The Covington leader. (Covington, Tenn.) 18??-current, 1920-09-02

The recent session Of the Middle
Tennessee Farmers Institute at Co
lumbia was one of the most success
full and generally profitable meetings
Of that excellent body Of progressive
Tennesseans ever assembled
The convention adopted resolutions
regarding present issues and condi-
tions that are most pleasing in tone
and full Of the robust American spirit
which will be OF interest to every cit'-
zen of the state. The resolutions as
adopted follow In full
1--WE renew our expression Of loyalty
10 the Institutions of America. We be-
Heve that this Is the best government
ever devised by the mind of man I'M
der divine guidance. Whatever re-
forms may be necessary or available
in government can be made without
doing violence to the eternal principles
upon which this nation was founded.
Whatever protests are made against
existing conditions are made against
the law or its administration and not
against the institutions Of America.
"We distinctly deprecate any effort
TO array one class against another or
to appeal to any group of citizens, Our
system wisely recognizes no groups OF
citizens, but all enjoy the same rights
and privileges. Any departure from
this established doctrine threatens the
destruction of the vital principles Of
American democracy, under which
opportunity is boundless and open to
all A man or any organization that
would injure or do violence to this
government Is unworthy the protec-
ton of the flag.
Agriculture is the basis of all com
merce and industry. The great world
need of today is production. Produc-
ton is dependent upon labor. The
solidarity Of labor is such that the
wages and hours of labor prevailing II.
other Industries are reflected upon the
farm. 1t Is idle, therefore, to continue
TO advance the cost of production with
out expecting to pay an increased
price for the product Of labor, on the
farm as well as in the other indus
tries Of the nation.
~The farmers are continuing their
best efforts to produce under condi-
lions that would appall less resolute
men, and they demand Of both Labor
and capital that they, too, shall earn
estly speed up their part Of the pro
ductiOn so urgently needed. We have
reached the critical point In regard
to shorter hours Of labor, and we know
that forty-four-hour week will neither
feed nor clothe the world.
"We believe In the ownership of pri-
vate property. In individual initiative
and incentive. 1t Is only in the safe
guarding and protection Of every right
Of private property that there can be
perpetuated the full measure Of indi-
vidual initiative and emulation upon
which democracy Is based and by
which its future Is assured
ITO attempt to thwart natural eco
nomic laws by legislation is useless.
The law Of supply and demand, I'M
hampered by monopolies and unhin-
dered by attempts at governmental
price fixing, should have full sway.
we affirm that the application of price
fixing In an effort to reduce the cost
Of living has initiated against the pro
ducer without giving the anticipated
relief to the consumer, and this has
resulted In the decreased production
Of farm products The right to quit
work, either individually or collective
Iy, Is not denied, but the right to quit
work in unions does not extend to
those who work for the state, and in
all cases Of strikes the public inter
ests must be paramount to those Of
any group.
1.-THE farmers believe in collective
bargaining. and such legislation should
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