The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1920-01-31
NO ALLIANCE OF THE
FARMER and WORKER
BIZ DAVID LAWRENCE,
Copyright BY The 1ntslligenesrJ

" AS1lNN lOkNI jan SV--sNi oA'A0''NN
between organized labor and the farm
ers OF the country which has so often
been suggested as the nucleus or
mighty political force in the next cleo
ton seems today about as plausible as
political combination OF employers and
employees. And the developments which
emphasize the tendency 20 clash rather
than unite have come In the last few
days with the assembly in the National
Capital OF the representatives. OF prac-
tically all the farmers organizations IN
America who insist that not only must
the railroads 10 back 10 their private
owners, but that government OWNERSHIP
IN any form must not prevail In thIS
country.
ident OF the American Federation OF La
Dor and delegation representing the
railroad crafts went 10 the White House
and asked President Wilson to postpone
ten return OF the railroads and grant q
two year extension So that tairer trial
could be given government operation
and so that economic readJuStments
might be smoothly accomplished. IN
that delegation were representatives or
four farmer organizations-Georg L.
Hampton, managing director or tho far-
mers National Council; laul ScnweIn-
burg. representing the Wisconsin Soci-
ETY. OF Equity and \. c.. Welch, preSi-
dent OF the Minnesota Society or Equity
and George II. Griffith. Minnesota state
manager OF tho Non-Partlsan League.
Rot Representative.
Indignation which IS unmissakaole In
its intensity has come out or the Ma
uonal Grange and affiliated Farmer or
gan!zationS representing about -FOUR
million farmers and the charge Is made
that the four men in the delegation
which went to the white house are rep
rcscntatlve OF only small and radical
faction Of American farmers.
Certainly the gathering or Farmers
who clam the right to speak for tho
agricultural interests OF the country Is
an Imposing ono. The list includes the
National Grange which is active IN
the northern states and the Farmers Ed
ucational and Co-Opcva,ivc Union. which
has large membership IN ihiriE-IlNs
western and southern states. In2
American Farm Bureau Federation. tho
International Farm Congress. the M,
Association Of Milk Producers and the
Cotton Growers Conference.
Against U. s. Ownership.
Spokesman for the above organtza-
lions make II clear that with the eNcep'
zion Of the few farmers and certal"
atuutr men who have presumed 10
speak Tor radicals among the farmers
the men who til the soil are uuii
against goN.Cnmrnt ownership or op'r-
alton Of railroads. They are t%"
would-bc spokesman OF the farmers hhN-
ed Up with The N"n-ParuSan 1.eaSus
and the Pub Plan league Tor Sh9 pTr
pose ~ making X appear that inc
farmers waut = continued operation OF
the railroads ~ tn" government. Con-
Crrtrly lh"y d. not believe an increase
In freight rates wuUid follow return
to private control be,UuS" the govern
men, is auw showing a surplus Ia rail-
road operation and # tn" increase were
necessary. th. farmer I>i.'' as much con-
crrucd ahou, that as n" IS about eli
ctrnt Distribution. NhS'clCl,y III" tar'nE
,.rv.,1 yatt,,,,S ,l,.t.lp lhClr whOlS