The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1921-08-26
MARSH WRITES
TO MIR. WALLACE
How Big Business Tries To
Break Farm and Labor
Combination


reconstruction is well illustrated b
the reception accorded the Telegram
sent to President Gompers of tn
Federation of Labor, b
Benjamin c. Marsh, Acting Mar
aging Director of the Farmers Ns
tional Council, when Mr.. Gomper
at the Federation of Labor Cor
vention in Denver urged coopera
ton with farmers.
That telegram reads:
"The Farmers National COun-
Gil welcomes your endorsement
of its program for active work
ing together of farmer and la
Dor forces to achieve the ideals
of economic, industrial and
agricultural as well as political
freedom for which our country
was founded. We have been
working to this end and will be
glad to join hands with you to
stop the present control of our
railroads, natural resources,
ships and banking and credit
system in the interest of a
little clique of investment bank
ers and selfish un American cit
liens of great wealth and to
secure an honest tax system
and control of the meat packers.
We warn you against false
spokesman of farmer Organi-
cations who denounce the get
ting together of farmers and
other workers. Only by unit
ing upon common basis of
fundamental justice can we
achieve real freedom for all
workers. The interest of farm
ers as workers is four times as
great as their interest as capt.
talists. The laborer is worthy
of his hire but has not received
it in this country on farms, in
factories, mines, trade or trans
pOrtatiOn. He cannot receive it
until privilege and monopoly is
ended. To achieve that end
joint action of farmers and 9TH
er workers is essential"
The Literary Digest for July 9tl
IN page seven contains a discussion
If this proposal and quotes some O.
he farm and metropolitan press OF
he subject. Wallace's Farmer O
Oes Moines, Iowa, stated, "The fac
S that the farmers are suffering
more now from the leaders of labol
han from the leaders of industr!
md finance"
The New York Times stated
Farm and factory are about al
as oil and vinegar"
The New York Globe calls atten
ion to the rival claims of business
o the cooperation with the farm
RS and says Eastern and Western
bankers have aslo begun to pay cour
% the farmers. Mr.. Gomper
presents his bid and Mr.. Morgan
makes his offer, and the farmer
will select, history is being made.
The Philadelphia Public Ledge
states Mr.. j. P. Morgan hurries t.
he aid of the meat producers an,
Bernard Baruch is adviser to tn
farmers of the U. S. Grain Grow
,rs."
The fact is that both j. P. Nor
gan's overtures and Bernard Ba
'uch's overtures have been repudi
ated by the real farmers and tn
'pokesmen for real farmers who ar
equal access to publ
'redit to that accorded to any othe
equally respectable and Legitimate
industry. They do not care to b.
exploited by the investment bank
ers.
AS Mr.. Marsh pointed out in hi
telegram the overtures for a com
1ination of progressive farm an,
abor organizations came, not from
abor, but from the progressive
farmers speaking through tn
Farmers National Council which il
is reconstruction program adopte,
n January, 1919, declared: "Labo
S the first fixed charge upon al
industry, taking precedence of tn
claims of property and investmen
N business and commerce"
The Farmers National Council
mas been attacked by the big bust
ness interests and by the reaction
ary farm organization leaders VIII
are acting in farm organizations TO
Dig business, because of their direc
cooperation with organized labo
for the common ends of securing
economic justice. The Farmers Ma
,ional Council pointed out SOM
months ago that the interest O
farmers as a whole as workers i
at least three and a half times a
great as their interest as capital
sts. The onslaught made agains
,he Council is adequate proof tina
It is recognized by the predator,
and privileged interests as the onl,
of farmers whom bi,
business and privilege needs to fear
Letter to Wallace
The Acting Managing Directo
If the Farmers National Council
sent the following letter to Score
AIRY Wallace of the Department o
Agriculture, formerly owner, if no
now, of Wallace's Farmer.
"The Literary Digest for July 9tl
luotes from Wallace's Farmer, tn,
late not given, a statement of whicl
he following is an excerpt:
"The fact is that the farmers ar,
SUFFERING more now from the lead
,rs of labor than from the leader,
If industry or finance"
81 do not know whether you arr
At present directing or controlling
he policy of Wallace's Farmer. 1
s a fair assumption, however, that
you have something to do with i
while the sentiment expressed a.
quoted above is consistent with the
position you have previously taker
m this subject.
"On behalf of the Farmers Ma
ional Council l respectfully ask
therefore, that you either person
lily answer or request the respon,
ible owner who does control the
policy of Walace's Farmer to an.
wer the following questions:
81. From what leaders of labor
ire the farmers suffering more
low than from the control of the