The Morgan County press. (Wartburg, Tenn.) 1916-1926, 1920-03-26
Want Private Operation.

| Private ownership Of the railroad
under a policy Of government regula
ton which will insure the best possibl,
service at the lowest cost consistent
with fair returns on money invested II
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.
eminent ownership Of railroads, but
also to all naturalization plans.
In letter to the members Of the
United States Senate T. @. 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 1.0OO.-
600 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-
BILE number Of farmers.
Favor Private Operation.
"The Grange" says Mr.. 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 COM
panies into strong systems with capt.
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 similar |
stand. Immediately after the National |
Grange expressed it's attitude toward |
the railroad question the American |
Farm Bureau, meeting In Chicago, vOt- |
ed for private operation, and the Ma
.ional Farmers Congress, in session at
Nd, voiced like senti-
nents. The New York State Fedora
ion Of County Farm Bureau Organi-
,ations and the Indiana Federation Of
Farmers went beyond that and Joined
he Grange in repudiating the alleged
armer representatives in Washington,
Who said they spoke for an "over-
majority of the farmers"
Urge Reasonable Returns.
The railroad policy favored by the
lew York State Federation Of County
Farm Bureau Organizations was stat
ID In the following resolution:
Whereas, There have been conflict
ng statements published regarding the
ttitude Of farmers upon the question
t the future ownership of railways:
be It
Resolved, That the New York State
liberation Of County Farm Bureau As
ociations, representing 10000 mem.
ers, In annual session at Syracuse, N.
:, December 10, 1919, hereby indorses
ne action Of the American Farm Blu
eau Federation in urging Congress to
return the railways to their
wners under such conditions as will
lSure reasonable returns on the value
the property and reasonable rates of
throughout the coun.
y"
We've Of Farmer Papena
The American Agriculturist states
iitorially that the farmers are "dead
It against" the scheme to enmesh the
rmers in the web Of radicallsm."
he Pennsylvania Farmer, discussing
e general demand for private opera.
IN Of the railroads, says: "It IL espe-
ally true Of farmers, IN spite Of the
claration Of few would be leaders
the contrary" The steckman.
lrmer adds: g
Farmers almost unanimously an.
owe the return Of the railroads and
> express companies to their owners.
e reason Is that farmers, as well AZ
Ter business men, want service Of
sse institutions, and they cannot get
N service under public operation as
y can get under the operation Of
porations, which havea direct fnan.
I fnforock IN DAv~lou~~1fv.w a.