Evening star., 1920-11-18
10000 FARMERS
ADVISED TO STRIKE
FOR BETTER PRICES
National Union Sends Call for
Concerted Action Against
DefIation.
WOULD HOLD GOODS
FOR PROFITABLE LEVEL
Claim Made That Growers Have
Been Robbed of Billion on
Present Stock.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
KANSAS CITY, Mo-. November 49,
A nationwide producers strike to COM
bat the falling prices of farm products
was urged in a call sent out today by
the National Farmers Union to its local
unions throughout the country. !.
The call, in the form of a resolution
adopted at the national convention of
the organization here. went forward to
secretaries of local branches Of the or
sanization. which represent producers
OF grain. cotton, wool and live stock,
said to number 10000
The proposed strike was urged in re-
taliation for what the convention con-
sidered abnormal deflation in prices Of
farm products, through which it was
asserted american farmers have been
robbed of $1,000. 00O, 900 in reduced value
of products now on hand" All farmers
were urged to hold this years produc-
ton from the markets until .'profit-
making levels" were restored.
The action Of the National Farmers
Union was in line with ''wheat's Strike
called several weeks ago by the Wheat
Growers Association of the United
States. Delegates asserted a consid-
cradle quantity Of this years wheat crop
was being held of the market by
farmers.
Reduction of production in the future
was threatened unless the prices of
our products are fairly readjusted to
the end that we may obtain just re-
turns for our labors and investments''
in another resolution approved by the
convention.
Not Under Obligation.
officials of the organization pointed
out that members were not under
obligation to obey the terms of the
strike, but expressed the belief that
such a movement would be effective.
all farmers organizations Of the
country was called to meet in st.
Louis December 16 to consider the
creation of a national farm marketing
board. T.
Reports were presented to show
that the national union already has
under way cooperative agencies in
numerous states doing a huge vol
ume of business. The Kansas di.
vision submitted fgures showing tbat
bnsinss. mss u u ssse: sse. e:sSp.ese. se wy
Enterprises being operated by farm
ers on cooperative basis 1nclnae
tile stores. produce stationS. live
stock shipping Associations ana. IN
/ sfew states banks and fhb0f4ncS
companies according to reports to
the. convention.
Charles s. Barrett of Union City
as president of the union. Tae re-
elected tonight. A. v. Swift Baker
City, Ore, was chosen vice president
and A, e. Davis, Gravette, Ark, was
reelected secretary and treasurer.
The snaza wsrs - d,rsctos sisessa Man
rice McAuliffe Of, Kansas. George H.
Bowles. Virginia; George Baker.
Iowa: e M. Pollard. Nebraska, and
J. W. Batchelder. South Dakota.
In his speech to, the convention. Mr..
Barrett. president OF the organiza-
should be made to know the evil ef-
fects of agricultural dehation. He
declared, that when prices for prod
ucts are forced down to level which
will not pay the cost Of production.
the man and woman in the city. suf-
fers almost equally with the citizen
who producers the nations food.
They should know that the farmer
in selling his great staple crops IL
the results Of an entire
years labor said Mr.. Barrett. The
farmer has but one turnover in the
year. The price Of his seeds, feeds
fertilizer. farm machinery and what
he has paid for extra labor are all
fixed by forces beyond his control.
Borrows From Tanker.
HE has borrowed money from his
banker to finance his operations and
under the present unfair system his
crops are forced on the market re-
gardless Of prices. whether they be
fair or otherwise, to liquidate these
loans. The manufacturer and middle
man have many turnovers of capital
What is loss today may
be a gain tomorrow. The very ma
ture Of their business is based on in
surances and hedges against loss. the
fixing Of sale and resale prices Of
their goods and of passing the costs
on to the consumer"
Replying to statements that price
reduction has characterized certain
great Industries. such as textiles,
sugar and leather. Mr.. Barrett said
the promoters and manipulators of
these big concerns had piled up bill
lions in dividends and were in con-
sequence well buttressed against q
market. He intimated. how
ever. that at no time during the war
or any other period had the farmers
as a class been able to provide against
the epils which sharp deflation brines