The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1920-04-23
RETURN OF ROADS
PLEASES FARMERS
Urge Policy to Insure Best Serv-
Ice at Lowest Cost Consist
ent With Fair Returns.
OPPOSE NATURALIZATION.
Representative Agricultural oruanlza-
- dens and Rural Press State Farm +,
ere Attitude Toward Railroads.
Want Private Operation.


under q policy Of government regula-
ton which win insure the best possible
service at the lowest cost consistent
with fair returns on money invested In
them L. favored by representative
farmer organizations throughout thu
country. This policy also is supported
generally by agricultural newspapers,
which state emphatically that the
farmers are opposed not only to gov
eminent ownership Of railroads, but
also to all naturalization plans.
In a letter to the members of the
United States Senate T. G. Atkeson,
/ Washington representative Of the Ma
tional Grange, which Is said to be the
largest organization Of its kind in the
world, representing more than 1000
states that the agricultural interests of
the country approve OF private owner
ship Of the railroads and further de-
clsres that persons pwporting to speak
for the farmers I'm support Of govern
ment ownership are neither farmers
nor representatives Of any considera-
BILE number Of farmers.
Favor Private Operation.
The Grange" says Mr.. Atkeson,
quoting the Official action Of his or
ganizatton, approves Of the general
principles Of railroad legislation now
pending in Congress to- return the rail-
roads to their owners, to bring about
the reorganization Of the railroad COM
panies into strong systems with capt.
ta1ixation based on, actual value, and
Co create q control commission which
may enforce the superior interest of
the public to that ofiany other interest
In the operation OF railroads as COM
mon carriers and effectively protect
the public against exploitation or In
justice"
Many state and sectional agricul-
t9ral organisations take a similar
sand. Immediately Rfter the National
Grange expressed its attitude toward
the railroad question the American
Farm Bureau meeting I'm Chicago, vOt-
ed for private operation, and the Ma
ttonal Farmers Congress, in session at
Hagerstown, Md, voiced like senti-
mentS. The New York State Fedora
ton of County Farm Bureau Organi.
zationsIand the Indiana Federation OF
Farmers went beyond that and joined
the Grange in repudiatng the alleged
farmer representatives in Washington
who said they spoke for an "over-
whelming majority OF the farmers"
Urge Reasonable Returns.
The railroad policy favored by the
New York State Federation of County
Farm Bureau Organizations was stat
ed In the following resolution:
whereas There have been conflict
Ing statements published regarding the
attitude of farmers upon the question
ef the future ownership of railways;
therefore be It
L Resolved, That the New York State
Federation Of County Farm Bureau AS
sociattons, representing 10000 mem
bers, In annual session at Syracuse, n
Y, December 10, 1919, hereby indorse:
the action Of the American Farm Blu
reau Federation in urging Congress Il
promptly return the railways to theil
owners under such conditions as will
II lnSuEG fGCdS5OHdOlC OA LAAC
of the property and reasonable rates o.
H transportation throughout the coun
III try"
Il Views Of Farmer Papers.
The American Agriculturist state.
editorhally that the farmers are "deaC
\ set against" the'"scheme to enmesh the
1 farmers in the web Of radicalism.
II The Pennsylvania Farmer, discussing
\ the general demand for private opera
\ ton Of the railroads, says: 1T is espe
cially true Of farmers, in spite Of thu
4 declaration Of q few would be leader
to the contrary" The stockman
v Farmer adds:
4 Farmers almost unanimously ap
Il prove the return of the railroads an,
Il the express. companies to their owners
| The reason is that farmers, as well a.
Il other business men, want service o
4 these institutions, and they cannot &c
Il such service under public operation a
4 they can get under the operation o