Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-11-10
Both Business and Labor
Criticized For Its
Price Demands.
MAY RESORT TO
FARMER COMBINE
Organizations May Join to Establish
and Enforce Prices, Says Master Of
National Granse-AIIeges Action
Will Be Taken az Last Resort7
Demands Same Wages For Farm
ers az Others Receive.
BY Associated Press.

by Associated FreSS.
Boston, Nov. 10.-The establish
ment of nationwide selling organi-
xatfons which shall AZ the price OF
farm products" If the farmer does
not receive. the same pay for the
same hours Of work that others re-
ceive was predicted today by Sher-
man J. Lowell, OF F,redonia, N. z,
master Of the National Grange, in
opening the annual grange conven-
tion.
Eve are willing to have fair un-
derstanding Of values, the farmers
receiving the same pay for the same
hours of work that others receive, no
more, no less. but we feel that this is
the last CALL" he said, 'If no at
tSntion Is paid to this now by bank
ers, manufacturers, railroads and la
bor organizations, and II the gov
ernment continues to use its great
power to import raw materials free
of duty to reduce costs, then the
grange will be the first to help or
ganize nation wide selling organi-
? zations which shall Ak the price OF
farm products.
There is no threat in this; we viii
have been driven 20 II In self defense
l to preserve our agriculture.
Takes nap at labor.
"This condition II repugnant to US
all. We desire to labor for Humanity
10. 1 j s, : able to keep the earth fer
file, always bringing forth It's har-
vest sufficient to feed the increasing
millions Of our people. It Is no small
task. however, and 1t can only be
safely done by a proper appreciation
OF this task by our urban popula-
ton"
Mr.. Lowell rejoiced that labor has
been able to secure much higher
rate of wages. but added: I'VE little
expected that they would turn and
demand cheaper food from us with
out irst ascertaining the cost Of pro-
duction and thereby prove whether or
not we were taking too large a mar
gin of profit"
The national master declared that
the great changes since the beginning
OF the war have been to the disad-
vantage Of agriculture.
. sksf{as w = nave SScdICuSu faithfully W
find One law or ruling to our advant-
age ard failed to find 1t. We have
urged for a fair show, but all our ef-
forts have met with a like fate
At End Of Road.
Mr.. Lowell said the recent census
showed a net decrease Of 1000
firms In seven states-New York,
Pennsylvania, Ohio. Illinois, Indiana,
Michigan and West Virginia,-and he
charged that the attitude Of the men
IN legislative halls and departments
Of agriculture was largely respon-
sible.
$50 long as we remain passive this
s state OF affairs will continue" he de-
clared. Concerning taxation he said:
There is but one equitable form of
taxation, and that is when every
form OF wealth pays its Just propor-
ton of taxes. There is no tax more
Just than an income tax, FOR it is
never a charge against any one who
has not tho means to pay"
He spei.o against the single tax and
the idea OF substituting a govern
ment land tax for the income tax.
Both would be disastrous to agricul-
tire. he said,
Another equally erroneous idea,
he continued. is the one of a heavy
tax on all unimproved land holdings,
3 Tor IL this was done and the unim-
proved lands were forced on the
market by reason Of such a. tax
which is the interest, It would cause
the depreciation of farm lands so
per cent, from the fact that there is
more improved land than men to
work it now