The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, January 26, 1922, Image 7
Some Aspe
Farm?
{ Br BERNAJU
I | BUprinted front
The whole rami world it In a fermeat
of trnreet, tad there It an anparalleled
relnme and intensity of de^
Hff ternined, If not angry, protest, and an
W otulnotu twanaiaf ot acevpatlonal con
^ - 11 ? I Ml 1
TQT6QCQ8, lKCreK {TOiyup^ pwuw
movement* iM propsganda. 8nch a
tnrmofl etuMt but arrent Mr attention.
Indeed, It demands Mr careful
atndy and examination. It la net likely
that six million aloof and ruggedly
independent men bare eaaia together
aod banded themselves Into active
aniens, societies, farm bureaus, and so
forth, for no sufficient canM.
Drveotigatiea of tbo shbjeet osaetoaive'y
proves that, while there la mwh
overetateaaent of grievances and ate^eneeptiM
af remedies, the farmer*
^ are right In complaining af wrenga
loot; endured, and right la holding that
it la feasible to roll ere their Ills with
, henedt to the rest sf the cemmaaitp.
Tbia being (he ease sf an tndantiy
that cMtrfbwtaa, In the raw matarlal
tea tee, ahead one-third af the national
aanwel wealth predeettea and
is the weans of livelihood sf sheet 40
tar teat ?f the populatien, It ia ehvions
that fee subject is ene et grave
ooacem. flfet anly ia the fa no era
Cfke ^ euetalf af fee nation, bat
tie wefl-betng of Ike etker half d*>
laf lipoid**.
f fa loag aa we have nations, a wiaa
poNtdal Bcaaaaar wttl aim at a targe
decree of aatlaaal self-sufficiency aai
self-eoetainaaent Rome (ell when tka
* food supply was too far removed from
tka belly. Like her, we ahall destref
otfr awe agriculture a fid extend aai
sources of food distaatly aad precariously,
if we do sot see te K tkat aaa
farmers are well and fairly paid far
Ihelr services The farm gives the
action Qien as well aa food. Gitlaa
uerive their vitality aad are (erevar
renewed the country, kat aa Inn
poverlshed countryside exports Intelligence
and retains anlnteliigeace.
Wnly the lower grades of mentality
and character will remain on, or seek,
t the farm, unless agriculture Is capable
of being pursued with contentment and
r adequate compensation. Hence, to embitter
and impoverish tka farmer la ta
dry sp aad contaminate the vital
purees of the nation.
Hid war showed convincingly bear
dependent the nation la an tka fall
. prodactlvlty af the farms. Despite
herculean effort a, agricultural production
kqrt anly a few weeks or aooatka
ahead of caaaamptloa, and that anly
hp Jncreaatag the acreage af certain
staple crops at the cast af reducing
that af others We enght net ta farget
that lessen when we pander in
i^w w cvvt x B>tf v?
omamm in rtlw?? and thaaa Mi
be ae attea^t t# deal wit* Am aa
K th?r war* pereiy sdfleh jwiifli
f i d?tr-o?t pM|> aalaflOa to
Ito reat af the community. Rather
shoal d we consider sgrleultare fa the
hgfct ef bread aatteaai policy. Jaat
aa we eeaetder ell, eeal, steel, dyetonftt,
ae forth, aa aiaewa af aaMcoM!
strength. Oar growing iiprtiMob
m4 a Mghar standard ad Using
deaaaad Increasing feed sopptlca, and
bmcw wmI, eettoe, bldee, and Mm reat
Wfth the disappearance ef free er
cheap fertile lead, additional temp
and lacreeeed yields eaa eoaae oblIj
freM eeetiy Mfert. This wa aead hat
expect flreaa aa impoverished er mfc&ppp
rare! popslatioa.
It w4R aet d? t.. rake a aarrew ataw
Btflfcsf the rend dl?<??nteat, ar te appraise
h ftM the stnndpeiat ef yeeterdaj
TWa ia pecnHarly aa age ef flex aad
change aad aew deals. Ba eaaaa i
thing always has heea aa aa leaps*
means that It Is rlghteoas, er shrayi
shaft he ? Mere, perhaps, thaa erei
before, there ia a widespread fsailaj
jd- that att haMaa ralatleaa caa ha ha
*' prosed hy takiag thought, sad that ti
is not keceailng for the reasoning sal
mal te lease his festlny largely U
chance and aataral Incidence.
Predent aad orderly a dj set meat ?
prodaetiea aad dtetrtbatlea la aeeertf
ance with coasmapdon ia recogalafc!
as wise aiaaagemeot ia esary haafadti
- - W-. ?
bat tHat <K rarmiaf. iwi, *
to say, there is a# ether ladustry b
which it is so iwpertaat te the pnb
lie?te the ?Ity-dweilar?that prodaC
tion sheald he sore, steady, and ID
cr aaiag, aad that dletrlbotlea ah?ul(
be la prepertiea te the seed. The un
ergaalaed farmers aaterally act hJlnd
ly and Impolaively aid, ta eease
flueace, eurfaft and dearth, accempa
ated hp dlsceacertlBg psioe-varlatlens
harass the esaeamer. Oae year pota
toee ret In the letda heceaae ef ereea
predactisa. tad there le a seardty e
the thia,ra thet have heea displace
to make way fer the azpaaelea of th
potat# aoreafe; a eat year the paaiati
ed fares eta maaa Ihalr Cents ea earn
other map, aad petateee eater th
data ed Hmvrtea; aad ea ea.
A?rlcalt?re la the greateet aad fia
i&meaUtty the meet hapertaat ef ea
. Aaiertcaa tadasMee. The dtiee ar
P bat the hvaachee ed the tree ef as
deaal Hde. the reeta ed which ye deer
iy late the lead. We all flenrlab a
dedLtpe with the farmer. Be, when w
ef the dtiee read *f the present rrr
-4 veraet diatreee ef he fa raters, of
alrnma ef aix hlttie dallers la ih? Ni
row ef their an la a siagle yea
- " - v ' V.
cts of the
rs9 Problems
D M. BARUCH
Atlantic Monthly)
ef their inability M n,?>et mortgages or
te t>ay current bllla, and how, seeking
relief fren their IH*. they are planning
to form pools, inaugurate farmers'
strikes, and demand legislation
abolishing grain exchanges, private
cattle markets, and the like, we ought
not hastily te irand them aa economic
heretics and highwaymen, and hurl at
them the eharge of being seekers tt
special privilege. Rather, we shenM
ask If their trouble Is not oars, and
see what can be done to improve the
sltaatiou. Purely from self-Interest,
If fer so higher motive, we should
help them. AO of us want he get beck
permanently te "normalcy f hut la It
reasonable te hope fer that condition
uh\ees oar greatest and meet healc Industry
cua be pot oa a send and eetid
peraiaasat MuattiMr xwe
am But MMMtW te special prtrllece#;
but are Umjj set right la deaMidtaf
that they ha placed aa aa efsal faottm?
with tha hayers ef their prodacti
aad with athar ladaatriea?
Let aa, thea, oaalto aaaae at tha
tamer's grleraaoes, tad aaa haw far
they are real. & dstag aa, we dkoald
raaaambar that, while there hare bees,
aad ftiK are, laataacee at f pssefnl
abase, the saijn I sheold set be *pfreached
wMh any geaeral taapatattea
la axlstiaf iiatributlra aseadea at deliberately
bataatlaual eppreartea, bat
rathar with tftt oaacaptlaa that the
marketing at lara predactp has aot
hasa siisalwt,
Aa aacisat aril, aad a perstateat
aaa, is tha ?ad*rfradln< at farm products,
with tha raaalt *that what tha
farmers sell as ef sas soaiity la re eld
as W a hlf bar, That this sort at
chicaaery shoeld persist sa say impart
ant scale la these days at host
new integrity would seem almost incredibly
but there ie much evidence
that It dees ao persist Bven as I
write, the newspapers announce the
suspension of several Arms from the
New York Produce Exchange for exporting
to Germany as No. 2 wheat a
whole shipload of grossly Inferior wheat 1
mixed with oats, chaff and the like. j
Another aril Is that of. Inaccurate j
weighing ef farm products, which. It j
is charged, la sometimes a matter of j
dishonest Intention and sometimes of ;
protective policy en the part of the j
Teen! buyer, who fears that ha may
"weigh out** mare than he "weighs In."
greater grievance Is tbnt st present
the fteW farmer has little or no j
control ever the time and coo Alt! ens ;
of marketing his products, with the j
reenlt tint be |s often underpaid far |
Ms products sad asuatty ever charged
i tar marketing service. The dtffern
tnas bat want whnt the farmer re
catvaa and what tha rsanaaiw page
often exceeds aM peaathiHty ef Janti1
Acs ties. Te cite s tingie tllnstratlen.
Last year, aaaardiag to tgnrea attoat- !
ad by (ho railway# and tha growers.
Caasfila iHWMM raisers recarrea ,
as tha a vermes 7.6 casts far a bmAos,
i the raflroeda fat 12.7 casts fir carry |
lac It la Baltimore asd the ceasamer ,
paid asa dollar, loavlsc 79.8 casta far
1 tho aarrtaa af markatiae asd Ms risks.
as acaisst Ml casaa far growtac asd
' traaspsitfc The Sard asnaia ad
flarm-ltfe ara papist with aach cam ,
. maatarlaa aa the erodes ess ad praa ,
i ast practices.
Nature prescribes that tha farmer'! j
I "faoat" sust ha taUhad wtthls two ,
1 ar thraa meathe af Ifca year, while <
' financial asd at?ra#a Hailt art asa cm- ;
> arally caaapal him ta aed them at tha
' aasia tisM. As a rale, athar Isdastriaa 1
ar* Is a continuous prwcesa mt ftalah
lac coeds for tha ii;arkata; Mi ay dl>
' tribute as they produce, asd thay can
curtail prednctlea wlthast taa crest |
> lajnry ta thamsalraa ar tha cemain- j
aity; hat If tha farmer restricts his
I out pat, K Is with disastrous ceoseqaaacea,
hath ta hlmKeif aad to the
I community.
1 The aTeracs termer la hasp with
- praduetlaa far tha tftajar part ad tha
> yaar, asd haa netblaj ta aatl. Tha
- hsik ad Ms sstpat cornea oa the mar
hat at esse. Becaase ad lack ad atar
- ace feellttias asd af financial support.
1 tha farmer cannot carry hla cseds
thrsoch the year aftd dispose ad team
- aa thay ara earrastly seeded. Is tha
k treat majority af eaaaa, farmer* hart
ta astrsat sterace?la war eh eases asd
>. eJwretors?aad the fisaacial aaiiyist
ef their prodsala te ethers
8 farm prates sis are feseraMy mart
rated at a thsa whaa there is a ess
J test 1m ef beth fratfpertatlen and
e HiUN-?t? cars U4l staif are
i- searm aaUesa, la at?r te
? stances, Is tbat the fanners mat aatj
e mH trader praasarO, aad therefore at
a dUadraataga, bnt are ceatpetled t?
i- take farther redactions la act retarns,
T la ardar ta ?aet tie charges for fee
e terrlce *f staring, transporting, (Inane
i lag. aad aWiaate Marketing?which
> charges they claim, are often ezees
,r ?lre, bear heavily oa beth consuue;
p tad predaeer. aad are ander the canI
trel *f thee# perf*Mi?g the service*
" It it traa that tkfv are relieved of
' the risks ef a changing market by
r. aetttag at ease; bat they are aaita wiU
/
- ^ /- \. V;. . > f.' ,
; ?| to nM DM rtfawarafiedumch
If the favorable im alee la thetra tad
the* mi retain far themselves a pal
f the service charges tlaar ara anlform.
la c?M years and bad. with
high prices a ad law.
While, la tfca asala, tba farasar naaat
all. racardlasa of market conditions,
at ths time of tba maturity af crops,
ha casBot suspond production la tato.
Ha must go aa producing if ha la ta go
aa Hviag, ?nd If tba world la ta exist.
The asaat ha can da la ta curtail pro
taction a little or alter Its farm, and
that?because be Is in the dark aa to
the probable demand for bis goods?
may be saly ta Jump from frying
paa Inta the Are, taking tba consumer
with him.
Bvm the dairy farmers, whose eatput
Is Bet seasonal, complain that they
tad themselves at a disadvantage la
the marketing of their productions,
especially raw milk, because of the
high casta af distribution, which they
must ultimately bear.
in
Now that the farmers are stirring.
hlnklns. and uniting as never before
?o ertidirate these Inequalities, they
ire subjected to stern economic lec1
ores, and are met with the accusation
'Imt they are demanding, and are the
erlpirqf* of, special pHvUages. Let
n see what privileges the gewerumant
ins conferred on the farmers. Much
;ms In-en %iade af Section i af the
' 'layton Anti-Trust Act, which pnr orted
to permit them ta uamhlna with
rtimtaiilfw tan/4nn />AV#?la AMAifltliBl
Emitting chat, nominally, ttUa exemption
wu la the nature ( a apodal
privilege.?though T thlak It was so ia
appearance rather thaa la fact,?we
find that the cenrtn hare nnlHfled It
by Judicial Interpretation. Why ahoold
nut the tamers he permitted te accomplish
hy co-operative methada what
other badnesses are already Mac hy
co-eperatlea In tha far* ef laoarperatlaaf
If tt ha proper far aiea ta foitn,
by fnatep af existing aarporadaaa er
otherwise, a carporatlaa that eaatxela
tha entire p red action af a ceaMDodlty,
or a large part af It, why ia It not
proper far a froap of farmer* to unite
far the marketing af their common
prod acta, either ta eae er la several
salllag agencies? Why aheald It he
right for a hundred thousand corporate
' shareholder* to direct 29 er SO *r 40
per ceat af aa Industry, and wrong far
a hundred thousand ee-epe retire
fa risers ta control a no larger propor
tloa of tha wheat crop, or cotton, or
any other prodhct?
The Department of Agriculture li
often spoken of as a special concession
to the farmers, but In its commercial
results, It la of as much benefit to the
buyers and consumers of agricultural
products as to the producers, or even
more. I do Dot suppose that anyone
opposes tha benefits that the farmers
derive from the educational and research
work of the department, or the
help that It glvea them In working out
Improved cultucpl methods snd practices,
Id developing better yielding va
rletles through breeding a no selection
In introducing new varieties from remote
parts of the world and adapting
then to oar climate and economic con
ditlon, and la devising practical measures
for the elimination or ceatrol ol
dsngerons and destructive aalnlal and
plant diseases. La sect pests, and the
like. All those things manifestly tend
to stimalate and enlarge production
and their general beneficial effects srr
shvloaa
It Is cs?plained that, whereas the
taw rootricts Federal Reserve banki
to thvas mewths' time for ooranierclal
paper, the farmer is allowed all
months on Us notes. This Is not h
special privilege, bat merely each i
recngmitioa of hnslnoas eoodltions n*
makes it possible for ooaatry banks
to do hoslsoA with oountry people
The crop farmer has only oae turn
over a year, while the merchant and
manufacturer hove many. Incidental
ly, I note that the Federal Reserve
Hoard baa just authorised the Fed"
"" 1 - -1. _ ? Muaut ?mnr1
erai Hr?tr?r
paper far a period ut six months, tc
con far te the an tare af tie bnsl
ness.
Tba ram Leas banks are pointed
to as a* last a nee ef special torero
ment farar far fa mere. Are they not
rather the eatceme af loadable efforti
i to equalize rural and urbaa condi
tions? And about all the government
does there is te help set ap an ad
mlnletratlra erfaalaatias aad lend ?
little trad* at the start. Brantualtj
the farmers will prorkie all the capi
tal and carry all tha liabilities them
I selves. It is true that Farta Loai
| bonds are tax exempt; but so art
I bonds of municipal light and tractlor
plants, and new housing Is te lie ex
, empt from taxatioa. la Naw Tork. foi
i fen years.
On the rtther hand, the fanner reads
, if plans for municipal housing prnj
i cots that run into tne billion, of liun
ireds af millions annually spent or
, the merchant marine; he reads thai
! the railways are being fevered irlti
j increased rates and virtual gnarai tie;
w - *?? mrtrrmunt Vrlfl
I or earning* ?j n-^
i the renult t? bin *f aa 'acreased to!
en all that be eeite a ad all that In
buys. He beara of many manifest a
ilea* ef severnmental cnncera for pat
tleular ladaartrlea and latereats Res
. uing the railway* fr?m Inaeleeticy I:
undoubtedly fer the Hencfll #f tb<
country aa a wb le. but what cau b<
I of were general benefit than encour
xcement ?f amnle predactioa of thi
. irinrinal aeceeearlea ef life aad theli
I "vea bow fr?m centented creancers titished
cwiuetaeni?
rt'hHe it may be conceded tba
?p*?-ial governmental aid may be nec
saury la the geaeral Interest, we mus
all agree that It Is difficult te see wh;
agriculture and the nroductloo and dls
tributicu of fartji products are not ac
corded the aame eppertnnltle* that an
j provide* for ether businesses: cspe
i rlalh ? the en.b>"*ticnt i>t ti c funue
| of ancb opportunities vr^uld appeur tt
be itm mere cstribatery ie (be gea
Ff?r*: i?-? t? Ho
| n4 i(> 11? Mtrll *! v?iwi <
[ de-O* I*
xlike >? ?ps--lal privlls ? to
i* I! sy?via' pnvi*'fa of un??uit 9.
^ (tunity that? arig?i jiiti'' ?' v??.
from tho faduro to corra" * ??r-?
eonomie inequaiit.eo. I ni? : } -*
to the injection t* { orertliri*!*1 ur
business. ??ut 1 n-liere tHm> u n* a
east-mini fijin*rl??ti >>f deuifM-raiit a eminent
t? equalize ?ipp?rtimit> ?
far as it is within itw power r? d?? ?
whether h> (tie repeal ef ?r- 1:11
statutes *r ' <> eiiMi-rtnent ??f n*?f.?rr
ones If the ant 1-1 rust law* keep Mie
farmers from endeMVurtng *rl??nMfi ;i!l>
to Integrate ihelr industry while <>n-er
Industries find n way to meet un^lericonditions
without violating such -?:iit
tea. then it wouiil -ietm reasonable
to find a way for I he farmers to meet
rhetn under rhe <Hine conditions The
law should wj>eniie equally In fact Re
pairing the economic str icture on <?ne
Side is 00 Injustice to the other side
which is la good repair.
We hare traveled a long way from
the old conception of government as
merely a defensive and policing agency:
and regulative, corrective, or equalising
legislation, which apparently is of
special nature, is often of the most
geaerai beneficial consequences. Been
the First Congress passed a tariff set
that was avowedly for the protection
of manufacturers; bat a protective
tariff always ban been defended as a
means af promotiag the geserai good
throagh a particular approach; sad
the statute boohs are tiled with acta
far the benefit of abipplag, commerce,
and labor.
i
IT
New, what la the farmer asklact
Without trying to catalogue the remedial
me as ares that have heea aug
> 0 Is kU *-^ nrtsHnsl nso
peaals that bear directly m It i?
prerement ef his dlatrtbatfag aad mvh
ketlng relations nay be wart?d m
feDows
Ilrat: storage waribi? far oattan,
weal, aad tobaeea, aad elevators
far grain, af suffWMent capacity ta Meat
the maximum demand aa thea at tba
peak af the mark?>ttag period. The
farmer thinks that either private antral
most furnlah thaae facilities, ar Aa
state mast erect and awn th? elevai
tars and warehouses.
Second; weighing aad grading af
1 agricultural products, aad certlftcadaa
thereof, to he done by Impartial and
disinterested pabllc tnspecters (tids la
already'accomplished to aoma extent
> by the federal licensing of weighers
and graders), to eliminate underpaying,
overcharging, and unfair grading,
and to facilitate the utilization of the
l stored products as the basis of credit
* * ? ?* ? * ?*? ? a -?.**11 a mm dW AI I I > a
i Tnii^a: u cerui.my gi cram duuiucui
to enible the marketing of products
i In an .iwjerly manner.
Fourth: the Department of Agriculture
should collect, tubulate, summarize,
and regularly and frequently publish
and distribute to the farmers, full
Information from all the markets of
the world, so tha{ they shall be as well
Informed of their selling position as
buyers now are of their buying position.
Fifth: freedom to integrate the bu#laese
of agriculture by means of conI
selldated selling agencies, co-ordlaatlag
and co-operating la aach way as te
I put the fanner on aa equal footing
with the large bayers of his products,
and with commercial relations la other
Infantries.
When a bestaess requires specialised
, talent, it has to hay It So will the
I farmers; and perhaps the heat way for
them to get It would ho to utilise some
i of the present machinery ef the largest
established' agencies dealtag In!
fams products. Of coarse. If he wishes, I
, I the farmer may ge farther and engage j
In oer-niUUng and other maautiaetureo
f feed products, ki mj opinion.
I however. be would be wlae to stop
short of that. Public Interest Mf be
. opposed to all {rest ietegrMlea*; bat,
! Justice, should they bo forbidden to
Ike farmer sod permitted to others?
> Ike corporate form of aeseetatl#n cansot
dow he wholly adapted to his ebJeets
and conditions Ike lesser coI
optratire form seems mere pthsrnlly
enUnble. Therefore, bo wishes to bo
free, tf be ftn^s It dsthrsblt asd fess,
Ma, to retort to m operallen with' his
foHows sad aelcbbort, wKbont run
niag adsul of tbe law. To arpp that
the farmers should bate tbe sum liberty
to consolidate and eo-ordlaate
r their pocallar ecsasmlc fa actions
wUcfc ather ladaotrloa la (hair. fteid*
enjey, It sot, however. to ce^cede that
i ' amy bnslaees integration oheatd have
> legislative sanetioa to eztrdee monop
i ollatlc power. The Americas people
are ae firmly opposed to industrial as
p to political autocracy, whether attempted
by rural or by urtma laduatry
For lack of uulted effort the farmers
wHnie are atlll marketlDs their
erapa hy aatlquated Matheds. or by no
, tboda at all. hat they arasarraandedi
i by a baalaeas world that haa been
, Moderated to rha laat ailaata aad is
rlrelesaly jftrlrlng far eflldaaey. This
, eflclaaoy la due la large aieaaare to
I big baatoea*. to aalted baataaea, to In>
tagrated baaineaa. Tha lanaera now
sack tha baaefltt af auch largeaaao, ua
iaa aad lategratiaa. a
The Aaaariraa fanaar ta a Madera ad
tha aaadaraa la tha aaa af labor sadag
nachlaery. aad ha haa asada raat
. stride* la recaac year* ! aatoHie
illlage aad etldaar farai Ma aa rem mm
bat m a haataeea la ceatact whh atiher
, haataaaaea aglrcaltora la a "aaa horae
abag" la caaapetltlaa with high yawer
aateaieWJaa. The Aaaarieaa ft rarer la
, tha graataat aad maet iatraceaMe of
ladlTldaaUata. While ladoatrlal yroi
ilacfloB tad all pfcaaea af tha haga oemraerdal
atochaalan and Ita Myriad ac
eaaorlaa hart articulated aad ee-ardlnoted
thejusalrea all tha way Croat natural
raw aMtarlala ta retafl aalaa. (fee
baalnaaa af arrlcaltara has gaaa on In
, laaei. Xs-* mb^inhh fnabloi af tha back
waoda af tha trst part af |he ahte
taeatb caatary, whaa lha tonaar wm
%
[ self aafflelaat ui 41i art l?fnl apC<
or ear* vary axk, wbat the fret
worW was doing. Tbo raeait la tbt
Ika agriaaltsral gravy la alaMrt i
aeb at a dlsadraataga ta doallag wM
. atkar oeoaomie group* as tbo jay tan
ar af tbo fuany pagaa la tba kula <
alook arVaa eonfldeaeo aaaa, wbo aa
Mm aeraaga fa Caatral Part ar t)
CMeaga city ball. Tba laadara af tf
faraaora thoroughly aadarstaad thi
aid tbay ara Intelligently striving I
latagrata their Industry s? that it wl
ba aa aa aaual fartlag with other but
Aa aa example of integration. '*)
tba steel Industry. Id which the im-d
ta the United State* Steel Corpora tin
witb its iron mines. its coal mines. I
lake and rail transportation. Its ocesi
raaaals. Its by-product coke ovens. I
blast furnaces Its pen hearth ??r
Bessemer furnace*, its rolling mills, i
tube FMlil> and other mHinifn'*tnrlt
pruces-e"* that are carried to the hig
est degree of finished production cot
pantile with 'he large trade It ht
but:t up All rtiis la generally conce
ed to he to the ad''3ntage of the coi
sutner Nor d es the steel oerperatlf
Inconsiderately dump Its prodacta <
the market. On the coatrary. It t
acts that it is frequently a stablllzlr
Influence. as Is often the case with ot
er large organlzatleaa. It Is taaatar <
Ita distribution aa well aa of, its pr
dactk>n. If prices are set sutisfactet
the products are beM back or yrofta
den to reduced or suspended. It to m
compelled to send a year's work to t)
market at one time and take wbateri
It can get under sack dream stance
It kaa ene setting policy and Ita on
expert department Neitker era t)
grndw ai>d qualities of steel determl
ed at the caprice ef Ike kayer, aer to
tho latter hold tke scales. In tkls at
gte Integra ties ef Ike steel eerperatk
Is represented akent 46 psr cent ef tl
Seel production of America. Tke re
Is matoly In tke hands ef a few larj
companies. in ordinary times fel
steel cerperatlen. ky example, stahllta
aB steel prices. If tkls Is permlssik
(It Is seen doslrahle, kecanse stab
and fair prists are ernestial te sol
and continued prosperity) why weal
It he wrong for tbe farmers to stllb
central agencies that weald hare slag
lar effects ea agrlcnMnrsl prodncti
Something like that (a what they ai
aiming at. /
Borne farmers favored by region
compactness and contignity, such as tl
dtraf-frult-raisers of California, i
ready have found a way legaly i
merge and sell their products tnt
graliy and in accordance with season
and local demand, thns Improdi
rh?ir rwiotflon and rendering the CO
sumer a reliable service of ensun
quality, certain supply, and reasonab
and relatively steady prices. Tb<
have not found It necessary to reso
to any special privilege, or to claf
any exempt!* n under the antl-tru
legislation of the state or nation. Wit
at removing local Control, they ha*
built up a very efficient rnarketli
agency. The grain, cotton, aud t
bacco farmers, and the producers
hides and wool, because of their nui
hers tad the vastness of their region
and for other reasoas, have few
integration a more difficult tasl
though there are now some thousem
ef farmer's co-operative elevetoi
warehouses, creameries, and other e
tori dees of ** *?rt and a aether, wH
a turn-ever of a hlUlon dellera a yea
They are glrlag the farmers husine
eupsrleact and training, and, so fi
aa they ge, they meet the aee<1 <
heesut weighing aad fair gradlag; bi
they de net meet the legolressests <
ratteaafty adjustsd marketing In at
large and fuudampatal way.
The next step, 'which 111 he a pa
teem far seher greaps, Is nsw heh
prepared hy ths grala-rslsers threat
the estahllshmeat of sales nmdla whh
shhll baadle grain separately er c<
tocttvety, as the individual farmer mi
stent ft Is this step?ths plan sf tl
Osmnafttoes sf Ssveatesn whteh hi
msntod ss mweh eppesMea aad
theu^to hp asms te be la coafilct wli
As aid-trust tows. The ugh there
I sew hsdens sengreM n measure d
Sgwd te stonr up donht en this pels
the grain-pr i leaira are net ratytag i
any Immunity fresa aatl-trust lagiaft
Use. They desire, and they are e
Med, to ce-erdlaate their effects Ju
as uffipsMvely ss the large hustnsus ft
tarsals sf ths sens try hues deee. ]
SMnesttou with ths ssMag ergaala
ttosm ths Utotsd States drain Grewe
inesspsratsd is drafting a scheme i
desmdog lasS-ementnitttos aad sued)
ary accedes wtoch are lnfllnp ?ab
to ths seccsasfto stHlaattou ef medei
softness mstbeds.
It Is essential that the farmsi
should proceed gradually with thei
pleas, aad aim te a veld the errer <
scrap pi ag the txtotiag marketing m
chlnsry, which has been se laherleusi
bulk up hy leag experleace, beta
they have a tried and preved sahet
tuts sr supplementary mechanist
They must he careful net to hscsn
enmeshed la their ewa rcferms as
lese the perspective ef their place I
the aatteaal system. They mast gaai
ngtoast fanatical devetlea to asw do
trtoss, aad sbeald seek articalatic
vrlfh CM (Mtrti etfiHuu
rathar tha* Ifta ri^lm daatrtetioa i
It raiataa U Ifc?.
To lafca a taiaraat aad ap?patheti
view of tha fanner*' atriviafa for be
tar tfaiaes la a?t to five a blank*
endorsement t# a ay M?*ie plaa, an
aM laaa t? a#flaod the rafariec <
mm* of tkaAr leader* ?4 group
NMbar ahoatd w?, oa th* acker baa*
allow the froth of bitter acttatloi
fata* oconotnle*. aad mistaken radica
Ian ka eaacaal the facta af the fare
era' ^advantages. and tb* practlcabi
ity of eliminating them by woll-eoi
aldered meeaares. It naj ba that th
'armern will not show tbe hnei>^j
<aga<c t; ?*n<l develop rbe wise leudt'
{hip w carry through souad placs; hi
that poaaiblliiy does aat Jaatldy th
*? obstractfea of their apward .
* Wa, as eity people, aaa la high
1 ipeealatlrely maalpalatad prlaaa, _
J* spoilage, warn*, aeardty, the riwlti
? of defective dlstrlbntien af farm pred*'
sola. 9hea)d it aat eecar to aa that
' we have a eemmea iatcraat with the
farmer hi hie attempts ta attain a de*
gree of affieieney in dtotrlbitlon aof*
responding to hla efficiency in predde"
tian? Da aat the recent floctoatiana
? in the May wheat optian, apparently
, B&NhM ta normal iataractiaa at
I snppty and denned, offer a timely
psaef af the aaad af seme inch at a Ml"
lalag agency as the graia growers hate
p la aaatasipiatioa?
*g It la con leaded that, if their peoia
peaed organisations he perfected sad t
operant, ike farmers will hare ta
i>? their hands aa iastnrmeat that will ha
tn capable of daageraas abase. Wa are
i j tald that it will be possible to perrast
' It to arbitrary and oppressive priaa8
ftxtag tram Ma legitimate nse af erdar's
lag and atablMsIag the flew af fasm "s.
b prodneaa t# the market, to the matdhl
hoaeflt af pradncer and consumer. I
m bare aa apprehensions an thla paint ~
n la the Ant place, a loose ergaalaaMam,
each as say anion af fai wis*
S- mast ha at beat, cannot be ae asMII
trartty and promptly controlled aa a
?. great corporation. The one la a l?a j
bertng democracy and the ather an agftn *
c- aatacracy. la the second place, wMh
K all paaMhia power af organization, the
uiwn rtuoi nccceo w any i<m
sr atMt, or lor nay considerable lose*
a. of time, la flaiag prices. The great
ra law of s?pp& and demand works la^
te rations aad sarprisiaf ways, to the
nndolng of the Pest laid plans that
M attempt to foM It la tko third pleee,
a- their power will arall the farmers
m nothing if It be abused. In oar ttne
ia aad ceantry power Is of raise to Its
it possessor oaty so lonf as It. is petge
abased. It Is flair to say that I hive
i? sees so sitae in responsible quarters
eg of a disposition to dictate prides,
la There seems, en the contrary, to ho a .
}e eommoaiy hoaeflLcial porpooo to icaltea
Id a stability that will giv> an orderijr
Id and ahaodant flow of farm predsdts ^
is to the eeasomer and ensure reanesalftr
i- and dependable returns to tho fte*
If inter.
re In view of the sapreme Importance
to the national well-being of n pffls*
per*os and contented agricultural pep*
* elation, we should be prepared to pe
f" a koag way In assisting the farmers to
? get an eqmitabio share of tho woalth
j they produce, through tho inaogdtw_
tioa of reforms tbat will procure a
'* continuous and Increasing stream of
, farm products. Tbej are far from apt*
[e ting a fair share now. Considering
his capital and the long boms of 1*6*
put in bj the average farmer and
m family, he is remunerated less than
any other occupational class, with tin
. possible exception of teachers, rqlh, 7
Jv glous and lay. Though we knew thai
the present general distress of t)?
? farmers is exceptional and Is link*#
# with the inevitable economic msiljl
' ment following the war, It mast he '
remembered that, although represents
J lag ?ne-third of the lndnatrtal product and
half the total population of Qmr :ci
j* natloa, the raral communities orfc.
tartly enjoy but a fifth to a qtarter fcf
the net annual national gain. Netwlth-, , ''
.. standing the taste of prosperity that
the farmers had daring the war, tbeter"* m'vrs
' la today a lower stendard of Mvlag:
smeag the cettea farmers of the Booth
. than ia aay other pnraaK la the eeaatry..
t Ia cendaslen. It seema ta me (hat the; "
f farmers are chiefly striving for a gehoraily
beaeAdal lntegrstloe of their
hahhieM. of the same kind and charts-'?
. tor that other business enjoys. If W>
shoaM he foaad on exsminatlfh that
Jr tha attaiameat ef this end laqiflmx |
? methods different from those whkh^ N
,, other activities have followed for (ho
j" 8MM firpMt IMIHI we mmi Bymyw
)e thetlraNy consider the plea far thw '"Ml
.. right la co-operate, if only from oar -?~
owa enlightened self Interest, la obuj,
taialag an abundant and steady of
fara products?
^ -la examining tba agricultural alma-:
* tlaa with a view to its improvement,. A
^ we shah ha most helpful If we l|ba.
tala a detached and judicial vlowpsllW,
B. remembering that existing wrongs teat
|t be chiefty an accident of nnsj iietilB_
cal economic growth Instead of a eftitlaa
af malevolent design and. coaapfcra.
c7. We Americans are praaa, an ftw?:
n fever David Friday well says In ?* *
^ admirable hook, "Profits, Wages a*d<I
Prices," to seek a "criminal latent Be*.
bind oeory difficult and undesirable dbs_
Qomic situation." I can positively aa-'
let fraas ay contact with men of
n large affairs, Including bankers, that,
as a whole, they a re-endeavoring to'
fulfill as they see them the ooiiganona >
that go with their power. Preoccupied
I with the grave problems and heavy.
^ taaka of their own immediate affatra, >
they have net turned their thoughtful
pertonal attention or their construe|e
tive abilities to the deficiencies ef agri1(1
cultural business organization. Afiiu
culture, it may be said, suffers from
,d their preoccupation and neglect rather
c than from any purposeful exploitation
^ by them. They ought now to begla te^ , fj
m respond to the farmers' difficulties,
which they must realise are their own.
On the other band, my contacts with
the farmers have filled me with respect
for them?for their sanity, their patiaaco,
their balance. Within the last '
0 year, and particularly at a meeting
called by the Kansas State Board tf
'! Agriculture and at another culled by
-
a th# OMBMlttM ?f Seventeen, 1 HTC Jr
)f a? BUU17 of the leaden of the sew
* fans wweat, and I teetify in all j
rfacerltj that they art aadeavortof to
a- deal wkh their problems, a?t u promoters
of mrrow class Interest, aot
1' as exploiters of the hapless consumer..
not as merciless monopolists, but as
1 honest meat beat on the improvement
>e of the common weal.
We ?- - and most meet each rneai^
nad ou.e a cause half way. Their"
business Is our business?the nation's-"
* ? A
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