The Tomahawk., 1921-06-02

war OTOWS OuC VI Oll-A1l
WASHINGTON, D. C.-Refusal of
Secretary of Agriculture Wallace to-
make any changes in the federal
grades, was not unexpected by close
observers here and elsewhere because
the big marketing interests do not
want these grades changed.
They naturally come first because
their men rather than those represent
ing the farmers and other plain peo-
pie acquired political power last fall.
Republican congressman and sena-
tors from the spring wheat sections
feel badly about the matter. They
had campaigned largely on this issue,
which the Nonpartisan league had
made too popular to buck, and they
probably hoped the Republican ma
chine would offer few changes as a
sacrifice to enable them to hold their
ground.
Some of the disgruntled are talking
about preparing a bill to repeal the
law which gives the secretary of agri-
culture power over grain grading, but
they admit at the same time that it
would have no chance of getting
through congress.
No one, of course, knows what Sec
rotary Wallace actually thinks on the
issue. He declares that he knows lit
tie about it and must make an inves-
tigation-the usual method of dismiss
ing delicate political subject. And
this claim of mo knowledge" surprised
many of the Northwest representa-
tives, because Wallace was pulled as a
practical Northwest farmer and ag-
ricultural editor of 20 years. expert
ence.
FARMERS VS.. GRAIN TRUST
When the Equity farmers, and later
the Nonpartisan league farmers, pro-
tested against the old Minnesota grad
ing system as being means Of ena-
bling the millers to secure good wheat
at less than milling value, they were
first met with local scorn. Then as
the feeling grew that wheat should be
bought according to what it is used
for, namely, making bread, the poll
ticians had to do something.
And their action was characteristic.
They replaced the old Minnesota sys-
tenn of grading with federal grading
system in 1917, and for season did
lot of Dragging about what had been
done. But as League leaders such as
DR.. E. F.: Ladd pointed out at the
time, these federal grades were better
for the grain combine and worse for
the farmers than the old grading sys-
tenn. This is now generally admitted
in spite of government reports trying
to prove the opposite.
None of the politicians from the
Northwest, who are now tearing their
hair, really stand for what the farm
ers want and need-grading according
to milling value. What they are look
ing for is something to keep the
farmer vote quiet without hurting the
grain combine, which controls their
machine.
COURT AIDS GEORGIA BANKS
The federal supreme court has re-
versed the courts Of Georgia, which
refused to enjoin the federal reserve
bank at Atlanta from certain prac-
tees which we're a great handicap to
nonmember banks.
The federal decision, however, de-
cides merely that the complaining
banks have case. No principle of
the controversy was decided.
Under the cloak of forcing collec-
ton of checks at par, the reserve
bank system holds checks drawn on
banks outside it's system until large
amount is on hand. Then it suddenly
demands cash over. the counter for all
the checks.
This means that a flonmember bank
must keep much larger cash reserve
than member bank. In fact, it is
likely to be a question for the bank Of
joining the reserve system or of going
out of the banking business. It is one
Of the little known ways by which the
money trust can force the banking
world to carry water for the controll-
ing financiers.
Counsel for the federal reserve
board piously denied that it "intended
any illegal act" and whitewashed the
practice complained of with the asser-
ton that par collection of checks
would save the public more than s70,-
OOO, 900 a year. Some Of the worst
banking practices Of today are not, of
course, "illegal" because congress and
the states have failed to provide laws
to protect the public and independent
bankers against the money trust.
-'-*
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HITS
SOLDIERS ~
/ Big business has again showed it's
fist to the returned soldiers in way
that the most conservative of them
can understand. Hitherto politicians
representing big business have led the
soldiers along with clever evasions of
the issues. They were always just
going to do the handsome thing for