The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1922-03-14
CAPPER STARTS
DRIVE 7 D GE 7
bL DC RESULTS
New Head of Farmers
Political Machine Will
Inform Country on Leg
islation Needs.
(Special).

NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Arthur
Capper, chosen as the leader of the
farm bloc to succeed Senator William
S. Kenyon of Iowa, who resigned
from the senate to accept appointment
on the Federal bench, promises to put
even more pep into the bloc by bring
ing sharply to public attention con-
crete cases showing the exploitation of
farmers and the necessity for non
partisan support for agriculture
Almost before he has settled him
self for action the senator points out
the case of a farmer named Kantz
who sent a carload of alfalfa hay to
Kansas City, Mo-, for sale. Quoting
from the report of the commission
merchant these facts come to light:
THE hay sold for $1,000. War tax,
freight, plucking, watching and COM
mission footed up to 5000"
The balance left for Kantz was
$96.8l, or S. ton, the exact price
it cost the farmer to bale the hay.
IN hdulii6 Sool tuC ldl lliCl PlOO
ton. The cost of cutting, stacking
and irrigating the crop also had to be
paid. The farmer did all the work
When he got down to figures, not
counting his own time or the value of
his land Kantz found he had sold
1880 pounds of hay in the Kansas
City market through the regular chan
nels and had lost $3.50 ton in the
transaction.
Farmer Alone Loses.
The railroad made money hauling
the hay, the commission man made
money handling the hay, an army of
small employees made money in con-
nection with the transaction, the gov
eminent made money taxing the tran
work lost $3.50 ton.
Other startling facts are fast being
absorbed by the public. For instance,
a cowhide sells for about 3 cents a
pound. After it has passed through
the business machinery of the pack
ers it is found that the shoemaker pays
81 pound wholesale for the leather
By the time the farmer needs a pair
of shoes he learns that his income
from an entire cowhide does not come
anywhere near being enough to pay
for them.
Concrete facts of this kind are win.
ming a stronger support for the farm
bloc.
The agricultural bloc is non-part
isan," says Senator William J. Harris
of Georgia. 1T has in view as its pur
poses only those things in Legislation
which are for the best interests of tn,
whole country. 1t has been mainl,
concerned in legislation to help agri
cultural conditions, and where success
full it has helped all lines of industry
The farmers and livestock growers o
this country do not hoard their earn
ings, but their success means prosper
ity for all lines of business.
Politics Out.
ITO show that the so-called bloc
is non-partisan it is only necessary t
cite the legislation which has bee
passed during the present congress
with the main support of the Demo
Gratis and the few Republicans VIII
wanted to help in the agriculture
troubles Two important bills whic
have become laws were the Norris az
ricultural credit relief bill and the kei
yon- Kendrick meat packer Legislation
II the Democrats had cared for part
advantages rather than the welfare I
the country those two measures woul
not have passed. The Republican AZ
ministration will go before the coul
try on those two measures as the grea
est thing in a constructive way duTir
their time.
at has been truly said that the far
bloc has created great deal OF int
est and much animosity mainly b
cause il works in the open. 9th
blocs which have been successful al
notorious, wanted anything but lig
on their acts and purposes.
The safety of the Republic is n
threatened by the agricultural bic
despite the propaganda inspired
those interests who fear their he
will be lessened thrSngh the activit
of those senators who think that
welfare of the country means SON
thing to the masses OF the people.