The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-09-26
FARM ACTION
IN CONGRESS-
IS OUTLINED.
Benjamin Marsh, of Farmers
National Council, Gives
Views in Speech Here
PLANS FOR SESSION
NOrris-Sinclair Bill Will Be
Urged Upon Representa-
tives in December Session

Benjamin Marsh, managing direc-
tor of the Farmers National Council,
an organization maintaining head
quarters at Washington, spoke to an
audience at the court house last
night explaining the purpose Of the
organization and directing his re-
marks largely toward an effort to
show a community OF interest be-
tween the farmer and the laborer
in political action. Mr.. Marsh is on
long speaking tour, having been
out for several months talking to
labor union organizations and to
farmers.
He outlined some things which he
said his organization would fight for
in the next congress. These include
the Norris Sinclair bill to create n
government marketing agency, for
the LaFollette original-cost basis for
railroad valuation, against . sales
tax and for an inheritance, excess
profits and stock dividend tax and
for an investigation Of the Depart
ment Of Agriculture.
Mr.. Marsh was introduced by Will
liam LANCER.
In endeavoring to link the interest
Of the farmer and laborer in political
action Mr.. Marsh spoke along lines
taken by speakers in the state for
the Nonpartisan League for the last
several years, but introduced new
note in which he asserted that big
business started out, to bankrupt the
farmers so millions Of farmers would
be driven to cities to relieve the la
Dor shortage in big producing areas.
The first step after the war, he said,
was to try and break the labor
unions, which failed; the second to
break down immigration restriction,
which failed, and the third to drive
farmers to the factories, which sue
ceeded, two to five million people 60
ing from the farms to cities. He as
serted figures Of Secretary of Agri-
culture Wallace. showed that this
year two to two and half millions
Of farmers will leave the farms ano
that some places in the Northwest
20 to Is per cent Of the farmers had
lost their farms.
Some farmers. he said, unfortu.
nately speculated in land values and
farm values are twenty to thirty bill.
lions more than they should be. The
valuation is not real, the farms won't
produce enough to justify the values
he said.
Attacks Reserve Dystem.
The Federal Reserve System, HI
said, was designed to help gamblers
in farm products, etc, to survive
financial stress.
There never has been a time wher
consumers did not pay enough fo1
farm products to pay all the costs 81
distribution and give fair profits t
the farmers and farmers wives, h
said. ,.~
In answer to statements that far
mers are over-producing he said thi,
was another name for under-con
sumption, because prices Of products
are high and because of unemploy
ment. Bread prices, he asserted
were too high. He said figures show
ed the average consumption Of tn
leading products had declined in thu
last Is years because Of high prices
He urged support for the Norris
Sinclair bill for marketing corpor
alton.
1--WE have a Wall Street controlle,
government, but it will only TAX
about eight years more to get pub
lie ownership Of government" h
said. =, r
He said that when Congress con
vened in December it was planned t.
have Representatives from farm pro
ducing states come to Washington
and demand that senators and repre-
sentatives vote for the Norris-Sin
clair bill. They will be told the!
must vote for this bill before paying
attention to the Presidents messag'
or anything else, and if they dom
they will be defeated.
He opposed the plan to refund tn
war debt over q period of forty t
fifty years, declaring this woult
make the wage earners pay it. Thu
great increase in taxes was referee
to. Twenty years ago all taxes wer,
1-2O Of the national income and nov
taxes are lie Of the national income
Why = Standing Army.
A large standing army was wanted
in Washington, he asserted, 50 I
could be used to hold down farmer,
and laborers If they fail to seek il
. constitutional way what they ART
entitled to.
He. attacked the reproduction basi,
Of railroad valuation, and urged thu
LaFollette plan Of orisiual cost val
uation. He said, on this. however
1.-THE supreme court 10 packed against
Ms" He said, however, the only ssQlu
tion, for the railroad problem VA
united government ownership.
He criticised Secretary Of Agricul
turs Wallace very. bitterly. declaring
he "takes the privileged view" in ad
ministering the packers control act
and declared that one Of the first &C
lions in the new Congress will b,
m itvsstigation Of the Department
Of Agriculture.
M. Garsh urged political aetion b,
farmers, declaring the wage sarner'
constitute 95 per cent Of the ots snt
tkat II they fail to, exercise theil
povsr ~ help themselves they cal
blame no one else.
II. Marsh said he had been Ut
/ txkkka % i socialist and shout every
ching else, but that his. organization