Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-12-31
MR.. HOWARD REPLIES.

A great deal of interest attended the delivery
of the address of President Howard of the Ameri-
can Farm Bureau Federation at the Fargo meeting
on Friday because it was anticipated that he would
devote some attention to the charges made against
him and others by Senator LaFollette a few days
ago. Mr.. LaFollette charged that the representa-
tives of several lines of big business had held a
secret conference with certain representatives of
the farming interests, among them Mr.. Howard, for
the purpose of preparing plans whereby the inter
ests OF the farmers OF the country were to be sacri-
t1ced to the manufacturing, railroad, and other great
commercial interests. 1t was intimated more Or
less directly that the farm representatives present
had been willing participants in this ATTEMPTED ar
rangement. Mr.. Howard had Immediately made a
brief denial and promised a further statement at a
later time. -~. y
In his Fargo address, President Howard went
into the subject in considerable detail. and from the
statements made by him, some of which are public
ly known to be true and others of which are capable
of veriflcation or contradiction, there was no secret
conference, no collision or attempt at collision, and
the only purpose of the gathering so far as the farm
were concerned was TO obtain for
the farming industry benefits which could be OBJ
tanned more readily by means of conference than
by the long route OF legislation and appeal to Off
|cial boards. Mr.. Howard shows very conclusively
that this effort in several particulars was decidedly
successful, and that concessions were made to the
agricultural interests which will save the farmers
large sums OF money during the next few months
and that these concessions could not have been OBJ
tanned in any other manner. The farmers have sac
|rificed nothing in order to obtain these concessions,
but the arrangement was made through the medium
of a business-like conference in which existing and
important facts were stated in an effective manner.
Mr.. Howard is abundantly able to take care Of
his own case, and it is not likely that he has said his
last word on this subject, but so far he has decided
~ the better OF the argument. Mr.. LaFollette's
charges seem to be about as loose and baseless as
those other charges made by Senator Watson, and
in each case the man making the charges has an
unenviable record for making loose and baseless
statements.
In the closing part Of his address, President
Howard enters into the realm of idealism, and in
doing so he states truths which must appeal forci-
bly, to every thinking individual. We have become
familiar with the statements that the golden rule
is out of date and an impracticable thing to apply
to business relations. The head of the greatest in
|dustry III America, in a sober discussion OF import
ant business facts with men of his own calling, de-
|%clates emphatically that the application of the gold
en- rule to business is not only practicable, BUT nee
|essary, if human relations are to be established on
a business basis which will be satisfactory. perma-
nent and progressively beneficial. He does not
does not qualify it. He accepts the golden rule
without reservation as the only basis upon which,
human relations IN business. as we'll as in other
matters, can successfully exist. Such a declaration
coming from a business man in the course Of a bus
mess conference is impressive. 1t ought to be ben
eficial, and there is no doubt that it will be so, be-
cause it is impossible fol. men to turn their thoughts
seriously to the consideration Of such a question
without being impressedby the fundamental truths
which Mr.. Howard has set forth. Aside from his
defense of his own record, aside from whatever he
and his associates may have been able to do for the
great farming interests which they represent, he
is to be commended and congratulated on having
~manfully and colrageously set forth just now, one
Of the most needed views Of human relations.
Apparently the millennium has arrived. Child
rem are actually reported, to be not only permitted
but welcome in a fat building at Aberdeen, SD.
Another strange fact is that the Russian CORE
|spondents have lately taken to sending reports Of
the unsuccessful attempts to murder Lenine and
the successful ones.-Kansas City Star.
Ihc chances are that q good many more people
wills get a good nights sleep on railroad trains after
time OHSE~INEr~A 4ras@eeSxETEWSS