New-York tribune., 1920-03-18
Farmers Query
Candidates on
Their Policies
Elimination of Middleman
and Right to Organize
Among Main Questions
Asked by National Board
Replies To Be Published

Twelve Issues Presented;
Bryan, Quizzed First,
Refuses to Give Answer
WASHINGTON, March 17.--Willam
Jennings Bryan received to-day the
first copy of the QUESTIONABLE pre-
pared by committee of the national
board of farm organizations for pres
entation to all Presidential candidates.
In accepting the duestionnaire Mr.
Bryan declared himself as heartily in
accord with the principle of requiring
candidates to put themselves un-
equivocally on record before entering
their campaigns. He did not accept
the QUESTIONABLE as a candidate, he
because II would not want to be placed
in the position of being candidate
when am not candidate. But if
should be a candidate you will know
soon enough"
Farmers Give Platform
Elimination Of the middleman, pro-
lection of the farmer in his right to
organize, appointment Of an expert
acceptable to organized agriculturists
as Secretary of Agriculture, and repre-
sentation for farmers on all boards
and commissions in the membership
OF which various interests are recog-
nized, are the main planks in the
farmers platform outlined in the ques-
tionnaire, according to C. S. Barrett,
president Of the national board and
| chairman of the committee which drew
up the document.
Other. issues presented include the
free and unquestioned right of collec-
ktIvy
tenancy evil, improvement of farm
credit facilities, national conservation
and the maintenance of "free speech
free press and free assembly"
The committee already has listed
nearly score Of active or prospective
candidates to receive the inquiry and
VIII add others, as each candidate,
active or receptive, assumes that status.
The list now includes Vice President
Marshall, Senators Johnson, Poindexter.
Harding, Lelnroot and Owen, Governors
Cox, Sproul. Coolidge and Goodrich,
Major General Leonard Wood, Governor
Lowden of Illinois, Attorney General
Palmer and Herbert Hoover.
In Form Of a Letter
- There is no plan for Interrogation of
the questionable will be placed in the
hands Of all members of the organiza-
tlon Frequent reports will be made
on answers received from the Presi-
Dental candidates.
The QUESTIONABLE is in the form of a
letter asking the recipient to send
definite and clear replies" to twelve
specific inquiries as to his views.
"P!r,osperity on the farm is the first
preamble asserts. "In view Of the
power exercised by the President upon
both the legislative and administrative
nrancnes or our government, we believe
that not only the 4O,00O,OO people who
1--we and work on our farms, but all
Americans desire and have the right to
Know IN advance what they may count
up upon candidate to do after election"
The questions follow: '
will you do your best to bring
ABOUT such direct dealing between pro-
Queer and consumer as will secure to
the farmers a fair share of the wealth
they create, reduce the cost of living
| TO the consumer and limit or DESTROY
the opportunity Of the profteer?
VIII you 40 all that in you lies to
secure to all farmers and consumers
the full, free and unquestioned ripht
to organize and to purchase and Sell
comparatively
Railroad Question Aired
"Will you see that the farm naon,e
OF America are represented On general
boards and commissions in whose mem.
bershlp various interests are recog-
nlzed, whether or not the work is
directly concerned with agriculture?
VIII you appoint Secretary of
Agriculture who knows actual farm
conditions, who is satisfactory to the
farm organizations of America. and
who will cause to be made comnre.
costs at home and abroad and publish
| the uncensored facts?
will you take the action necessary
TO ascertain and make public all OBJ
talnable facts concerning the great and
growing evil Of farm tenancy, so that
steps may be taken to check, reduce
or end it?
"Wlll you earnestly endeavor to Sc
cure to cooperative organizations of
farmers engaged in interstate com
lnerce, service and supplies equal in
all respects to those furnished private
enterprises under like circumstances?
The railroads have been returned
to their owners. If at the end of two
years of further trial of private owner
snip the railroads fail to render reason
ably satisfactory service to the people.
WILL you then favor opening the rail-
road question?
y" III you use your best efforts to
secure the payment Of the war debt
chiefly through a highly graduated in
come tax or otherwise by those best
able to pay?
will you earnestly strive to uphold
and enforce the national conservation
policy, and especially to stop forest
devastation, which already has more
than doubled the price of lumber and
paper to the consumer?
"Will you do your best to secure and
enforce effective national control over
the packers and other great interstate
combinations of capital engaged in the
manufacture, transportation or distri
button of food and other farm products
and farmers supplies?
VIII you respect and earnestly
strive to maintain the right of free
speech, free press and free assembly >"
Labor to Name Committees
IT, Es-Lx n7s.s r,