The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-11-15
of Farmers Union
Discusses Public Questions.
Urges Greater Reduction of In
terest and Discounts.
HITS FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD
Advises Farmers To Go Into
Banking Business.
Farm Paper Should Be Treated
Same as Commercial.


The program of the Farmers Edu-
cational and Cooperative Union must
include participation in the settlement
of public questions, Charles S. Barrett,
national president of the order, in
formed the national convention in his
annual address before them this after
noon.
Barrett made the following definite
recommendations to the Farmers
Union men, as necessary things for
them to support:
A swift and emphatic reduction in
railway freight rates.
There must be a still greater reduc-
ton in interest and discount rates
Farm paper should be treated on the
same basis as any kind of prime COM
merciaI paper.
The federal reserve board should at
once be completely divorced from all
, interests except the people for whose
benefit it was created.
Farmers should go into the banking
business.
1t is absolutely necessary that real
federal cooperative law be put on the
statute books Not the makeshift re-
ported by the sub-com mmittee of the
senate judiciary committee. but some
thing which enables farmers collect
lively to buy and sell without the con-
slant dread of arrest and imprison-
ment.
| Scores Federal Reserve System.
Barrett scored the federal reserve
board again and again. in his speech.
recounting the battle which the farIl-
ers' Union fought with Secretary OF
the Treasury Houston and Governor
of the Federal Reserve Board Hard
ling. whom he designated as THE De-
tflation Twins.
He said in part:
Achievements in 1921.
'sNever, in the fifteen arduous, veX-
| atious. but hopeful and happy years
| that have been your president nave
seen so much of actual concrete
| business achievement as nave seen
! during the last twelve months. The
narrow, obscure trails whicn our co
operative pioneers grop.ngly, but IN
| tuitively bIazed thru the wilderness OIL
opposition and hate have been
Strengthened and broadened into
great highways of progress upon
which even the most timid and 1ndI-
v;dualistic farmers are now setting
"I hold that, while the great i'm
mediate object of the National Farm
ers' Union is to build, strengthen ana
| guard sound business arrangements
founded upon principles of self-help
co-operation, our second great object
is to add to the sum total of. we'll
heing in our nation by holding stead
fast to the principles of justice, ira
ternity, equality for all; and L hold 1t
the duty of the membership thru their
! organization to strive constantly to-
ward the achievement of progressive,
lust and humane principles in govern
ment.
Legislation, Politics, Craftsmanship.
"At this point we come into the
realm of legislation, politics and
craftsmanship, and L would urge ev-
cry Farmers Union member to seek
to attain as far as possible an inti-
mate knowledge of all three 1 would
have every member seek to discrfnli-
nate between the false and the good in
legislation; between the petty, par
tisanship in politics and the broad AMI
uplifting vision of politics when con-
sidered as the science of government;
between the stupid postureS of self
seeking representatives of the people
I and the sincere, earnest, stud4ous ef-
/ fort of men with enlightened and hu-
name vision who are seeking only for
the nations good. And believe that
the day is corning when it must be
recognized that organized self-heip
a griculture has done a great patriotic
service in first building up an eco
nonnic movement, and secondly, in US
ing that economic position as a basis
of great political power. While 9TH
ers may be saying that it is selfish,
class legislation for farmers to be con-
scious in an economic way, 1 glory in
saying that I consider such manifes-
tation one of the most ehopeful signs
of the times. And 1 say, If to preserve
agriculture in its fertility and in its
toiling millions, if this be selfish class
legislation. let stupid detractors make
/ the most of it. As for me. however. I
shall call it the performance Of I'M
1 perative duty.
I Fighting DefIation.
During the past year our organi-
zation has used its great economic
power to bring about the arrest of the
cruel and merciless deflation that in
an economic way has laid agriculture
low.
First we engag ged former Secretary
of the Treasury David D. Houston and
his able ally, Governor Harding. IN
battle. We knew at least that these
two men were working as the plant,
if not eager tools of mysterious, invis-
ible. but immensely powerful inter-
ests. that were determined to en-
shrine the dollar at the expense Of the
man.
Almost over night by cunningly
formulated plans. these dollar wor-
shippers destroyed billions of dollars
Z of national wealth. crushed the hopes
! of hundreds of thousands of our citi-
zens and literally broke the hearts of
struggling men and women every
where.
'At first it seemed impossible to
break thru the armor of the men di-
recting the federal reserve board and
| its activities. They determined that
deflation must become an accom-
plished fact and as the testimony be-
fore the joint congressional commits
sion of agricultural inquiry clearly
shows. they put it into effect with re-
morseless disregard of the fr.ghtfu1
L \
sue The board needed no advice.
( They were impervious to all warnings.