The state herald., 1921-01-14
FARMERS SUPPORT ANTI.sTRIKE
BILL

has the ardent support of farmers is
demonstrated by statement made
in behalf of similar provision in the
railroad bill last spring. The state
ment referred to was signed by rep
resentatives of the National Grange,
the American Farm Bureau Fedora
ton, the Cotton States Board, and the
Association of State Farmers Union
Presidents. 1t says in part:
$50 much has been said in justifl
cation of the organized strike that we
deem it advisable to outline the posi-
tion of the farmers on this allimport-
ant question. We desire to discuss
the question more particularly as ap-
piled to the railroads for the reason
that farmers are more directly af-
fected by rail road strikes than strikes
in other lines of industry or COM
merce.
THE statement has been made so
often that organized workers have an
inherent right to strike, that the pub
lie generally has accepted the state
ment as being true and, as a result.
strikes have, in times past, received
TO some extent the support of public
opinion. Recent events. however, in
dicate that the country is giving this
question serious consideration. and
ag thnr tc ~fy,t 1,
mand that some ol!er method be en-
ployed to bring about the settlement
of controversies between employer
and employe. This demand is more
pronounced on the part of the farm
ers than of many other classes. for
the reason that they are affected more
directly than most other classes. The
farmers develop section of country
adapted to the production of perish
able products. They spend vast sums
Of money In building houses and
barns. digging drainage or irrigation
bitches. and in bringing the and to
a high state Of productivity. Such
land could not have been developed
II the transportation facilities had not
been such az TO insure that the farm.
ers could get their products to mar
ket with the least possible delay and
before they become unfit for con
sumption.
''On the other hand. no great city
could be built up II il were not for
the fact that those who live In them
may depend. first. on the farmers OF
the country to produce an ample sup
ply Of food and. second, on the rail.
roads to deliver farm products to city
consumers with regularity and as
needed.
II naturally follows that those
who believe that labor has an inher.
ent right to organize a strike believe
that such organizations have a right
to starve the people OF the cities to
death. on the other hand. and to de-
stroy the property Of the farmers on
the other. No such right has ever
existed and no such right exists now.
It is economically unsound. What
would be the verdict OF the people
II the farmers should suddenly decide
TO strike and refuse to supply the
needs of those who are not In n posi-
tion to produce food and clothing for
themselves They would be con
demned from one end OF the country
to he other II the farmers have no
such moral or legal right. then why
should II be conceded by anyone that
those who handle the farmers pro
ducts have u right to block transpor
tation and thus jcopardize the food
and clothing supply OF the nation? II
the farmers have no such rights
those who handle his products have
no such rights.
The farmers must look to congrcs,
to solve thsi great question In IN,
light OF fairness for all and not foi
the bencnt OF the few. at the expense
and perhaps misery and suffering foi
all.
.