Evening star., 1933-05-06
STRIKE REPUD|ATED
BY FARM LEADERS
Bureau Chief and Sections
of Union Are AI0of as Iowa
Probes Riots.
BY the Associated Press.

by the Associated PreSS.
CHICAGO, May 6. - Belief that
Americas breadbasket will not be seri-
ously menaced by national farm
strike, has been expressed by some
farm leaders.
From Edward A. O'Neal. president OF
the American Farm Bureau Federation
came the opinion that the proposed
strike sponsored by the National Farm
ers' Holiday Association would mot as
sumo large proportions or materially
influence prices"
The proposed strike. called for May
13 by the Holiday Associations con-
vention at Des Moines providing its de-
mands for farm relief are not granted
will not have the support Of the Farm
Bureau Federation, O'Neal said.
He declared he was convinced that
"the real solution of the farm prob
lem lies not in a temporary strike but
in securing establishment Of a sound
national agricultural policy"
I'VE are" he added, carrying for
ward the establishment of such a policy
LII washington.
Opposed to Radicals.
A similar position was taken by o. G
Barrett, farm adviser for Cook County
He said the Cook County Farm Bureau
was opposed to what he described as
radical action, which, he said, would
destroy the good will of the country
as whole toward sensible movement
for better farm prices"
At the same time H. G. Keeney
president of the Nebraska Farmers
Union, asserted at Omaha that there
would be no united strike movement
among the farmers of Nebraska. His
organization, he said, would maintain
a neutral position because its member
ship Is made up of both proponents and
opponents Of the Farmers Holiday As
sociation.
Meanwhile. authorities pushed for
ward plans to cope with developments
that may come with strike and to pun
ish Iowa farmers who rioted in two
counties last week in protest against
mortgage foreclosures. Proposed legis-
lation designed to strengthen the hands
of officers dealing with picket lines was
expedited in the Wisconsin Legislature
while at Des Moines Attorney General
Edward L. O'Connor Of Iowa prepared
for criminal prosecutions.
Iowa military authorities in the
troubled areas continued a search for
evidence to support the charges against
the rioters.
Racketeering Charged.
1nformationS charging criminal syn
dicalism in some instances and con-
spiracy in others are to be filed next
week, Attorney General O'Conner said,
adding that there would be no delay
beyond the present terms of court. His
statement followed verbal charges by
him that leaders of the Farm Holiday
Association were responsible for the
Iowa disturbances, including the ab-
duction and mistretament Of District
Judge c. C. Bradley at Lemars, dragged
from his bench when he refused to take
an oath not to sign any more mortgage
foreclosure DEGREES.
The attorney general declared that
"racketeering methods" were resorted to
in forcing farmers to join the holiday
movement each being charged IS cents
for membership; that not more than
25 per cent joined willingly and that
others we're told their barns or hay
stacks might be burned. He also as
serted Communist agitators helped flame
the farmers revolt"
All of his allegations were emphat-
ically denied by Milo Reno. president
of the holiday association, at Des
Moines
While farm holiday leaders made
plans to carry out their strike threat,
if they deem it necessary, word came
from Aurora, H., that dairy farmers
furnishing milk to the Chicago area,
had decided to go on strike May IS.
Their object is to get $1.85 per hundred
pounds. They now are getting s1.45.