Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1920-05-31
Farmers NOT
WITH UNIONS
Farmers of Iowa Made no
Alliance With Organiz-
ed Labor on Sen
atorship.
REPORTS r FALSE
Col. Br00khart and his Sup
pOrters Deceive
People.
REPORTS r. FALSE

| Des MOineS, Iowa, May 20, (Speci-
al.)-No alliance has been formed be-
tween the farmers of Iowa and Orga-
niZed labor. The published . reports
that c. w. HINT, president of the Iowa
Farm Bureau federation, and Fred
Garfield, president Of the Iowa Fedora
ton of Labor, had got together at the
state labor convention in Fort Lodge,
joined hands and come to Il perfect
understanding, are untrue. The state-
ments being made by the 3rorkimrt
campaign committee to the effect that
Il farmer-labor combination had been
formed at the Fort Dodge convention,
and that this alliance had Endorsed
B%fbolhart for senator, are untrue.
Mr.. Hunt today made public denial
of these reports. He said farmers and
union labor never could join hands 50
long as labor persisted in making use
of the strike.
Mr.. Hunt did go to the Fort Dodge
convention of labOrites and he did adj
dress them. But what he said was not
at all to their liking and the officers Of
the convention We're careful to suppress
all reports of the speech.
Practice Deception.
Instead of being fair about the mat
tcr and giving the people OF Iowa an
opportunity to read what Mr.. Hunt said
and let them judge for themselves, the
labor leaders gave II the report thai
the farmers and organized labor had
entered into IA combination and that
President HINT was in perfect accord
with President Garfield. Tho leaders
farther gave out the impression that
this combination had passed resolu-
tons conforming Senator Cummins
for his course in the senate and indOrs-
ing Col. Hrookhart and his program of
government ownership of railroads,
Ilumb plan of operation and other non
partisan league doctrines. Col. Brook
mart himself aided in this deception.
But the farmers of Iowa were not
to he fooled so easily. They refused to
believe the reports. They knew that
farmers and labor union men could not
possibly unite for political purposes.
They knew the interests of the farm
ers and the interests Of labor union
men are directly opposite; that the
farmer always wants to sell his pro
duce high and .tlaAthe union labor man
always wants to buy it low.
Denial Made.
From all parts of the state came III
dignant protests from farmers who de-
c,ared an injustice was being done
them by these Brookllart-labor union
reports and that Mr.. Hunt, the presi-
dent of their Farm Bureau federation,
should set them right before the people
OF Iowa. They called upon Mr.. Hunt
.. yrnln n WStu tnIpnht (hln nf fhn in1-
lrrs requesting Il statement from MI.
hunt was written by Charles Brenton
OF Dallas Center, president of the Dali
lns Center State bank. Mr.. Hunt re-
Piled to Mr.. Brenton, who Immediate
~ gave the reply to the press and the
state. 1t is as follows:
Amcs, Iowa, May 27..Mr. Chas.
Trenton, Dallas Center, lOwa.-Dcar
Nh. B%renton: In accordance with
your request / am sending you the fol
lowing statement which please feel free
to use as you think best:
In reporting the proceedings OF the
result of the labor convention held at
Fort Dodge, a certain Iowa newspaper
seems to have given lie. the attitude
OF representing that the farmers and
uaion labor were getting together.
b. L HtltIIttt ilt NohN
ncsday, May 10. This date was made
on invitation from Mr.. Garfield, presi-
dent OF The State Federation of Labor.
What | said at this meeting | il pre-
v:ously reduced to writing, and l am
nj a loss to know how anyone after
listening to that address could get the
idea that l was heralding Il happy
combine of farmers with union labor.
. y .-I -, =, a,Nx. of N S1lnpfh
and if YOU will take the time to read
il. | shall be perfectly willing to allow
Won 10 Judge whether there was any
statement therein that could possibly
be construed to mean that farmers ana
union labor could ever join hands so
long as labor persisted in making use
Of The strike as u means OF lettering
conditions.
With kind personal regards, i am
Yours very truly,
Iowa. Farm Bureau Federation
BY c. w. Hunt, President.
Opposed Strike.
President Hunt instead OF locking
arms with President Garfield of Fort
Dodge and indorsing labor's political
program, pointed out to the assembled
labor delegates the error OF their ways
and he did not mince words. lie call
ed Il spade Il spade.
lie told them strikes were wrong,
that the strike of their union switch
men cost the farmers of Iowa from
$500 to 800 Il car OF their live stock
ready for shipment. He told t%he~iahor
delegates thcy were riding to !; fail ana
instead of applauding Mr., Hunt they
heard him sullcnly and in silence
II nuIhOiS Dies.