The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1921-01-14

| Stli as WCdpOH VI pIOJtCllOH
was unassailable. There were those
who then protested against the
statement that farmers use the
! strike. But they are now on strike.
While the word is modified by the
statement that the farmers are SIM
ply withholding grain and cotton to
bring about gradual flow to the
markets, still it is strike, a pro-
test against low prices, otherwise
low wages, for the farmers.
There is no greater authority on
matters of the farm than Mr.
Charles S. Barrett, president of the
National Farmers Union. In a
statement issued by him November
% it is difficult at first glance to
| decide whether he is talking to
members of labor organization or
to the farmers, for he declares:
"At Washington | find that prac-
tically everyone whose business it
is to keep informed as to public
affairs is now beginning to sense
the fact that agriculture is in the
midst or a great crisis, the out
come of which is uncertain and
which if not properly met will in
volve the welfare not only of farm
ers but of many others as we'll.
Real alarm is being expressed by
some of the very people, who l am
convinced are in part responsible for
the crucifiXion of farm prices, that
the gigantic losses to farmers will
pyramid into still greater losses to
the capitalists. A juggernaut is
bearing down on its creators"
The farmers, therefore, are as
much concerned in the future as
Labor and for the same reason. as
attempts are being made to reduce
the wages of both.
Mr.. Barrett finds only one solu-
ton for the conditions which con-
front the farmers; in fact, to strike
| to compel higher prices to gain bet
ter economic conditions.
At the convention of the National
Farmers Union held in st. Louis
early in November, President Bar
rctt made the same recommendation
and the convention approved it. In
that statement President Barrett
said he wished to amplify his recon-
mendation to the convention, and
then said:
'The farmers of this nation have
the grit and Drawn to defeat the
sinister designs of those who are
responsible for setting in motion
such a deflation in the values of
agricultural products as this coun-
try has never experienced before.
First because the right is on
their side-the rank and file of the
Is h. "a 4.
people who do honest toll and rem
der real service will be fair to the
farmers if they know how to be;
hey will be fair on the score of
enlightened self-interest, for they
are beginning to see that they are
losing their jobs and receiving low
er wages as the result of a pre-
meditated deflation policy.
Secondly, the farmers can win
out if they will stand properly to-
gether. They should not sell their
products, especially cotton and
wheat 'at present prices, if there is
any way to avoid doing so and /
am satisfied there is. Present prices
are ruirously low. With too many a
farmer it means total bankruptcy
There is no earthly excuse for these
present low prices, which are so
per cent or more below actual cost
of production. No self-respecting,
legitimate manufacturer is making
any such sacrifice and there is no
reason why the farmer should do
So"
By changing the words farmer"
to tabor" and "prices" to wages"
no stronger argument could be used
by trade union. Labor is in deep
sympathy with the farmers and will
aid them wherever possible. Mr..
Barrett goes further in his desire
to awaken the farmers to their duty
to themselves to prevent being "bled
white" for he says:
"We can win this fight, but only
by realizing that it is a fight; by
knowing and facing the facts as
they are and by calling a spade by
its name; by raising money to fl
nance more adequately our business
undertakings so that we can hold
and market farm products ourselves
in businesslike, orderly fashion.
Farmers of means should help their
less fortunate neighbors by lending
cial difficulties temporarily until we
have returned agriculture to a pay
ing basis. Farmers everywhere
should be meeting these days in
protest and planning; they should
resist the wrong which this even
criminal deflation has brought with
the same grim determination shown
by the Holland burghers when a
broken dyke threatens the destruc-
ton of their towns. The American
farmer must not stand passive and
be bled white"
Reports from the National Board
of Farm Organizations state that
the movement to withhold wheat
and cotton is protecting the market
to a greater extent than was ex-
pected for the first attempt. There
are mary unorganiZed farmers who
are not following the lead of the
organized producers. The present
movement is confined to cotton and
wheat, and the desire to regulate
the flow, to make it gradual in
stead of like a flood, promises to
be successful according to officials
of the National Board of Farm Or
SdHizdIloHS. l. ne only real obstacle,
lit is said, is the lack of elevators
for storage purposes.
There is little chance now to
deny strike is in progress. By
holding wheat from the market the
farmers refuse to allow their SER
vice to take socially disable form
until they are given what they deem
just compensation.
The comment that has been run
ming through American publications
on the action of the wheat grow
ers is interesting. Almost without
exception those publications which