The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1923-02-16
SEN. BROOKHART
ENLIGHTENS OLD
GANG SENATOR

Washington, Feb. 1O.-A battle be-
tween Brookhart of Iowa and Reed of
Pennsylvania that would have delight !
ed western farmers to behold marked
the last hours of debate on the Len
root-Anderson farm credits bill.
In an effort to get something good
into the measure, Brookhart pressed
for an amendment that would give
farmers the right to organize cooper
alive farm banks, with federal pro-
lection. AS it stands, he declared,
the Lenroot bill does provide $6O,OOO,-
600 of credit for the farmers, all of
which the farmers viii repay, where
as the ship subsidy bill gives $780,
100000 to ship owners, of which not
a cent will ever come back.
At that point the ex-soldier sena-
tor from Pennsylvania, Reed, inter-
rupted to say: ''The senator from
Iowa refers frequently to the farm
bloc. come from state where ag-
riculture is a considerable industry,
but have not been invited to join
this farm bloc. I would be very much
obliged if the senator from Iowa will
enlighten me about this farm bloc
and tell me what it wants"
II will reply" said Brookhart, "by
telling tie senator from Pennsylvania
that he had better look up the farm
bloc in his own state. If he fails to
do that Pennsylvania will some day
be represented in this body by some
one else beside himself, because the
farm bloc means business and it has
plenty Of members in Pennsylvania.
81 belong to the soldier bloc, p
Brookhart went on, "and that bloc
with the farm, the labor and the moth
ers bloc, are the principal blocs in this
country. I think there are enough of
these blocs to entitIe them to elect a
majority of the senate and house, and
I think they are going to do it in The
near future"
"But what does the farm bloc
want ?" Reed persisted. eve are all
in favor Of the farmer. Does the bloc
! mean that he shall get more than a
square deal?"
'Forty per cent of the American
people are farmers" Brookhart re-
sponded. GAS things are now orga-
nized in the United States they have
little voice in its economic affairs Of
its political affairs. I will tell the
senator from Pennsylvania that the
= farm bloc means to join with the 9th
E er producing labor of this country
and perhaps with those who maxi
e their living by using their brains, a
t honest a living as hand work gives
e These other workers are in the same
y condition as the farmer. They ar
Disseminated against by the grea
: organizations of capital in this cOun
t try.
s with this 80 per cent Of the PEG
r pie so organized-the farm, the la
n Dor, the common soldier and the moth
s ers blocs-we intend to have equa
e rights, equal economic and politica
: power with the great combination
e which at present are able to put over
e head charges upon the people tina
e amounts to taxation without represen
e tation."
It eff the senator from Iowa means,
Reed answered, shat the congress
d to be divided up into occupations
it groups, owing allegiance to person
r following a particular occupations
d then hope the day will never com
d when the senate has become a sOvie
+ of that description. It has been trie
g in Russia, with the collapse that
2 inevitable for any such effort. It ha
q. been tried by the Nonpartisan Leagu
Y of North Dakota"
IS "The only fellows opposed to m
le amendment" Broozhart retorted, "al
a those in the Nonpartisan League {
al Wall Street. The farmers would iE
n to have it."