The Washington herald., 1922-01-28
FARMS PARLEY
INDORSES FORD
SHOALS OFFER
Gompers Rebuffed for
Attitude on Rail
Wages.
URGE U. S. ENTER
FINANCIAL MEETING
Adoption of st. Lawrence
Great Lakes Canal
Project Urged.

11 lVJOSt VI Sus
After stormy session through
out the day the National Agricul-
tural Conference came to a close
last night with opinion divided as
to whether or not an effective means
had been decided upon for relieving
depression on the farm.
Events moved rapidly in the clos
ing session. The delegates played
verbal football with Samuel Com
pers, veteran labor leader. and the
cause for which he stands. He
scored early victories only to be
later severely rebuffed.
The conference endorsed Henry
Ford's proposal for the acquisition
of Muscle Shoals. recommended the
adoption of the 81. Lawrence-Great
Lakes waterway project, and adopt
ed numerous committee reports,
each one suggesting some means OF
bringing the farmer back from a
state OF financial dependency to
antebcllum normalcy.
Favor Economic Farley.
In the final hour of its last ses-
sion the delegates again went on
record as being in favor of partici-
patton by the United States in "a
conference for economic and finan-
cial reconstruction in Europe
Other eleventh hour matters dis
posed of were recommendations for
the enactment of legislation to meet
the need Of sbort-term credits; re-
doublel effort for the sale of farm
loan bonds through legally ere
ated bond market; reenactment of
excess profit tax on corporations IL
additional revenue be needed. and
a Federal investigation with a
view of establishing crop insur-
ancc.
Gompcrs Begins Fireworks.s =
The day was decidedly the most
eveutful Of the conference and in
the opinion OF many observers
marked the beginning of divorce be-
tween the workman on tho farm
and his brother In industry who
carries a union card. Still others
insisted that il means that the far
mer would take no side in disputes
between capital and labor, but
to assist the planter and rural la
borer in getting greater return
for their effort and more purchas-
ing power for the dollar.
Samuel Gompers started the ver-
bal fireworks, and was responsible
Tor bringing about "A temporary
cleavage, at least. in the aims of
organized labor and the farmer. He
was successful in having elimi-
mated from Il committee report a
accommodation for the reduction
of Industrial wages.
Voted Down OverwheIminsIy.
At the afternoon session he at
tempted TO press his advantage in
the discussion of a recommendation
of the committee on transportion
that both the railroads and railroad
labor share in the general defation.
Mr.. Gompers moved that the recon-
mendation he stricken from the re-
port, but the agricultural delegates
turned against him and overwhelm-
ingly voted that the recommends
ton remain as reported.
The injection of the cause of
union labor into the conference, and
the insistence of the veteran leader
tnat farm workers should stand by
the laborers in industrial plants.
overShadowed other Developments
OF the day. with the possible ex-
ception of the action on the Muscle
Shoals project for furnishing fertili-
zer and power. and the ST. Law
renee River project ~for bringing
ocean freight to the Great Lakes
and Middle West.
Appeals for Solidarity,
From the report of the subcom-
mittee on railway transportation,
Mr. Gompers moved to strike out
the following:
IN conclusion. we insist that the
railroad corporations and railroad
labor share in the deflation of
charges now affecting all industries.
This Is essential to the restoration,
OF normal conditions in agricul-
ture and essential to the welfare of
the entire community. We earn
estIy appeal to those in authority to
take such action as may be neces-
sary to accomplish that result
After a speech in which he an
pealed to all laborers to stand to-
gether. the motion of Mr., Gomper,
to have the Objectionable clause
eliminated was put to a vote There
was very weak response of ayes"
me noes" were tumultous and
there was a demonstration of bois
ferrous shouting.
Resent Labor's Wages.
Dinerences in the incomes or
farmers and organized laborers was
responsible for the turn of thing,
against Mr.. Gompers. Previous 10
the defeat of his motion, various
tarm delegates and argued that 1,
was unthinkable and unsound that
farmer should have to work two
or three days from thirteen TO sly
teen honrs to get the same retur,
as lunion laborer working one
oay OF six or eight hours
A dirt farmer from the West got
tne hoor and exclaimed. at am
AFRAID Mr.. Gompers misunderstood
our courtesy of the morning. I
mink he will find that we farmer.
nelieve that labor is getting more
than its share 'Nofe
Tpe delegate referred TO the ,c.
tion at the morning session whom
the conference by a vote of a. 70
% had supported Mr.. Gompers 70
the extent of striking from the re.
port of the committee on COSTS
prfces and adjustments recommend
stions for; ~
Repeal of the Adamson eight
hour law:'reduction of freight rates
made possible thereby; repeal OF
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