The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-05-27
PEOPLES BLOCHS
READY TO BATTLE
RAILROAD STEAL
CONTINUED from Page One)

the country can build railroads OF
its own but railroads cannot build
country"
He urged justice to the man-made
man but protection to the God-made
man,
Protect People
The rights of the God-mad man
must be protected" the Commoner
asserted.
The people," he said, can be
much better trusted to do justice
to the railroads than the railroads
can be trusted to do justice to the
people"
Governor Blaine, WISCONSIN, de-
clared that the valuation claimed by
the Great Northern railroad would
cost the public s13.000,0o0 year
more than the tentative valuation
set by the Interstate commerce COM
ton, he said, Is 1890, 5000 and
that claimed is 609,000.000.
He asserted that on one small road
in Wisconsin the tentative valuation
is 100000 and the amount claimed
by the road is more than $4,000, 900,
the latter figure would result in an
increased cost to the public of
$1,000 a mile.
Costs Public Millions
Governor William B. Ross, Wyom-
ing, Endorsed the conference and its
aims as did Granville S. MacFarland,
Boston attorney who spoke at the
public sessions.
Leaders of the conference assert
that the approximately $28, 900, 000,-
600 valuation desired by the roads
will cost the public about $500, 000,-
900 yearly in increased rates, Land
son. the farmer leader, delcarded that
the farmers are now bearing more
than their share of high rate burdens
and asserted that relief must be eff
fected soon.
The shipper" he declared, can
pass the buck to the public when
forced to pay higher rates, the farm
er cannot" using alfalfa as an ex-
ample in showing how farm crops
have been effected by high rates,
Landson said that thousand of acres
of this product have been plowed
up because farmers cannot afford to
ship it.
He described this land as "confis-
Gated by the railroads."
The final plans for a nationwide
fight in the valuation project were
made at an executive session late
Saturday.
LaFOllette Chosen Head.
The progressive" conference meet
ing here was formed into a perma-
nent' national organization, to be
known as the national conference
on valuation of American railroads"
Senator Robert NJ. LaFollette, who
called the conclave, was elected ma
tional chairman at the closing ses-
sion.
Other officers elected:
representative George Huddleston.
Alabama, first national vice chair
man.
Senator Robert L. Owen. Oklahoma,
second national vice chairman.
Edward Heating. Colorado, third
national vice chairman.
Representative w. Turner Logan,
South Carolina, secretary.
William H. Johnston, Washington,
D. c., treasurer.
Powers of congressional progress
sives." a dozen state governments.
national farm and labor organiza-
lions, shippers and women's fedora
lions were pledged to support the
project. The executive officers were
authorized by delegates to invite
the governors and public officials
of the states, the conference of gov
ernors. the national ASSOCIATION of
sions and other private and public
organizations to cooperate.
The peoples bloc" which LaFol-
lette and other leaders deny is in
tended as a foundation for another
political party, will carry its fight
to the public. the interstate COM
merce commission. and, if necessary
to the courts and Congress, it was
announced