The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1921-10-14

trated on American Agriculture I'M
der the pretence of helping Argicul-
ture.
The great economic issues before
American agricultural farmers today
are not how to secure greater pro-
duction, but how to secure better
marketing conditions and relief from
the intolerably heavy burden levied
upon farmers by the selfish finan-
cial and business monopolists. in
Guiding the railroads.
What is the record of the Ameri-
can Farm Bureau Federation on
these matters?
l. Merchant Marine: In the sum-
mer of 1919, j. R. Howard, then
President of the Iowa Farm Fedora
ton, endorsed the sale of our ships.
The policy which Mr.. Howard en-
dorsed has had it's legitimate out
come in the sale of some of our
ships and the policies of the U. S.
Shipping Board, under which hun
dreds Of millions, if not billions, of
dollars of the peoples money has
been wasted or stolen while until
very recently, ocean freight rates
have been extremely high, to the
great disadvantage of agriculture.
2. Railroads: The American Farm
Bureau Federation endorsed the
Cummins-Esch Law returning the
railroads to their owners with
guaranteed dividend, validating much
Of the watered stock of the roads
and enabling the President, without
further action by Congress, to make
unsecured loans to the Railroads of
hundreds of millions of dollars.
The Cummins-Esch law, endorsed by
the American Farm Bureau Fedora
ton, has cost the farmers one mil
lion of dollars directly in higher
freight rates, and this law, plus the
denial of adequate short-time credit
to farmers, was the chief domestic
factor in the tremendous slump in
the prices which the farmers re-
ceived for their products last year.
8. Farmers Short-Time Credit:
Last year the farmers imperatively
needed short-time credit which could
have been secured under the Federal
Reserve Bank Act, without further
legislation by Congress. Therefore,
Council, Representatives of organized
labor including Frank Morrison, Sec
rotary of the American Federation
Of Labor, and w. H. Johnston, pres
ident of the International Associa-
Jon of Machinists, agreed to go with
representatives of farm organiza-
lions to the Federal Reserve Board
and to the President to ask that
adequate short-time credits be af
forded farmers. The plea of the
farmer was being construed by the
big interests as class appeal. Had
representatives of labor been per-
mitted to join in this appeal, the
farmers would doubtless have secured
adequate credit to avert the terri
bic calamity which befell them, but
the American Farm Bureau Fedora
ion helped cause the deflation of
prices which the farmers received,
their representatives refusing to let
labor endorse the farmers plea.
4. Packer Control Legislation. The
American Farm Bureau Federation,
in collision with Attorneys for the
packers, drafted Packer Control
Bill in which it was provided that
The packers should not be punished
for proven violation of the law till
the second offense. The American
Farm Bureau Federation declined to
stand with other farm organiza-
lions and labor organizations in
demanding real Packer Control
Bill. They endorsed the Haugen
Bill, which does not require uniform
accounting systems and which prac-
sically terminates the jurisdiction
and power of the Federal Trade
Commission regarding the meat
packing industry.
5. Farm Product Export Corpora
ton. The American Farm Brueau
Federation opposed the plan of the
Farmers National Council presented
in January of this year to both
Senate and House Committees on
Agriculture and on Banking and
Currency, to create Farm Products
Export Corporation with adequate
government credit empowering them
to buy farm products directly from
the producers to sell them abroad,
and determine prices to be charged
and terms and length of credit to
be extended. These principles were
Incorporated in the Norris Bill. Sen
ate 1915, against which the big in
vestment bankers fought with all
their might.
The American Farm Bureau Fed
Grafton joined with the investment
bankers in defeating the Norris bill
and endorsed the substitute McNary
Bill, which gives the investment
bankers the inside trade and big
rake-off, and which may or may
not afford any relief to the farm
ars. while it certainly will result in
limiting their profits at the same
time assuring big profits to in
vestment bankers and export cor
porations.
6. Government Credit for Live
Stock Interests. The American Farm
Bureau Federation opposed the plan
for a $50,000,000 government loan
to live stock growers at a reason
able rate of interest. Their rep
resentative stated that the invest
ment bankers and private bankers
were treating the farmers we'll and
that they were thoroughly satisfied
Had the American Farm Bureau
Federation and other farmers or
carnations joined with the Farmers
National Council in demanding gov
eminent credit for live stock grow
ers, this could doubtless have been
secured, and at reasonable rates OF
interest.
What has the American Farm Blu
reau Federation done for the farm
ers of America?
On nearly every big national eco
nomic issue, the American Farm
Bureau Federation has played the
game of the big reactionary bust
ness interests and finaneiers against