Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-02-08
BY HARDEN COLFAX
(Leased Wire Service to The Journal. }
(CoDyrioht 1901


WASHINGTON, Feb. SIS there 6
farmers lobby? Is it workin il
the interest of agricu lture or in CO,
operation with other industries?
The answers to these questions are
wanted by the house committee or
banking and currency, which has
started thorough investigation OF
all the various farmer organizations
who maintain headquarters in Wash
ington.
I'VE wish to know the scope ard
outside connections of these organiza-
tions," says Chairman McFadden, OF
the investigating committee.
I'VE want to know the extent tc
which they represent real farmers
and how far they may be associated
with the other interests that have a
direct or indirect relationship to the
agriculture of this country
The national board Of farm organi-
cations, affiliated with fifteen farm
associations in the country, and ell
gagged in urging system of lano
banks in each of the states that will
be owned and controlled by the far
mers, was under the committees
searchlight when Charles A. Lyman
secretary, was called as a witness
Mr.. Lyman said that the income OF
his association last year was only
$4,000 contributed entirely by the
groups of farmers and devoted tc
meeting the legitimate expenses u
the association in Washington, includ-
ing the purchase of a permanent Of
flee building.
"Our board is not in reality an or
ganization but a clearing house
through which our members may pre-
sent a common front and speak in
one voice." said Mr.. Lyman.
He added that the board does not
engage in lobbying but admitted that
it is interested in many of the agri-
cultural measures pending before
congress, including the Capper-Vol-
stead bill, which is designed to facili-
tate the organization Of cooperative
marketing facilities among the farm
ers.
Ben c. March, of the Farmers Ma
tional council, denied improper ac-
tivities on the part Of his organiza-
ton. He said that it is interested
in matters of transportation and rail-
road rates that affect the farming
interests and also that it believed in
the public ownership of railroads.
Differences existing in the grange
societies of the farmers in the east
ern states were revealed to the COM
mittee by John A. McSparren, mas
ter of the Pennsylvania state grange.
He charged the county agricultural
agents in his state with trying 10
set up counter organization, known
as the state farm bureau federation.
1--WE believe that county agents are
needed" said Mr.. McSparren, "but
they are exceeding their official du-
ties in trying to establish counter
organization. The work they propose
to do would be duplication of that
which is performed by our own Or
ganization. I do not object to the or
ganiZatiOn of other farmers societies.
but federal employees should not use
their time and effort to create rival
societies where the farmers already
have associations of their own"
Mr.. McSparren insisted that the de-
partment of agriculture manifested
undue friendship to the state farm
bureau federation movement and sug-
gested that the county agents should
sever all connections with it.
THE county agent should be the
servant of all of the farmers" he
continued. "And not merely the serv-
ant of some one OrgaDiZa tiOn in which