The Rice belt journal., 1920-07-10

bank credits to the farming lnteTesls VI
America In the first term OF this Demo
cratic administration the national oanR
act was so altered as to authorize loans
of five years maturity on improved tarm
lands. Later was established a system OF
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 so mate
rally reduced as to drive out OF business
the farm loan sharks who formerly sub
sisted by extortion upon the great agrl-
cultural interests of the country
Thus 1t was a Democratic congress IN
the administration Of a Democratic presl-
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 a great farm-loan system OF
land mortgage banks, but 1t passed the
SmithLever 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
all things relating to agriculture, h0ru-
culture and animal life; it established the
bureau of markets, the bureau OF farm
management and passed the cotton fu-
lures act, the grain grades Dill, the CO.
operative farm administration act, anu
the federal warehouse act
The Democratic party has vastly I'M
proved the rural mail system and mas
built up the parcel post system to sucn
an extent as to render its activities ana
It's practical service Indispensable to the
farming community. 1t was this wise en-
nd 1.-Two n Z
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 succorinS
starving populations since armistiCe 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 sgnalized
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
to destroy the great nitrogen
plant at Mussel Shoals upon which the
government has expended 900 to sup
ply American farmers with fertilizers at
reasonable cost; by ruthlessly 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 na-
ton the right of collective bargaining and
the right of cooperative handling and
of the products Of the work.
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
lication Of facts found in such studies.
Labor and Industry.
The Democratic party is now, as
ever, the Arm friend Of honest labor
and the promoter of progressive in
dustry. 1t established the department
Of labor at Washington and a Demo-
cratic president called to his official
council board the first practical work.
ingman who ever held a cabinet port
folio. Under this administration have
been 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
interstate commerce), the eight-hour
law. the act for vocational training and
q code of other wholesome laws affect
Ing the liberties and lettering the con-
ditions Of the laboring classes.
In the department Of labor the DEM
ocratic administration established a
bureau, which G. Republican
congress destroyed by Withholding ap-
Labor is not a commodity: It is hu-
man. Those who labor have rights
and the national security and safety
depend upon a Just recognition Of
those rights and the conservation Of
the strength Of the workers and their
families in the interest Of sound
hearted and sound-headed men, wom-
en- and children. Laws regulating
hours OF labor and conditions under
which labor Is performed. when passed
IN recognition Of the conditions under
which life must be lived to attain the
highest development and happiness. are
n the welfare Of the people.
At the same time the nation de-
pends upon the products of labor; q
cessation Of production means loss and,
II long continued, disaster. The whole
people, therefore. have a right to in
iist that Justice shall be done to those
who work. and in turn that those
upon which the life of the nation de-
pends must recognize the reciprocal
obligation between the worker and the
state.
They should participate in the form
liation of sound laws and regulations
governing the conditions under which
abor Is performed, recognize and obey
he laws so formulated and seek their
when necessary by the
processes ordinarily addressed to the
avs and regulations affecting the
,ther relations Of life.
Labor, as we'll as capital, is entitled
% adequate compensation. Each has
If collective bargaining and OF speak
ng through representatives Of their
,wn selection.
Neither class, however, should at
any time nor in any circumstances
AXE action that will put in Jeopardy
hs na pqSFS 6eFots MsaEi Witch Resort s%t.ar to strikes
lealth or lives of the people is an
device for determining
disputes, and the Democratic partv
pledges itself TO contrive, If possible.
Ind put into effective operation a fair
md comprehensive method of compos-
ng differences Of this nature.
In private industrial disputes we are
opposed to compulsory arbitration az
method plausible in the theory but |
failure in fact. with respect to gov
srnment service, we hold distinctly
hat the rights Of the people are para
mount to the right to strike. How
.ver, we profess scrupulous regard for
he conditions of public employment
md pledge the Democratic party IN
instant inquiry into the pay of eov.
employees and equally speedy |
designed to bring salaries
o Just and proper level.
Woman's Suffrage,
We indorse the proposed nineteenth
amendment of the Constitution of tbe
United States granting equal suffrane
o women. We congratulate the Ieriss
atures of thirty-flve states which have |
Llready ratified said amendment and |
We urge the Democratic governors and |
legislatures of Tennessee, North Caro-.
ina and Florida, and such states ne |
lave not yet ratified the federal sufs
rage amendment, to unite in an EFFORT |
o complete the process Of ratihcatfnn
md secure the thirty-sixth state ~
ime for all the women of the TJni+aa
States to participate in the fall elsc-
ion. We commend the effective al. |
,ocacv of the measure by President |