The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1920-03-19
RETURN Of ROADS
PLEASES FARMERS
Urge Policy to Insure Best Serv-
ice at Lowest Cost Consist
ent With Fair Returns.
OPPOSE NATURALIZATION.
Representative Agricultural Oreaniza.
tons and Rural Press State Farm
ers' Attitude Toward Railroads,
Want Private Operation.

I TINdlt bNHPTSHll or me ThliroHus
under IA policy of government regula-
ion which will insure the best possible
service at the lowest cost consistent
with fair returns ola money invested in
them is favored by representative
farmer organizations throughout the
country. This policy also is supported
generally by agricultural newspapers,
which state emrhatically that the
farmers are opposed NOT only Ia gov
eminent ownership of railroads, hut
also 10 all naturalization plans
In u letter to the members OF the
United States Senate +. c. Aikcson,
Washington representative of the Ma
tional Grange, which is said to be the
largest organization of it's Kind in the
world, representing more than 1,OOO.-
900 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 conSdera-
BILE number of farmers
Favor Private Operation.
"The Grange" says Mr.. Alkeson,
quoting the official action Of his or
ganizaton. approves of the general
principles OF railroad legislation now
pending in Congress to return the rail
roads t" their owners, TO bring about
the reorganization of the railroad COM
panies into strong systems with capt.
talization based on actual value, and
to create "A control commission which
may enforce the superior intercs, Of
the public 10 that Of any other interest
in the operation Of railroads as con-
mon carriers and effectively protect
the public against exploitation or in
Justice"
Many state and sectional Agrcul-
tural organizations take Il similar
stand. Immediately after the National
Grange expressed its attitude toward
the railroad question the American
Farm Bureau. meeting in Chicago, vot-
cd for private operation. and the Ma
iional Farmers Congress, in session at
Hagerslown. Md. voiced like senti-
ments The New York State Fedora
lion of County Farm Bureau Organi.
cations and The Indiana Federation Of
heynnI inin
The Grange in repudiating the alleged
farmer representatives in Washington,
who said they spoke for an "over-
whelming Majority of the farmers
Urge Reasonable Returns.
The railroad policy favored by the
New York State Federation of County
Farm Bureau Organizations was stat
cd in tho following resolution:
"Whereas There have been conflict
ing statements published regarding the
attitude Of farmers upon The question
NJ the future ownership Of railways;
therefore be II
"Rcsnlvcd. That the New York State
Federation Of County Farm bureau As
socia'ionS representing 20 600 mcIu-
hers. in annual session At Syracuse. y
Y. December 10, 1919. hereby indorses
the action Of the American Farm Blu
rcau Federation in urging Congress to
promptly return the railways To their
owners under such conditions as will
insure aSonahle returns on the value
~ tho property and reasonable rates Of
transportation throughout the cn,In-
try"
Views Of Farmer Papers.
Tho American Agriculturist states
editorially that the farmers are dead
set against the scheme TO enmcsh The
farmers in the web Of radicalism "
The Pennsylvania Farmer. discussing
The general demand for private opera
tion OF tho railroads. says 1T is eSpe-
rially true Of farmers, in spite of the
declaration Of a few would he leaders
IN the contrary" The Stockman-
Farmer adds.
FARMERS almost unanimously an.
prove the return of the railroads and
The express companies IN their owners
Tho reason is tina farmers as well as
other business mon. want service 81
these institutions, and they cannot get
such service under public operation as
they ear oct under the operation 81
corporations which have n direct hnan-
cial Interest in performing it."