The Washington herald., 1921-02-19
FARMERS UNION
PLANS ASSEMBLY
OF MEMBERSHERE
President Barrett Issues
. Call for Wednesday,
April 20.
TIME is OPPORTUNE
Time to Impress Upon Gov.
ernment Need for Agricul-
ture Legislation.

A call for a mass meeting Of
farmers to assemble at the head
quarters Of the National Board of
Farm Organization, 1881 I street,
Wednesday, April 20, has been issued
by the National Farmers Union
through Charles s. Barrett, presi-
dent. The invitation. which is ex-
tended to all oricers and men Of the
union. says in part:
Because Of the perilous condition
Of agriculture in the United States,
and because I feel that the farmers
in mass should impress upon the
new administrs tion, Congess and
the country, the necessity for the
adoption Of effective and permanent
relief measures, have resolved TO
call a mass meeting OF the officers
and the rank and hle OF the Ma
tionaI Farmers Union to be held
in Washington, April 20.
This is the psychological time
for action. This is the time when
the farmers, like other interests,
| should in the most forCeful manner,
compatible with that respect We al
ways show for authority, impress
upon the government the need for
such legislative and administrative
measures as may be depended upon
to accomplish what I know to be
the desire of all thinking men en-
gagged in the noble calling of agri-
culture The call is made for a
number of reasons, any one of which
would be sufficient to impel me 10
action. Among them I will mention
the following:
Numerous Reasons for Call.
/ a new administration is about
10 assume command at Washington
[lt takes control in a time of great
national stress, when defiation,
largely artificial. has accomplished
the temporary ruin of thousands Of
our farmers and the perma nent
ruin of thousands of others. The
incoming President will be besieged
by individuals and interests. all of
whom will consider themselves COM
petent to advise him as to the
course he should adopt in relation
10 the fundamental concerns of the
nation.
Every interest seeking to con-
troll the food, the clothing, the
transportation systems and the dis
tribution Of the nations commodi-
ties, is ably represented and we'll
g,ntrenched here. For example:
The packers have a lobby which
Senator Kenyon. joint author of the
bill to regulate the meat packing
industry in the nation, said yester-
day seems to be more powerful than
Congress itself. This organization,
well financed, with national and in
ternatiOnaI connections reaching to
the farthest corners of the civilized
world. has demonstrated it's ability
so far to prevent effective control Of
its practices.
The coal operators through
wholesale. retail and other agencies
have a lobby which for subtle power
and far-reaching effectiveness is
second only to the Institute of
American Meat Packers and the Big
Five. This lobby has demonstrated
its ability so far to prevent legisla-
tiOn which if intelligently enacted
and vigorously enforce might save
the people hundreds Of millions Of
collars yearly Notwithstanding the
fact that a large majority of Con-
gress favors regulatory legislation
in relation to the two great indus
tries mentioned. it has so far been
impossible to obtain final action by
the lawmaking power OF the ma
tion.
a The Chamber of Commerce Of the
United States is here to protect the
Interests Of its membership and to
sec that commerce, domestic or for
efgn. is not allowed to suffer
through the adoption of laws that
they may consider inimical to them
selves
The Association of Railway Ex-
e-utives is here to impress on Con-
rress the wisdom, as they see it. OF
iCgrf1g for the railways, protecting
them against what they regard as
the evil effects Of diminishing reve-
nues. while insisting on increased
freight and passenger rates.
The shlpbuiIders of the country
are here to see that navigation laws
are enacted which tend to protect
them against what they say is ruin
Ous competition by foreign bottoms
and to promote with the govern
mental bureaus. the administration
and Congress, legislative and ad-
ninistrative schemes which tend to
advance their interests.
The lumbermen from the North.
LSouth. East and West are. here to
ee that no legislation discriminat-
ng against them is enacted and
Mat no rulings by bureaus, the ef-
k.et Of which might tend to preju-
fice the public mind. come out OF
washington.
The fertilizer trust and all and
every interest which might pront by
Governmental action or inaction, are
here to see that they are not dis
turbed in their profit making career
NO interest of any magnitude
has failed to make itself felt in
washington. and none has failed to
take advantage OF any situation
which may be construed in its IA
vOr."
Wheat Situation