The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1920-03-25
Farm Bureau Notes.

eau FederatlOn are trying to bring
about, and for which they stand
through organized effort
Agriculture is the basis of all
commerce and industry. The great
world-need of today is production.
Production is dependent upon labor
The solidarity of labor is such that
the wages and hours of work pre-
Elected upon the farm: Prices
of food products will be determined
accordingly. Under present con-
] ditions, agricultural production must
D materially decline, and thus react
against the entire industrial system
In view OF this recognized economic
law, we submit that it will be wise
to consider the farm in any indust-
rial plan adopted
The theory that farming must be
reduced to basis wherein each
farmer does all his own work, dis
} pensing with hired help as some
thing beyond his means, is unten-
able. 1t implies working hours so
long, and tasks so arduous, that no
man other than one compelled by
necessity to protect his investments
at the expense of his health and the
sacrifice of we'll earned hours of
rest and recreation will perform
or expect such service from any
class OF citizens.
COUNTRY AND FLAG FIRST
The first and constant obligation
Of every every Citizen, and of every organ,
situations must be protected. and
| its traditions preserved and respect
ed. No conflicting obligations can
be tolerated.
ADEQUATE PRODUCTION.
The farmers of the United States
are continuing their best efforts to
produce abundant foodstuffs; and,
contending that production in the !
factories, mines and mills is second |
IN Importance only to that of the |
farms, they demand of both labor 7
and capital that they, too, shall !
their part of the production so ur-
gently needed.
We have reached the critical point |
in regard to shorter hours of labor.
forty-four hour week will neither
feed nor clothe the world.
THE RIGHT TO STRIKE.
The right to cease work, in
divdually or collectively for ade-
Quate reasons, is unassailable; but
the practice of indiscriminate strik-
ing, for trivial causes or regardless
of the distress or damage caused, is
indefensible. No right exists to
others from working Neither does
the right to strike or cease work in
unison extend to those in federal,
state or municipal service.
OBSERVE ECONOMIC LAWS.
The attempt to thwart natural
economic laws by legislation is USE
less. The law of supply and demand
should have full sway.
Government price fixing interiors
with the operation of the law of sup
ply and demand, and disturbs the
Ii a price so fixed is higher than is
justified by, supply and demand, it is
unjust to the consumer; if lower, it
is unjust to the producer
we are therefore opposed, to gov
ernmental price-fixing. And in the
we insist that it shall at the same !
time fix prices on all other essen
tial commodities. To compel any
group of citizens ! to sell their pro-
ducts in regulated market, and to
buy their supplies and necessities in
an unregulated market is an I'M
The application of price-fiXing in ls
IN effort to reduce the cost of liv- "
ng has initiated against the pro- r
lucer without giving the anticipated =
elief to the consumer. This is re- p
ultlng in production of wheat, IL
,Ork and other farm products, so G.
hat a serious shortage Of food in
800 is threatened.
PROTECTION OF PRIVATE PROP m
1t is only in the safeguard and
riot nctiOn nf ri erht IF ia
roperty that there can be perpet- j.,
ated the full measure Of individual q,
initiative and emulation upon which ..
democracy is based, and by which e.
IS future is assured. d
PROFlTEERlNG-
We condemn in unmeasured terms =,
hose who, ignoring the distress 81
heir actions cause, and unmindful y;
f the danger signals that are only ~
90 apparent continue to exact eX- W W
essive profits in dealing with the f. f.
UGH profits with employees does not =.
orrect the evil. d.
The purchasing public itself is 60
argely to blame for the existing high III
rices aud high cost of living, by III
eason Of its unchecked orgy of use
ass and senseless buying.
We favor the greatest possible de-
rec of official publicity, not only
egarding the cost of producing farm de
roducts, but the also the cost OF si
reducing, manufacturing, distribut-
lg and selling, wholesale and re- Pr
all, of all commodities, to the end a
lat the consuming public may be m
bic to determine who are the OF
rofiteers.
OWNERSHIP OF RAILROADS.. 81
The Government ownership Or a.,
1nfjnunG nnprafinn nf railrooIc &c ~
lost emphatically opposed. 1t is Fl,
gainst good public policy and the n.
rinciple of sound Americanism
|e are convinced that any possible TIC
calling for any such
peration has passed; that its con- tn
nuance is costly, inefficient and in
lvisable. We urge Congress to ex- 81,
sdite legislation providing for
Re proper reorganization, re-equip- we
ent and control of the railroads in
nder private ownership, that this -
gislation be as plain as possible, II;
=