60 FARMERS' UNION AND FEDERATION 



policies as are thought to be best for one's interest, or to 

 defeat policies of others that are to one's injury or disad- 

 vantage. Of course, all classes now unionized and in pol- 

 itics for class legislation will advise the farmers to keep out 

 of politics ; but that is because they can get and keep the 

 advantages they want over farmers that would be jeopard- 

 ized did they unionize and go into politics. 



Unionized city labor has had its officials prepare and lobby 

 through Legislatures and Congress scores of bills for their 

 special benefit. Unionized manufacturers, bankers, em- 

 ployers, packers, railroads, speculators and profiteerers have 

 had their officials do the same thing for them. Many of 

 the laws thus enacted have been against the interest of the 

 wheat growers, but not being unionized they had no one 

 authorized and qualified to protect them. 



A few current news items will illustrate how organized 

 classes seek favorable legislation continually : 



"CHICAGO, Feb. 26. Following revelations that the packers 'scooped 

 the world' on the appointment of Herbert Hoover as Food Adminis- 

 trator and packed Washington with friendly ' dollar-a-year men,' Wis- 

 consin and Missouri butter and egg men are here today to throw light 

 on alleged attempts to monopolize their industry. Francis J. Heney, 

 who is directing the probe for the government, planned to introduce 

 further letters in support of his contention that the Food Administra- 

 tion is honeycombed with men friendly to the packing interests. Cor- 

 respondence between officials 'and representatives of the Chicago pack- 

 ing industries indicating a contemplated monopoly of the country's 

 food and virtual control of the Food Administration was made public 

 by Heney. He read more than 100 letters. They show that the largest 

 packing houses are represented in the Food Administration by more than 

 a half dozen trusted employees. They are on the payrolls of their former 

 employers at lucrative salaries. Mr. Heney declared these silent 'pay- 

 roll patriots ' hold positions which have jurisdiction of practically every 

 phase of the meat industry. 'Dollar a year from the government 

 $10,000 a year from the packers, and services rendered accordingly,' 

 Heney said. Since the start of the war, according to Mr. Heney, all of 

 the larger Chicago packers have had private wires into Washington." 



