Evening star., 1920-05-27
PALMER AGAINST
III. s. OWNING RAILS
For Federal Control of Es-
: sentiaIs, He Says, in Reply
to Farm Board.

Flat opposition to government own
ership of railroads, Endorsement of
federal control of manufacture and
distribution of necessary commodi-
ties" and elimination of excess profit
taxes in favor of higher taxes on
incomes from investments charac-
terized the reply of Attorney General
Palmer, made public today. TO the
. recent queStionnaire submitted to
presidential candidates and others
by the National Board of Farm Or
ganiza tions.
Dealing specifically with the ques-
tion of the five great meat packers. Mr..
Palmer said the recent federal court
decree. entered after long negotiations
between the packers and the govern
ment. was the longest step yet taken
toward their control. He explained
the effect of the decree at length and
added:
Il do not want to appear brutal
in using the term, but this decree
makes butchers of these five great
packers and nothing else. They are
no longer serious menace
to the food table of America by con-
troll of substitutes for meat
For Right Kind of Free speech.
The right of free speech. Mr.. Pal
mer said. must be carefully guarded
and preserved
!. Il would have men preach as radical
doctrine as they will" he continued.
so long as they strive to make that
doctrine effective by peaceful meth
DDS. But the right of free speech
is not the right of unbridled speech
without responsibility. There must
be a line beyond which men cannot
go without being held responsible for
injury to their fellows or the govern
ment. and that line must be drawn at
the point where there is a promise:
threat or Implication of the use Of
force or physical violence to accom-
plish the reform which is advocated
In public speech.
Sees Need of Cooperation.
Stating his views as to direct deal
Ing between producer and consumer.
Mr.. Palmer said:
Il believe that the time has come
when, in the interests of the producer
on the farm and the consumer in the
\ centers of population. there should be
government regulation of the ex-
changes dealing in foodstuffs and In
securities of corporations whose busl-
ness has to do with commodities
which are known as necessaries- The
profits of speculation on these eX-
changes add to the price of foodstuHs
where directly traded in and In the
case of shares of stock are ultimately
borne by the commodities"
"a to railroads, Mr.. Palmer said:
"Private ownership ana n-anage-
ment under strict government super
vision with fdCliltleS IOT the
adjustment of all disputes arising out
of demands of employees. shippers or
public will give the best transporta-
ton service to the country.
johnson FavOrs Farmers "Planks."
Senator johnson. replying to the
QUESTIONABLE. pledged his support to
each of the "planks" in its platform.
He had found nothing in the entire
program. Senator Johnson said, to
which he could not honestly sub
scribe"
There is need at the present time
for complete cooperation between the
two great elements of society, ne
cont nued. ''The consumer in the city
and the produce on the farm. if they
will work intelligently together, can
overcome in a great degree the proht-
eer. Congress should at once begin TO
Remove the obstacles to co-operauon
by enactment of appropriate laws.
Senator -ohnson expressed himself
in favor of regulating the packers.
preventing a curb to free speech. and
for reopening of the railroad ques-
tion if. after a reasonable trial, the
roads do not give good service