The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1920-04-13

consistent man." and this sage re-
mark perhaps applies to the time-
present.
Dirt Wings
Farm land values have started fly
ing, and in four years prices Of plow
lands in the South have practically |
doubled. A statement from the De-
partment OF Agriculture says that in
March, 1916, plow lands in the Unit |
ed States had the average value of
$3.50; in the same month in 1917 the
average was $62.17; in 1918 1t was
$6S.3S; in 1919, $74.S1; and at the
same time in the year 1920, $90O1,
building values in all years not being
included in the average. Among the
states that have high acre values for
plow lands are Iowa with $219, Him
ois with $40, California and Arizona
with $3.50, Nebraska with s125. Ind-
ana with s119, Washington with $115,
Ohio and Idaho with $1O5 Utah with
$103, and Wisconsin, Minnesota and
Oregon with $1O0. Irrigation has
made high values possible for dry
lands in Arizona and other States.
Wheat as the basic food product
has been greatly favored by an arbi-
trary enactment of the Government
in price.fixing, with the result that an
area of prosperity hit the rich wheat
producing areas of the country. Corn,
oats, ETC., have enjoyed prosper
Gus period. All of sudden new adj
vanced prices have appeared in all
products from the farms Of the coun-
try. And presto change, right before
your eyes, dirt takes, wings, and pric-
es 60 a-aviating. At the same time
its lists of borrowers crowded, and
the Federal Farm Loan Board finds
in numberless cases they want to get
more money on their securities than
their lands were considered to be
worth in 1914 and 1915.
And it will be all perhaps. if
the kite string doesn't break. But
should land values ever drop with the
speed that they have risen the pes
simists would get all that they ever
prophesied.
A Queer Black List
The American Federation of Labor
in the performance of its legitimate
functions towards industry is most
worthy and useful national enterprise,
and there are not many people but
who wish it we'll in its work. But
there have been lot of foolish polit-
ical notions floating about during the
past two or three years, and Mr.. Com
pers has led the organization OF which
he is the titular head to the support
of schemes that should have been
locked up, instead of being permitted
to run at large For instance, Mr..
Gompers took decided stand in fav
or of unionizing the letter carriers
and policemen of the United States.
and there was pretty good reason to
suspect that the Army and Navy
would have followed had not this un.
worthy scheme gone awry. Mr..
Gompers also advocated retaining the
railroads by the Government for two
years longer, and ultimate govern
ment ownership. He wanted control
over credit taken from fnanciers and
invested in a public agency. The old
complaint against the Government
protecting it's very life through the
use Of Its machinery in the courts,
especially in the process of injunc-
tions, caused Mr.. Gompers to choke
up every time the plan was suggest.
ed. And worst of all Mr.. Gompers
favored the so-called Plumb, plan for
the railroads, which was pure Run,
sian sovietism.
T. Now, no one has any objection to
Mr.. Gompers forming his individual
political preference with the above
standards as o basis, but when he as
sumes that the American wagework-
ers will accept his blacklist of pub
lie officials, calling unworthy of the
political support and suffrage of Ia
boring men, the public officials who
would not support these pets of Mr..
: GOmpers. he displays an egotism that
has not been matched in century.
The cold, chilling frost Of public opin-
ion that greeted all Of these political
monstrosities furnished the best evi
, dence that they were not wanted by
the people OF the country. And now
for Mr.. Gompers to make up his cat
, alogue upon the record OF public Of
, ncials, and to oppose such men as
, had the courage-and commonsense
, Ito oppose these measures, indicates
/ that the political plan of the Ameri
) can Federation of Labor is not based
| upon a safe and sound policy. II
t rather resembles the case OF the lead
!. er presuming to become the master
, of American workmen, and ito carry
I their votes In his vest pocket"
!. ~--