Evening star., 1921-04-20
FIGHT FOR REDUCED
FRE|GHTS T0G0ON
Farmers at Conference De-
eide to Take Appeal to the
White House.

Farmers from all parts of the country
today decided to take the fight for lower
/ freight rates to the White House.
Returning from a conference at the
Interstate Commerce Commission, where
a plea for lower tariffs was made by
delegation from the National Farmers
! Union before the opening of its three
day session here, the delegates accepted
with enthusiasm the suggestion that. the
farmers go to President Harding with
their petition for relief in transportation
rates.
Immediate reductions in freight rates
were requested at the informal hearing
| before the Interstate Commerce Com
mission. Delegates, who were accom-
panied by large number of repre-
sentatives and senators from virtual
ly every state. told the commission
prove a psychological factor in the
economic market of farm products
and probably would precede a gen
eral price reduction in other lines.
Buyers Strike Is Blamed.
Speakers told the commission that
farmers are virtually in the grip of
buyers strike. as they cannot sell
and that there is no prospect of inn
proving conditions in time to bring
better prices for next years crops.
Members of the commission asked
for suggestions that would make pos
sib1e a reduction of freight rates in
face of the high prices paid by rail
roads for equipment and labor.
Commissioner McChord pointed out
that railroads had lost about $4,000. 900
during the past year. and asked
whether the solution of the present
freight rate problem was. not, after
all. one for labor. capital, shippers and
NJ fYV Tn 70 fhar fIo1
the commission. Money. labor and
equipment ere all -abnormally high.
he said.
Rates Big Factor.
Mr.. McChord asked Secretary A. c.
Davis Of the Farmers Union. whether
with cheap freight rates farmers
could market their products at a
profit.
Possibly not. Mr.. Davis replied. but
a freight rate reduction would be one
factor. and it would be foolish to reject
any plan that would reduce the farmers
loss simply because it does not solve
their whole problem" Mr.. Davis added
not increase the volume of business to
the railroads sufficiently to make a
profit for them the farmers would rather
pay the railroad deficit in the form of
taxes than bear the entire burden of
high freight rates, as at present.
Clearing House to BE Formed.
Immediately after the return of the
party from the commission two meet
ings opened at 1871 l street, head
quarters of the Farmers Union. The
first was the conference of the ma
tional union and the other was an
executive session of representatives
of more than 200 farm loan associa-
tionS. At the latter session ma
tional clearing house for the local
farm loan associations will be organ
lied E w. Gates of Brentwood
Calf. was selected as presiding Of
ficer during the initial session. An
open meeting will be held tonight
after the National Union of Farm Loan
Associations hasJbecome an entity.
1t is expected that one of the first
requests of the organization will be
for an increase to. $4,000 as the
land bank may loan to individual bor-
rowers. The program includes ad-
dresses tonight by William Gibbs Nc
Adoo, former Secretary of the Treas
ury: Senators Capper of Kansas and
Fletcher of Florida and former Sen
tor Hollis of New Hampshire.
The meeting of the Farmers Union
was called to order by National Presi-
dent Charles S. Barrett. The sessions
will continue three days and the pri-
mary object is to give farmers
chance to express their views on do
mestic problems and pending or
projected legislation.
Speakers at the conference will in
ciude Secretary of Agriculture Wal
lace. who Will discuss cooperative
marketing. Senator Calder, who is to
present reasons why he believes the
farmers should back coal regulation
and housing bills: Senator's Capper,
Lenroot and others
Urges Inquiry for Remedy.
In opening tn. conference Mr.. Bar
rett urged the creation of 4 joint con-
grcsSional committee TO inquire into
and suggest remedia! measures for
the agricultural! situation. Declaring
agriculture in America was going
rapidly toward the habitat of the halt.
the lame and the blind" Mr.. Barrett
asserted what agriculture wants is
an opportunity to help itself.
Money and credit" have been denied
farmers despite the fact that more
money was available in 1920 than in
any previous year" Mr.. Barrett said.
adding:
III is d notorious fact also that agri-
cultural organizations have not been
afforded by the transportation sys-
TENS of the country the facilities Civ
en- corporations to distribute the prod
! ucts OF the farm"