Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1923-08-24

Mr.. Dabney Harrison


Mr.. Dabney Harrison, President Of
the arke County Farmers Union and
one Of the State leaders, addlS ssed
1900 iarners and friends at the annual
picnic held at the Woodstock Fair
Grounds in Shenandoah County, Aug
18th. Mr.. Harrison has a good voice
and enunciates so clearly that every
one can hear what he says. His sub
ject was Politics and Agriculture.
He showed plainly how the two sub
jects are mixed together and that
much of the farmers trouble at the
present time is due to politics and re-
sulting unjust laws. He paid his re-
spects to the railroad and said the
present r. r. law, after three years
trial is failure and should be peal
ed. Mr.. Harrison said that of ths sreat
factors in our economic life-pi educ
ton R. r OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
lures and shipping all are practically
subsidized except agricultural produc-
ton. Why not include agriculture In
the list as 514 per cent male workers
in the world and so per cent female
workers are engaged in it. He favor
ed sterilization of prices on farm pro-
ducts by the government. Among the
list of factories making unreasonable
profits, he mentioned Brown and
Sharpe" who make hardware that
farmers use, and who declared 16O
per cent dividend at the beginning OF
| this year the Worcester Salt Works
| 100 per cent, the Emerson Drug Co.
800 per cent. The sugar refiners GO
per cent but he added they hoped to
do little better this year. Mr.. Harri-
son had a long list of such prices. He
quoted Representative from an agri-
cultural district in Pennsylvania as ad-
| vising the farmers to elect farmer
once in a while and not keep on elect
ing lawyers and politicians who are
out of sympathy with them. The
speaker referred to Government ex.
ltravagance. He quoted from letter
OF Geo. Sanderson, Sec'y of the U. S
SENATE, in which Sanderson recently
wrote to the Senators that he would nc
longer agree to buy "golf clubs anc
rubber tires" and call them stationary
Mr.. Harrison declared in favor of the
best roads and schools we are able Il
pay for, but no bonds. Referring tt
the ladies he said have never beer
able to understand why woman who
does as much work and as good worl
as man does; should not receive IL,
same pay. He referred to his expert
Ience as a Government official in Wash
lington where the men typewriters al
ways were better paid than the women
and generally were not as efficient
Mr.. Harrison declared that the presen
Highway Department, had. the wron.
Idea that they would make a Dime
station out of Virginia between tn
| North and the South. He said tn
money should be spent on the sid
!, roads to really develop the State
Raising his voice the speaker said
Taxpayers listen to me, our none
will build the roads and our money wi
keep them in order and if a bon
issue is passed our children will pa
for it and not the children of tourists
. Mr.. Harrison severely criticised tn
Highway Department. for slowness, e,
travagance, poor work and in justice
: apportioning the money, saying, Wv
pay the money and the politicians d.
! eide where it is to be spent " H
closed his remarks with these word
Il favor unlimited charity towards a
the world, but no entangling alliances.
Mr.. Harrison's speech was punctuate
, with witty jokes and enthusiastically r,
. ceived. Many in the audience sal
it was the best speech on the subje,
they had ever heard A farmer hin
5 self is in full sympathy with the farme
: and is always welcome guest at the
2 meetings.