Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1921-01-05
FARMERS FIGHT
UNJUST LAWS
Farm Bureau Federation Outlines
Strong Program for Iowa Legis-
Iatiye Campaign This Year
PROTECTIVE TARIFF
FOR AGRICULTURE
Farmer Fight Not to Be Confined
to the State, But Will be Car
ried Forward on Nationwide
Basis.


A vigorous campaign will be
waged before the thirty-ninth ses-
sion of the general assembly on be-
half of the farmers of Iowa, with
a view to obtaining the passage of
legislation correcting the present
alleged inequalities in the law it
was indicated Thursday in state
ment made public by E. H. Cum
ningham, secretary of the Iowa
Farm Bureau federation.
City people must be educated up
to the point Of an intelligent un-
derstanding Of the farmers side of
the question, when they will readily
see that rank injustice is being done
to a class who are the necessary
factors in sustaining human life. Z
said Mr.. Cunningham. eve shall
carry the facts, as they become
established, to the people, and with
all the facts before them they will
be the Judge. The farmer will not
suffer in the critical analysis the
people viii give them, for, after all,
the public is honest and always
throws its influence on the side of
justice"
That the farmers fight will not
be confined to the state, but will be
carried forward on nationwide
basis, was also indicated by Mr..
Cunningham. He said in part:
"The farmer seems to be the only
class governed by this law of supply
and deniahd. The MANUFACTURER, UNI
able to sell his output at the profit
he demands on account of over sup
ply, Immediately reduces his output,
and is considered a man of good
business judgment who follows sound
principles. If the farmer should talk
of curtailing production he would be
immediately branded as vicious and
wicked.
''The farmer admits that he is
under a moral obligation to feed the
world, but he does not find himself
in harmony with the morals of peo-
pie who demand that he furnish
them food for less than it costs to
produce it."
Financing the farmer has al
ways been a crude process when
viewed in the light of past achieve
ments in American finance.
"Why limit farm loan to stated
amounts and leave the limit of
commercial loans to the judgment
of the man who makes the loan?
"a system must be worked out
whereby farm operations can be
financed for long period.
The solution will come when the
one year lease is abolished as an
agricultural policy.
"The forward looking people of
the country are coming to recognize
more and more the absolute neces-
sity of uniting the tenant farmer
more firmly with the interests of the
landlord.
"The idea of matchmaking the
land for benefit of the man who
works it might not be altogether inn
possible.
The program Of the Farm Blu
reau federation is one that contem-
plates intelligent study, not only
of the farmers problems on the
farm, but also tie conditions thar at
feet his present day methods of dis
tribution.
The one day drive recently con-
Quoted netted $1,000 new members
in Iowa TO the farm bureaus. 1t was
carried out on nonpay basis and
certainly exploded the theory that
farm organizations cannot be held
together.
an the recent political campaign
the membership stood the acid test
and proved 100 per cent loyal.
Anything built on prejudice
must necessarily be shortlived.
"The farm bureau is constructive
and not destructive in it's policy.
Certain it is that production if
governed only by the ability of the
producer to produce the crop will
ever tend to upset the best arrange
ment that can be devised.
Acreage should be to some ex-
tent governed by accumulated sur
plus.
"The surplus Of a bountiful year
should be carried over into the year