The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1920-04-02
FARM ASSOCIATIONS
IN HOT CONTROVERSY

Mr.. George p. Hampton. Manag-
ing Director of the Farmers Ma
tional Council, in an open letter to
( Mr.. j. r. Howard, President of the
I American Farm Bureau Federation
challenges the American Farm Blu
Ireau Federation to debate the eco
monte issues now before the Amer
lean people, and the reasons why
I the Federation opposes the Farm
ers' National Council, and denounc-
es the effort of the Council to bring
| farm and labor forces together.
/ Mr.. Hampton calls attention to
the press report of the following
resolution adopted at the first an
nual meeting of the American
Farm Bureau Federation held re-
Gently in Chicago.
I'VE wish the American people
! definitely to understand that the
/ organization styled the Farmers
( National Council has no authority
/ to speak in behalf of the farmers
of this country, and any and all
efforts on the part of the Farmers
National Council to ally agricul-
turists Of America with the radicals
| in the industrial world is hereby
denounced"
lie says, Il should like to know
what the reason is and whether
the attack made by the Federation
.on the Farmers National Council
lis due to the Councils fight against
the predatory interests"
Explaining that the Farmers Ma
tional Council has never attempted
to speak on behalf of all the farm
ers of America, Mr.. Hampton
states. "The weight of its position
and action does not depend upon
the number of farmers who are
members of the farm organization
united to carry out their recon-
struction program" and though
there are, Mr. Hampton states,
some 100000 farmers in the organ
izations which are so united, the
Council realizes that its real force
is the fact that it is organized for
economic justice for the farmers.
He points out that the Councils
Legislative program. if carried out
fully, Will save the farmers of the
nation over three billion dollars
annually and expresses his convic-
ton, as Managing Director of the
Farmers National Council, that not
only an Overwhelming majority of
the unorganized farmers, but the
farmer members of the Farm Blu
reaus and of farm organizations
generally, endorse the position of
the Farmers National Council on
the big economic issues confronting
the country.
Among the planks of the Coun-
ellis platform, MIR. Hampton cites |
ownership and demo-
cratic operation of the railroads, !
the Councils effort to have the |
Government prevent Congress from
giving up the ships built with the
peoples money. through selling (.
them cheap to the big financial in
terests, and its fight to end the (
control Of the Big Five Packers. !
He challenged Mr.. Howard, as
President of the American Farm
Bureau Federation, to state wheth-
er the members of that Federation
oppose this program, and asked
Mr.. Howard, or representatives of
his organization to debate it with
the representatives of the Farmers
National Council publicly or
through the columns of important
farm papers.
Discussing the American Farm
Bureau Federation S position on la
Dor, Mr.. Hampton says, Members
of the Farmers National Council /
have Joined with representatives of /
labor organizations-in the All /
Farmer-Labor Co-operat- /.
i've Commissioner establish direct
trading between producers and con-
sumers through the development