Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-01-24
POLITICS IS CHARGED
To ADMINISTRATION
ON EVE Of MEET INC

WASHINGTON, Jan. 22.-Caustic
attacks on President Harding's agri-
cultural conference, on the eve Of
it's assembling here Monday. were
made Saturday in the senate and by
farm association leaders here.
The conference will, it was appar
ent in all quarters, Under cloud of
pessimism and doubt as to it's ability
to accomplish real results, but this
is expected to be dispelled after Pres
ident Harding in an opening speech
outlines its purposes. He completed
his message tonight.
Senator Pat Harrison, Mississippi,
in the senate, charged that the con-
ference was called for the purpose
"of stealing the thunder of the ag-
ticultural bloc" Representatives of
the National Farmers council and
the All-American Cooperative asso-
citation, joined in the attack, also
charging political considerations
were back OF it.
Farm association leaders fear the
conference will develop into a bat
tie between "dirt farmers" and the
railroad and financial interests.
Harrison Launches Attack
Secretary of Agriculture Wallace
has pointed out that approximately
two thirds Of the 1925 delegates are
representative of the agricultural
interests or related lines. The farm
association leaders charge that "a re-
dictionary group" holds the balance
Of power.
"The conference" Senator Harri-
son declared, 'is nothing but an at
tempti on President Earding's part
to make lit appear that any help the
farmer may get comes from the con-
ference, and not from the bloc. lie
intends to take the measures that
the farm bloc has been backing for
months, turn them over to his own
leaders for enactment into law, and
then proclaim, with blare OF trum-
pets, that the administration has
saved the farmer"
Mr.. EIarrison's speech, delivered
after consultation with both Repub-
lican and Democratic members OF the
farm. group in the senate, was IN re-
taliation against the administration
campaign to wipe out the farm group
and bring strictly into the party fold
the Republican members whose
stand on recent legislation has been
extremely irritating to Harding ana
other regular" party leaders.
Conference Unnecessary
"The agricultural conference,
Senator Harrison said, lis entirely
unnecessary, because we already
have had a very thorough inVestl'
cation into the farm situation by
the joint agricultural commission IN
congress. This commission has been
at work for months, studying the ag-
ricultural problems from every angie
and hearing all the experts OF all
the farmers organizations. With
this commission still functioning,
and about to recommend legislation
to congress, why the Harding con-
| ference is politics, that's all"
Mr.. Harrison took a stiff verbal
slam at Secretary of War Weeks
and Senator Moses, Republican,
New Hampshire, for recent speeches
i criticizing the farm bloc.
II 81 notice." he said, that when
| the bloc's enemies go on the speak
| ing war path they conf1ne their re-
marks to New York City where
they know they will have sympa-
thetic audiences from Wall street. y
| Senator Moses, Mr.. Harrison
| charged, SIS the mouthpiece for an
other bloc-a larger and more
greedy bloc-the manufacturers
bloc"
1.-THE manufacturers bloc, and the
powerful tariff bloc" Mr.. Harrison
| their views to the committee and
send out their threats. But we
never heard complaints about them.
The agricultural bloc, however, is
not so adept and it makes noise,
causes rumblings and leads the
president to come here and talk
against it.
Politics Charged
! Benjamin c. Marsh, managing di.
rector OF the Farmers National
council, charged that politics is one
of the principal considerations in
calling the conference.
The real purpose or the confer
ence which is to be controlled by
reactionary leaders of farm organi.
cations and Representatives of pre-.
datory interests" Mr.. Marsh said
lis to get these reactionary farm
leaders, who have been invited to
the practical exclusion of progress.
sive farm organizations, to ask for
an inadequate program of legisla
ton so that thu majority party now
in control can go to the country
AND say the Republican party has
done what the farmers asked"
The All-American Cooperative
commission, composed of farmers
interests stated:
THE only satisfactory solution is
the enactment of a measure enabling
the farmers to organize their ow1
cooperative banks and credit
unions and bring their credit re
sources under their own control
The farmers Of Europe have ha6
this right for more than 70 years
| Tho Mnonoo+ Mon