The copper era and Morenci leader., 1920-04-30
RETURN OF ROADS PLfASES FARMERS
Urge Policy to Insure Best Serv- ice at Lowest Cost Consist
 ent With Fair Returns.
OPPOSE NATURALIZATION.
Representative Agricultural Organiza- tions and Rural Press State Farm 4 CTS Attitude Toward Railroada.
 Want Private Operation.

Want Private Operation.
 Private ownership of the railroads .nder policy of government regula- ion which will insure the best possible service at the lowest cost consistent with fair returns on money invested in them is favored by representative farmer organizations throughout the country. This policy also is supported generally by agricultural newspapers, which state emphatically that the farmers are opposed not only to gov ernment ownership of railroads, but also to all standardization plans
 In a letter to the members of the United States Senate T. c. Atkeson, Washington representative of the Ma tional Grange, which is said to be the largest organization of its kind In the world, representing more than 1OOO,- 900 farm owners in the United States, states that the agricultural interests of the country approve of private owner ship of the railroads and further de clares that persons purporting to speak for the farmers in support of govern ment ownership are neither farmers nor representatives of any considera- ble number of farmers.
 Favor Private Operation.
 The Grange" says MT. Atkeson, quoting the official action of his or ganization, approves of the general principles of railroad legislation now pending in Congress to return the rail- roads to their owners, to bring about the reorganization of the railroad con- panies into strong systems with capi- talization based on actual value, and to create a control commission which may enforce the superior interest of the public to that of any other interest in the operation of railroads as com mon carriers and effectively protect the public against exploitation or in- justice"
 Many state and sectional agricul- tural organizations take a similar stand. Immediately after the National Grange expressed its attitude toward the railroad question the American Farm Bureau, meeting in Chicago vot- ed for private operation, and the Ma tional Farmers Congress, in session at Hagerstown, Md, voiced like senti- ments. The New York State Fedora ton of County Farm Bureau Organi- zations and the Indiana Federation of Farmers went beyond that and joined Il, N, fv I{o< fvo <bo nll farmer representatives in Washington, who said they spoke for an lover whelming majority of the farmers"
 Urge Reasonable Returna
 The railroad policy favored by the New York State Federation of County Farm Bureau Organizations was stat ed in the following resolution:
 "Whereas, There have been conflict ing statements published regarding the attitude of farmers upon the question of the future ownership of railways; therefore be 1t
 Resolved, That the New York State Federation of County Farm Bureau As sociations, representing 10000 mem- bers, in annual session at Syracuse, N. r., December 19, 1919, hereby indorses the action of the American Farm Blu reau Federation in urging Congress to promptly return the railways to their owners under such conditions as will insure reasonable returns on the value of the property and reasonable rates of transportation throughout the coun- try"
 Views of Farmer Papers. The American Agriculturist states -ditorially that the farmers are ''dead set against the 'scheme to enmesh the farmers in the web of radicalism." l" The Pennsylvania Farmer. discussing the general demand for private opera ton of the railroads, says: "It is espe- cially true of farmers, in spite of the declaration of a flew would be leaders to the contrary" The Stockman- Farmer adds:
 Farmers almost unanimously ap- prove the return of the railroads and the express companies to their owners. The reason Is that farmers, as well as other business men, want service of these institutions. and they cannot get
 such service under public operation as | they can get under the operation of l corporations, which have direct finan- I cia interest in performing 1t" I