The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-12-28
lsy The Assoelated Press

WASHINGTON, Dec. 27.-Charges
were made by Senator LaFollette of
Wisconsin in a formal statement is
sued today, that representatives of the
railroads and of tho coal, steel and
lumber interests at secret meeting
held in Washington December g, at
tempted to obtain from farm organiza-
tion leaders and did obtain from some
such leaders adherence to an agree
ment not to push legislation to repeal
the commonly called guaranty section
of the transportation act and to restore
state control of state rates.
The wisconsin senator made his
charges in celebrating on his assertion
that a plan is now afoot to perpetrate
the fundamental provisions of the
lisa (the guaranty section of which
Ia portion expires next March,, and to
render permanent the intolerable con-
ditions which have made the transpor-
tation system for the past two years
an instrument for the exploitation OF
the American people"
In substantiation of his charges Mr.
Lafollette made public what he de-
scrfbed as "a brief report of the action
of the conference" held here December
10, which he branded "as conspiracy
to betray not only the farmers but the
consuming and the producing millions
of the nation" This report was made
public by the senator without an ex-
PLANTATION of it's sources as follows:
''on December 9, a secret meeting
was held in Washington at which high
officials Of the railroads, the coal and
steel and lumber interests attempted
to enlist the farmers in an agreement
whereby all agitation by the farm in
terests for repeal Of section I5-A and
! for the restoratimlsof state control over
interstate rates should cease.
"The great special interests repre-
sented at this conference were sue
beessful in obtaining the consent of cer-
ltain of the farm representatives ia
SUCH an agreement.
This conference was participated in
by the special committee representing
the railway executives of which Mr.
Atterbury of the Pennsylvania railroad
was chairman. There had been prev
ious conference in New York Septem-
ber 81, Of which Mr.. J. r. Howard was
made chairman Those present at the
Washington meeting We're Mr. w. w
lAtteIg5ury of the Pennsylvania; How
ard Elliot of the Northern Pacific; w.
]. Harahan of the c. and O.1 w. b
Stormy of the AtchIson; R. S. Binkert,
who is assistant to the chairman of the
Association of Railway Executives
New York
"The iron and steel industries We're
represented by j. A. Campbell of the
youngstown Sheet and Tube Company.
of Youngstown, Ohio. and C. e. Be
ment of Lansing, Mich. representing
the Novo Engine Company.
Railway supply organizations were
represented by A B. Johnson. presi-
dent of the Railway Business Associa-
ton, of Philadelphia, and Frank w.
Noxon, secretary of the same associa-
tion, Lumber interests were repre-
sented by Charles Hill Of the Southern
Pine and Sales Corporation, Of New
York; A. B. Hammond of the Ham
mond Lumber Company of San Fran
cisco; j. H. Browne of the Pacific
Lumber Company, New York City.
Construction companies were rep
resented by r. C. Marshall Munsey
Building. Washington. D. c.. and E. T.
Tngg of Philadelphia.
"The National Industrial Traffic
League was represented by w. II.