facts found in such studies.
Labor and Industry.
The Democratic party is now, as
F.s1 L. y.
and the promoter of progressive in
dustry. It established the department
of labor at Washington and a Demo-
cr6t tic president called to his official
council board the first practical work.
ingman who ever held cabinet port
folio. Under this administration have
heon established employment bureaus
to bring the man and the job together:
have been peaceably determined many
bitter disputes between capital and
labor; were passed the child labor
act, the workingman's compensation
act (the extension of which we advo-
cate so as to include laborers engaged
in loading and unloading ships and in
interstate commerce). the eight-hour
law, the act for vocational training and
a code Of other wholesome laws affect
ing the liberties and lettering the con-
ditions of the laborinH classes.
In the department Of labor the Dem
ocratic administration established q
bureau. which a Republican
congress destroyed by withholding APP
Labor is not a commodity; It is hui
man. Those who labor have rights
and the national security and safety
depend upon a just recognition of
those rights and the conservation of
families in. the interest of sound
hearted and sound headed men, wom-
en- and children. Laws regulating
hours of labor and conditions under
in recognition of the conditions under
which life must be lived to attain the
highest development and happiness. are
Just assertions of the national interest
In the. welfare of the people.
At the same time the nation de-
ponds upon the products Of labor;
of production means loss and.
II long continued. disaster. The whole
people. therefore. have right to in
sist that Justice shall be done to those
who work. and in turn that those
whose labor creates the necessities
upon which the life Of the nation de-
Ponds must recognize the reciprocal
obligation between the worker and the
state.
They should participate in the form
ulation OF sound laws and regula lions
the conditions under which
labor is performed. recognize and obey
amendment when necessary by the /
processes ordinarily addressed to the !
laws and regulations affecting the
other relations of life.
Labor. as well as capital. is entitled
to adequate compensation. Each has
the indefeasible right Of organization,
Of collective bargaining and Of speak
ing through representatives of their
own selection. /
Neither class. however, should at |
any time nor In any circumstances |
take action that will put in jeopardy |
the public welfare. Resort to strikes
and lockouts which endanger the
device for determining |
disputes, and the Democratic party |
pledges itself to contrive, IL possible, !
and put into effective operation a fair /
and comprehensive method of compos- |
ing differences of this nature.
In private industrial disputes we are |
opposed to compulsory arbitration as |
a method plausible in the theory but /
q failure in fact. With respect to gov |
eminent service, we hold distinctly |
that the rights of the people are para |
mount to the right to strike How !
ever, we profess scrupulous regard for t
the conditions of public employment |
instant inquiry into the pay of gov (
employees and equally speedy |
regulations designed to bring salaries !
to Just and proper level
Woman's Suffrage.
We indorse the proposed nineteenth
Of the Constitution of the
United States granting equal suffrage /
to women. We congratulate the lepis- |
latures Of thirty-five states which have |
ratified said amendment. and |
we urge the Democratic governors and |
lima and Florida. and such states as |
have not vet ratified the fadaraI cue |