The New York herald., 1920-01-31
FARMERS AT ODDS
OVER RAILROADS
National Council and National
Grange Each Declares War
on the Other.
FEDERAL OWNERSHIP ISSUE
Followers of Townley Accused of
Trying to Couple Farmers
with Radicals.
FEDERAL OWNERSHIP ISSUE
lspeotal pespetcn 70 The nerels.l

Especial Dcspctch 10 the Hercli)
WASHINGTON. D. C.. Friday.-Who's
who among farmers promises to be settled
as a result OF differences over the policy
ITO be pursued relative to the ownership OF
railroads War has been declared by the
Organization which claims the title of the
Farmers National Council q nop-partsan
group, on the National Grange orSaniza-
tions over the question of government
ownership Of the railroads. resulting in a
declaration before the Senate Committee
on Commerce today by Benjamin @
Marsh. of the Farmers National Council
that the Grange organizations claiming to
represent three million farmers are con-
troled by Wall street
The Farmers National Council repre-
sents the Farmers Non-Partisan League
the Townley organization of North Da-
kota. 1t is headed by George 2. Hampton,
"A single taxer, and by Benjamin c. Marsh
This organization is advocating gov
ernment ownership of the railroads and
the merchant marine. II claims to repre-
sent TOO, 600 farmers. although the only
proof it offers of this Is an imposing let
terhead. Mr.. Marsh was told by Senator
McNary, of Oregon, today that he did not
represent a genuine farmer in his State
and represented only small federal
group.
Mr.. Marsh's retort was that the Ma
tional Grange organization, which is op-
posed TO the view of the Non Partisan
League group, is controlled by Wall
street
Senator Nelson, of Minnesota, wanted to
know of Mr. Marsh il there was any re-
lationship between his organization and
the Russian Soviet government, n sugSes-
ton which MIR. Marsh hotly denied.
The interchange of compliments before
the Senate Committee on Commerce was
only part of the alignment of the farmers
of the country into two groups over the
railroad question. The Farmers National
Council has been exceptionally vigorous
in it's denunciation of the proposed re-
turn of the roads TO private ownership
and the Oranges claim TO representation
of tho farmers.
Representatives of the National Grange
and affiliated organizations called at the
White House today and made 1t clear that
the farmers they represented-three mill
ion of them, it is claimed-have no SYM
pathy with the government ownership
ideas of the Farmers National Council
and that the sentiment Of the agricultural
population is in favor of a return of the
roads to private ownership.
This attitude has been formulated i'll
resolutions to which the following organ
izations have concurred:-The National
Grange. the Farmers Educational and
Cooperative Union, the American Farm.
Bureau Fedora ton, the International
Farm Congress, the National Farms Con-
gress, the National Association of Milk
Producers and the Cotton Growers Con-
ference.
These farm ORGANIZATIONS meeting in
Washington have been brought together
for two purposes. one is to protest
against any retention of the roads in gov
ernment ownership and to draw the line
between the radical group which has fol-
lowed Townley in North Dakota and which
threatens TO overturn political conditions
in Minnesota and the large body of farm
ers The country over.
II Is the expression OF this latter at
titude which is likely to have the most
far reaching Importance. Farm leaders Of
the country have professed To look with
suspicion upon the attempt by Townley
and his advisers to link radical labor with
the farming group, as being opposed tc
the interests of the farmer and the gem
eral public and subjecting the agricultural
population TO political exploitation by self
appointed leaders.
That the challenge has been accepted
was indicated in the statements made by
Mr. Marsh. The answer of the farmers
representative is that the radical group
is tending to Sovietism, which will sub
ject the farmer to the exploitation OF an
urban minority. as has happened in Rus
cf