The Lexington progress. (Lexington, Tenn.) 1884-current, 1921-02-04

lean Farm Bureau Federation for
help.
The Bureau wired them to send a
man at once with the full facts. With
this man it went to the American
Railway Association offices in Wash
ington, an organization that unoffici-
ally but nevertheless effectively in
fluences the movement of freight cars
in the country, and presented the
case. The body declared it could do
nothing. But the Farm Bureau
advance arguments that brought
an order for the diversion of 100 adj
ditional box cars day to Maine
above the normal car movement
there. Within fifty-two hours after
the order had gone forth cars loaded
with sweet potatoes were on their
way to Long Island Then fertilizers
were needed, a second visit was made,
and 500 cars were secured for this
purpose,
When the sugar-beet growers of
one of the Western States asked for
sliding scale contract for growing
this years crop, a contract that would
insure him fair price for his product
they were greatly disturbed by the
report that the Attorney Generals
office had declared such a contract
would be in violation of the Federal
Antitrust laws. 1t is asserted that
they were shown what purported to
be telegram from Washington pro-
nouncing the sliding-scale agreement
to be Illegal
A member of the American Farm
Bureau Federations' executive COM
mittee, in company with local farm
bureau representatives, came to
Washington and the matter was laid
before the Attorney Generals office.
They were informed that the propos-
ed contract appeared to be entirely
legal; that no telegram to the contra
ry had been sent from the Depart
ment of Justice.
Armed with letter setting forth
these facts, they returned home in
militant mood, Without further de-
lay the sliding-scale contracts with
the farmers were signed. 1t is de-
clared this prompt work on the part
of the Farm Bureau officials saved
the sugar-beet growers of the state
/ $4,000, 900 this year; also that it prob
ably explains the increase of thous-
and of acres in the crop.
! Speaking as a national voice for
agriculture, the Farm Bureau has
brought justice to farmers in a way
never known before. 1t has fought
the battles of the farmers of the
West, of Long Island and Georgia
wherever there was need or wherever
it was possible to do so.
Realizing that to take a partisan
stand in politics would be the end Of
its influence, the Farm Bureau Fed
Grafton has remained aloof from such
However, it went openly to both polit-
zeal particles and influenced them to
plan of campaign worked out The
platforms. 1t further asked for spe.
cific planks against the Townsend
Road Bill, contending that it would
build town-to-town roads rather than
the arm-to-market roads which the
country really needed.
When Congress gets down to bust
ness this winter it will find a number
of bills ready for its consideration.
The Capper- Volstead Bill has been
amended so that, as it now stands, it
is doubtful if farmers could actually
own and operate a milk route of their
own, or in fact have any real cooper
alton. The Nolan Tax Bill will be
brought up again to saddle tax of
one per cent, in addition to all other
taxes, on the shoulders of the farmer
on all land values above $4,000. Di-
gests of these and number of other
bills have already been prepared and
plan of campaign worked ont. The
Farm Bureau is ready for Congress.
Big Business Listens.
There was meeting in New York
City in late October Of the second
National Industrial Tax Conference,
at which representatives Of the lead
ing industries, banks and financial
interests of the country were pres
ent An effort was made to indorse
the above mentioned tax bill, which
would levy an additional tax on farm
lands of billion dollars a year, and
to indorse the proposed tax Of one per
cent nsaleS on all commodities, both
wholesale End retail, estimated to
raise another billion dollars, a good
part of it from farmers.
President Howard, of the American
Farm Bureau Federation, and H. C.
Mckenzie. New York, appeared and
made such vigorous protests that