The Washington times., 1920-05-27
jl)HNSO|N!:S|DES
W|THFARnERS
California Senator Agrees to
Support All Demands
of Leaders. -'"''

Senator Hiram johnson. in a com
munication addressed to the National
Board OF Farm Organizations, an
nounced today that he would heartily
support all the demands made IN the
euestionnaire addressed by agricui-
cultural leaders 10 candidates for the
Presidency. The Senator said there
was nothing IN the questionnaire to
which he could not honestly subscribe.
Senator johnson said there 'is espe-
cial and pressing need for eo-opera-
tion between urban and rural citizens
and he would support legislation
making such cooperation general and
effective - He would regulate the
packers, refuse TO give assent to bills
tending to curb free speech, free
press. ana free assembly, and would
require that the railway question be
4 reopsned ff. after Reasonable trial,
the roads do not give good service.
Asy Need oss yCs-Spcratss.-
There is need at the present time
for complete e'co-operation between the
two great elements In pociety," said
Senator Johnson "The consumer in
can between them, II they win work
intelligeritly together. overcome in
great degree the profiteer. Co-opera-
uon.fs the sensible means for dealing
with the pronteer. and Congress
should at once begin to remove the
obstacles to cooperation by the en-
actment of. appropriate laws
II especially favor conservation OF
the nations resources and L oppose
the enactment of bills. no matter how
honest and harmless, they may ap-
- LII 10
curb free. speech. free press and free
[ assembly. This nation must have q
free urban population. and 1t must
have a free rural population. With
one element bound and gagged. the
other element is also without the
means or. wholesomely fuDchoning.
Dcatroy free speech and the right OF
peaccable assembly and you destroy
liberty itself.
Sometimes so.called anti-sedition
measures are designed by mischiev-
ous big business as weapons to place
insuperable barriers in the way OF
the farmer who Is seeking economic
as well as political liberty. Political
liberty is of very little account when
one Is. held in economic bondage"
Right In Demands.
Senator johnson said that the farm
leaders were entirely right in de-
mandinH that the railways, new-they.
arc ins<he tShands of their owners.
give good service. He said the'pres-
ent condition Of the roads was de-
plorable and an honest effort should
be made to determine who or what Is
responsible for their apparent failure
to function
"The agricultural leaders ask the
candidates IL in the event OF the
railway falling to give satisfactory
tervice after a reasonable trial Trey
will consider the reopening OF the
whole transportation question: said.
Senator Johnson. This Is a9pSr}eatlyi
reasonable demand" ''' - - WV :" ~ :
Senator Johnson said he heartily
favored question 3, in which 1ie can
didates are asked II they wclld see
that the farm people Of America are
represented on general boards and
commissions, whether or not the work
is directly concerned with agricul-
ture.
Senator johnson said, II elected. he
will appoint a Secretary Of Agricul-
ture who knows farm conditions and
is in full sympathy with the proper
asirations Of the tillers of the soil.
at would be a grievous error for a
President to appoint Secretary OF
Agriculture who Is out of touch with
farming interests" said Senaor john
son.
Farm tenancy. Senator johnson
said, was rightly characterized oy
Agricultural leaders: as a great evil
and a growing monaco, and he Prom