AMERICAN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION 269 



was condemned. The rights of every class of people to organize for its 

 material benefit and of every American citizen "to the free and un- 

 hampered privilege of disposing of his labor or products thereof as he 

 may individually require" were upheld. Relief from monopoly was also 

 asked for; this, it was said, could be had through the "enforced publicity" 

 of the business records of corporations and the adoption of a "just grad- 

 uated income tax law" rather than by an undue interference with eco- 

 nomic laws. 



The convention would hardly have been complete without the adoption 

 of resolutions. The policy of the government in protecting the public 

 through "regulative legislation" was approved. Regulation was asked for 

 "all purveyors of foodstuffs" in a manner that would be fair to the pro- 

 ducer, the consumers, and industry alike. Government ownership of 

 public utilities was opposed, and a demand was made for the return of 

 the railroads to private control. Economy in public expenditures was 

 demanded, as was the incorporation under federal charter of all cor- 

 porations doing interstate business; likewise, incorporation in the state 

 in which their principal business was located was asked of all other cor- 

 porations. A request was made for an increase in the maximum loan 

 obtainable by farmers through the Federal Land Banks. The agricul- 

 tural extension agents were praised, and the American Legion was 

 extolled because of its efforts to rehabilitate returning veterans. Also, in 

 the Legion the federation saw "a soldier citizenry for law and order, a 

 guarantee that civil and religious liberty shall be maintained in the land." 

 The returning soldiers were welcomed with the statement that "no gift 

 of the people is too good for them." Again, a firm stand was taken against 

 radicalism, and the aid of the government was asked in preventing such 

 outrages "against the Flag and the Citizens" as those committed in 

 Centralia, Washington, in the heart of the lumber country, where a parade 

 of overseas veterans was fired upon from an I.W.W. hall, four men being 

 killed in the episode. 



When the November convention adjourned there were feelings of dis- 

 appointment among the representatives from the western Middle West. 

 The Prairie Farmer reflected this in saying: "Instead of being born of the 

 enthusiastic vision of big service to the business of American agriculture 

 with which many of the delegates were inspired . . . [the bureau] was 



