Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1921-03-21
Tells Farmers Union Men al
Wray that Interests Are
Same as Laborers'
Union Leader Traces History of
Price Slump and Wage
Reduction Fight

he same big Interests that have
forced the price ofs farm products
down to their present scale are now
trying to beat down the wages of the
laboring man all over the United
States" declared w. M. Martin, chair
man of the joint federation committee
representing the thirteen crafts on
strike against the Atlanta, Birming-
ham and Atlantic wage reductions He
was addressing an audience of nearly
one hundred farmers at the Wray
school house Sunday afternoon.
Three automobile loads of Fitzger-
aid people went over to Wfay where
Mr.. Martin had been invited.to address
the Farmers Union. Alonzo Harper
president of the Union, presided at
the meeting and introduced Mr.. Mar
tin. Il had some hesftancy about TAX
ing stand publicly as l feel in my
heart" said Mr.. Harper in introduc-
ing Mr.. Martin, because | am man
who likes to please everyone, as far as
right will please them"
Mr.. Martin spoke. Sor more than an
hour, his voice never rising above a
conversational pitch, and presenting
calmly and without passion the facts
in the wage fight. He held the in
tense interest of his hearers from first
to last and closed in round of Wig
orous applause.
Interests Broke the Farmer
Mr.. Martin opened his talk by brief
" describing the history of the col
lapse of the price of farm products.
lie read statement of John Wanna
maker, president of the American
Cotton Association, in August 1920 in
which Mr.. Wanamaker charged that
the spot gamblers and vested inter-
ests were united in an effort to beat
down the price of cotton as low as
fifteen cents pound.
Mr.. Martin also read comment OF
his own written after Mr.. Wanna
maker had made his statement. Gov
ernment is passing into the control OF
a capitalistic aristocracy," Mr.. Martin
had observed. THE control of credi.
has passed into the hands of people
interested in high finance and specu-
latlon rather than in the production
of wealth, its proper Junction.
Mr.. Martin reviewed briefly the
efforts of Southern interests to pre-.
vent the collapse in the price of cot
ton. Wanamaker had asked Harding
governor of the federal reserve bank
ing board, to assist in financing the
marketing of the 1920 cotton crop
with the $60000,000 earned by the
federal reserve banks. Harding had
in effect, said to the Southern farmer
Go home and help yourselves, we
will not help YOU.
Wall street had borrowed heavily
in the South and the money was not
her with which to finance the cotton
crop. The federal banks would not
assist. Prices collapsed.
What was the object?" asked Mr..
Martin. with fair prices the farm
ers were becoming independent of the
credit system, and without having to
depend on the money lenders could
go into the markets and demand a
fair net return for their products. This
would destroy the occupation of the
spectators and those who make their
millions out of high finance
No Quarrel with Public
I'VE have no quarrel with the pub
lie" said Mr. Martin in turning to tie
subject of the present strike on the
Atlanta Birmingham and Atlantic.
This controversy originated in the
violation of the contracts Of the rail-
road with the men and our opposition
is solely against the illegal acts and
attitude of the railroad"
Mr.. Martin reviewed the railroad
wage question from the introduction
OF tie Cummins-Esch act in congress
to the latest turn in the strike. The
Cummins-Esch act had been passed he