The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1922-01-28
THE FARM FARLEY.

farming and "allied' interests now
in session in Washington, conference
called by Secretary of Agriculture
Wallace and attended largely by rep
resentatives Of the interests which are
the hereditary enemies Of the farmers.
Among the delegates who were in
vited to the parley are J. Ogden Ar.
mour and L. G. Swift, packers; Rob.
crt McDougall, president Chicago
Board Of Trade; Everett G. Brown,
president National Live Stock Elk.
change; George N. Peck, representa-
tive of farm implement manufactur.
ers; c. H. Markham, president ILL
nois Central railway; G. B. Merriam,
president Farm Mortgage Bankers as:
ISOLATION; Frederick B. Wells and
James F. Bell, grain dealer and bank
er, respectively, representing the Min
neapolis Chamber Of Commerce, and
George Woodruff of the American
Bankers. association.
The list Of representative Of farm
organizations include only a half doz-
en- or SO progressive farm leaders and
progressive editors Of farm papers.
The subjects being discussed at the
conference include most of the topics
which the house and senate. joint COM
mission on agricultural inquiry is sup
posed to have very thoroughly done
nothing.
Some Of Che subjects are we'll worthy
of the attention Of the conference,
but in view Of the fact that the Sec
rotary of agriculture has been advocat-
ing reduction in acreage and curtail-
ment Of production, it seems super
fluous to consider enhancement of
crop productions through improved
methods in the soil mana gemcntn un.
less it is part of the, secretary's plan
to stimulate intensive use Of certain
farm lands and to establish. a boy
colt against other farmers, who would
thereby be driven into tile cities to
compete with the vast number of un-
employed today thronging the streets
Of every industrial center.
The conference is not discussing how
to stimulate the domestic and foreign
markets for farm products by ending
the tremendous toll exacted from all
consumers, by the great predatory in
terests- which are represented at the
conference. The bankers, farm imple.,
ment and fertilizer manufacturers. the
packers, the railroads, the live stock
exchanges, the millers and grain deal
ers and cotton exchanges, plus: the
land SPECTATORS, exact an annual tri-
butte over and above all service rend:
cred, which cost the farmers of Amer.
lea at least $3,250,OO0,O00 a year, or
over half Of the total amount which
farmers received for their crops, in
1921.
Perhaps these representatives of the
predatory interests, which have mulct-
ed agriculture, are at the conference:
IN order that they may plead guilty
to the grand larceny Of the businesses
which they represent. Otherwise: it
ls difficult to see why they should
have the nerve to be there. If it is
q lion and a lamb get together
feast". it is easy to see what the
results will be.
We should remember that out of
the $5,750,00O,000 which the farmers
on 5000 farms secured last year
for their crops, they paid at least
7oo,ooo,oOo: in excess freight rates to
the railroads; $1,ooO,oo,ooo too much
taxes, because we tax the producers
of wealth instead of concentrated
wealth and monopoly; at least $780,
ooo,ooo excess interest; and $500, OO0,-
'ooo too much ground rent; while the
fertilizer and implement manufacture
ers, packers and allied extortionists
mlllers and elevator interests, took an
other $0OO,0O0,000 from the farmers.
This comes to grand and sad total
OF $3.50, 100000 unearned tribute COL
lected by the so.called Called, in.
terests which are sitting down with
the farmers and telling them how to
get prosperity.
The basic cause Of agricultural de-
preston in our country is the fact
that the purchasing power of humid
reds Of millions of people abroad and
In our own country has been reduced
materially and millions are at the
verge OF starvation. In large measure
this reduced consuming power is due
to the tremendous burden of indehtea.
ness incurred during the. World war
when neither our own government nor
the. government Of any lar &c country
III the world dared heavily tax the
wealthy and others who made enor.
nous profits out of the war: also to
the feet that the nations If Tho ,,,-,a