Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1920-10-22
FARMERS AT MERCY OF
CONSUMERS BY N. P. PLAN
Congressman Volstead Shows That
Majority Would Be Against Farmer
If State Controlled Distribution

Partisan League, Congressman A. J.
Volstead presented most effective
argument in his address at the Or
pheum on Tuesday evening when he
stated that the consumers and not
the producers would control the state
owned distributing agencies which
the Non-Partisan League program
proposes.
The address drew crowded house,
and Congressman VOlstead's discus
sion won merited approval.
Mr.. Volstead referred briefly to the
spirit of unrest which always follows
war. 1t exists chiefly in the cites,
he said, there being no danger of re-
volt by force out in this part of the
country. The program of the Non
partisan League for state ownership
of elevators, mills and packing plants
was analyzed. If such a program will
profit the farmer he believed one of
the two old parties will adopt it. A
third party can not succeed. He be-
lieved the farmers would be dissatis-
of distribution, because that would
mean that the consuming classes
would be in control. 1t would be to
their interest to force lower prices,
as was shown by the wheat control
during the war. We must deal with
, human nature whether in govern
ment or with individuals.
The remedy is in the regulation of
boards of trade and of terminals; it
is in cooperation. The farmer deals
with combination; his remedy is
to combine also, as has been tried in
Europe for years and in various parts
of this country. Western fruit grow
ers have eliminated the middlemen
between the producer and the re-
taller. The farmers who supply milk
to st. Paul and Minneapolis have
their Twin City Milk Producers as
sociation which has been of great
benefit. Stock growers in Kansas,
grain growers in Washington, cotton
growers in the South, have all found
that cooperation works. The farm
ers are learning to deal collectively.
This has been against the Sher-
man antitrust law, but in many
states including Minnesota, it has
been made legal within the states.
1t is still illegal for interstate traffic,
but Mr.. Volstead has fathered in the
House of Representatives a bill auth
orizing collective marketing by
farmers and secured it's passage in
- the House. It is now in the Senate
with good prospects of passage. Both
great parties are pledged to such
legislation.
Can you reasonably ask the labor
ing classes to surrender their rights
for your benefits, was the question
asked the farmers in the audience
The speaker argued that the best in
terests Of the farmers are not found
in the Nonpartisan league because its
leaders are socialists, honest in theil
beliefs, but men who represent the
consumers since they themselves are
not tillers Of the soil. Mr.. Townley's
telegram to President Wilson in 1915
declaring that the farmers were sat.
isfied with 1920 wheat and did not
want higher price, was cited.
Discussing the subject that has
made his name famous, Mr.. VolsteaC
explained the prohibition code al
reasonable and necessary. It il
based largely on the dry laws thai
33 states had before national prohi.
et1bition became effective. If we want
prohibition we must apply the les
sons Of experience, as they are en-
bodied in the Volstead law. TODAY
persistent efforts are being made
especially in the East, to take thu
teeth out Of the law. Prohibition i:
of immense value to the country anC
the people will not go back to tn,
saloon. Explaining the makeup O.
the judiciary committee, Mr.. voIsteat
showed how, if he is defeated, tn,
chairmanship of that important com
mittee will fall into the hands of tn
vets. Such result would easily lea,
to changes in the law that wouIC
make prohibition imperative.
A fiat denial was made of tn
charge that he has tried to crippl
the factory for making binder twin
at the state prison. Instead b
showed how he has opposed any lav
seeking to restrict the sale of prison
made goods. Such an attempt ha
been made in Congress as far as /
concerns interstate traffic in sue:
products, and he has helped defea
it.
Mr.. Volstead state that he ha
been charged with favoring compul
sorry military training. He absolute
1y denied this, and said that bill
introducing such measure was MOI
and probably would never be, brough
before the House; Compulsory mill