Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 251, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 October 1919 — FARMERS SHOULD HAVE VOICE IN CONFERENCE. [ARTICLE]

FARMERS SHOULD HAVE VOICE IN CONFERENCE.

“No incident in the labor-capital conference now in progress in Washington is more significant or important than the statement made by C. S. Barrett, president of the National | Farmers’ Union, presenting the interests of our agricultural producers, and complaining that in this controversy between employers and the labor unions proper consideration has not been given to the farmers. jFirst and last, the prosperity of America depends upon the success of our-agricultural industries. Moreover, the very stability of the government depends chiefly upon the rural residents, who are largely home-owners, or tenants under a leasing system which gives them a property interest, making them the permanent and substantial residents of their communities. For ‘safe and sane’ and yet progressive action, the country can always depend upon the tillers of the soil. “Few will question Mr. Barrett’s assertion that during the war the farmer’s welfare received practically no consideration. So far as the administration took any action -bearing I upon the interests of the farmers, 1 that action was in the direction of limiting profits, while the action affecting organized labor resulted, in every instance, in idcreaZb bf compensation. With the one hand, the administration repressed the agricultural producer, while with the other it gave special assistance to • organized labor. I “Past records will fully bear out Mr. Barrett’s assertion that farmers want no* special privileges. His demand for equality under the law, and for due consideration in the shaping of policies of the present conference, is as meritorious as it is timely. Befdre beginning its deliberations, the conference has had its. attention called to the danger 1 of attempting to* satisfy the demands of capital, on the one hand, and organized labor, on the otherleaving forty millions of agricultural population to take the leavings. “But, reasoning- apriori, we can--1 not share Mr. Barrett's fear that many farmers may ‘rush into organizations which are not 100 per cent American? or that? ‘many thou- ' sands of them may depart from that narrow path which is laid down by 1 the constitution.’ However unjust the treatment die may -have received, no farmer or ether OWUO- of property which he has accumulated by industry and thrift will fail to realize that his only hope of continued possession and enjoyment of- that property rests upon the maintenance of law and order. However much the farmer may resent injustice and however earnest his efforts to change conditions, he will never be found aligning himself with the enemies of the constitution. He will proceed to secure hits rights by orderly and lawful means through the election of legislators and executives who believe in government by and for all who oppose government by and for a class. “Mr. Barrett’s plea tn behalf of those for whom he speaks will find wide commendation, especially when compared with the bold threats of Mr. Gompers, who threatens congress, and. who declares the determination of organized labor to resist the government and violate the law vent conspiraciss for ths tjdug up of interstate commerce.”