Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1921-12-28
LafO||ette Charges
A Secret Meeting
By Railroad Interests to Oh,
tain From Farm Organiza-
ton Leaders an Agreement
on Transportation Act.

sin, in formal statement issued to-
day, that representatives of the rail-
roads and of the coal, steel and lumber
interests at a secret meeting held in
Washington, December 9, attempted to
obtain from farm organization leaders
and did obtain from some such leaders
adherence to an agreement not to push
legislation to rNpeal the commonly call
ed guaranty section Of the Transportation
act and to restore state control of state
rates.
The Wisconsin senator made his charg-
es in celebrating on his assertion that
plan is now afoot to perpetuate the
fundamental provisions of the transpor-
tation act, embodied in section Is, A,
(the guaranty section, of which a por-
ton expires next March y and to rem
der permanent the intolerable conditions
which have made the transportation sys-
| TEN for the past two years an instru-
ment for the exploitation of the Amer
| lean people"
In substantiation Of his charges Mr.
Lafollette made public what he de-
| scribed as "a brief report of the action
of the conference" held here Decern-
Der 9, which he branded "as a conspira-
cy to betray not only the farmers but
the consuming and producing millions Of
the nation"
This report was made public by the
senator without an explanation Of its
| source, as follows:
'On December ., a secret meeting was
| held !" Washington at which high off
cials of the railroads, the coal and steel
and lumber interests, attempted 10 en-
list the farmers in an agreement where
by all agitation by the farm interests
for repeal of section Is \ and for the
restoration Of state co2trol over intra-
stae rates should cease
THE great special interests repre-
sented at this conference were success
full in obtaining the consent Of certain
of the farm representatives to such an
| agreement.
This conference was participated IN
by the special committee representing
the railway ey H1tives, of which Mr.
Atterbury. Of the Pennsylvania railroad
WIS Chairman. 1t was held at the
Raquet cab in Washington on December
9. 1921. There had been a crevious con-
ference in New Yory on December 81, OF
which ]. r. Howard was made chair
man. Those present at the Raquet club
meeting were W. Y. Atterburv. Of the
Pennsylvania realroad: Howard Elliott
of the Northern Pacific; w. J. Hanrahar
of the c. and o.: W. P. Stormy, of the
Atchison r. s. Rinkert. who is as
sistant to the chairman Of the Associa-
| llD0 OI IkdilNdN executives. New 1OTN
THE iron and steel industries were
represented by ]. A. Campbell. of the
Youngstown Sheet and Tube Company
Of Youngstown, Ohio. and c. e. Be
ment of Lansing. Mich. representing
the Nnvo Engine Company.
"Railway supply organizations were
represented by A. 3. Johnson, presiden
of the Railway Business Association, o.
Philadelphia and Frank W. Noxon. sec
retary of the same association. Lumber
: interests were represented by Charles
Hill. of the Southern Pine and Sale:
Corporation of New York: A. B. Ham
mond, Of the Hammond Lumber Com
pany of San Francisco, ]. H. Browne
of the Pacific Lumber Company, New
York city.
Construction companies were repre-
sented by21 R. &c. Marshall. Munsey
building. Washington, D. c., and E. T
Trigg. of Philadelphia.
"The National Industrial Traffi
League was represented by W. H. Chand
Ter. Boston, Mass. and ]. H Back, Chi
! J cago.
4 "The agricultural Interests were rep
resented by ]. r. Howard, Cray Silver
H. c. Mckenzie, of New York. Ralpl
Snyder, Of Kansas City and o. z. Brad
futs Of Chicago. They were all OF tn
2 American Farm Bureau Federation. tn
:. last three named being members of It
l legislative committee The agriculture
interests were also represented by w.
Drummond. president of the Interna
tional Farm Congress. and by T. c. At
keson of tte National Grange.
g "Mr. Atterburv stated that the rail
roads desired the help of the interest
represented in securing furf,er wag
reductions aS1 in opposing the amend
ments pendi's in congress proposing re
e peal Of section IS A After a consider
i able discussion. the agricultural repre-
sentatives not being disposed to oppos
U the amendments absolutely. adjournmer
was taken for lunch with the under
standing that representatives Of the car
: riers and of the agricultural interest
e would talk the matter out. After luncl
y Mr. Howard reported that the agricu
3 tural representatives were prepared I
} agrees that section A should not /
amended. excent for the removal Of n
p-oviso in paragraph relating to tf
n nercentace of return for two years 70
S lowing March l. 1920, which expires
8 statutory limitation in March next.
l. "It was left with committee con
posed of Mr.. Emery, Mr.. Atkeson ar
Mr.. Silver to rewrite the Capper bi'
lie one of the measures proposing repeal {
H. section IS A."
= senator laIOleLle declared l0dl
Ii brief the alleged proposal of the raj
il roads was that the farmers abandc
their f~ht for lower rates in return f.
repeaI Of one clause of section Is
d which he added. would expire auto
/ matically next March I.
e 'If the farmers Of the country ahi'
l. by rhe agreement entered into by
It few of their representatives at Was
ington December o" the senator furth
asserted, "the railroad interests will d
D feat the united demand OF farmers
IT every section of the country for reli
le from the present eXtortionate railroi
K rates.
le 81 take this occasion TO adnAani'
the farmers to beware OF that leade
ship in any Of the great farm orCanig
al tions and trusts Of the country, leavii
ic It in the hands of that group to sne;
in the voice Of the farmer in framing lei
h. islation dealing with transportation"
Of DENIAL BY PRESIDENT OF