Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1910-04-01
NOT THE FARMER.

NOT THE FARMER.
The argument so often heard now
adays to the effect that the farmer is
responsible for the high cost of living
is effectual1y answered by George A.
Doris, a well-known professional
man and a close student of social and
economic problems. Mr.. Doris clearly
points out the fact that little of the
farmers produce is sold direct to the
consumer and that the farmer usually
must accept not the price he sets on
his product, but the price the middle
man is willing to pay Mr.. Doris says
in part:
''It is not strange to me that there
should be such great range of diff
ference between the price paid to the
producer of the raw material and the
price paid by the consumer of the fin
ished product, and that there is a gen.
eral wall by the consumers throughout
the land that prices are too high. Such
conditions are but the logical out
come of our modern business methods.
To explain in detail how this is so is
beyond the scope of a short article. I
can only briefly call attention to few
of the salient points, bearing in mind
that in many cases there are excep-
tions and in some other cases only oc-
casional apparent exceptions.
'The cause of the higher price of
living is due to a combination of con-
ditions each having relation to other
conditions, and each having it's effect
on the general subject of profits.
II will call attention to a few of
these causes. The first is under produc-
ton. Necessarily when there is not
enough produced to satisfy the nor
NAL demands of the people, prices
rise, and the producers in such cases
usually name the price and make fair
profits. But such cases in this country
are only spasmodic, usually speedily
corrected, and normal conditions are |
soon restored. Meat is an example
now, and the high price of meat is in
part, though not wholly, due to its
shortage. Now, because the price of
cattle and hogs is high, we should not
be deluded by the belief that it is the
farmer who is responsible for all our
troubles. In rare cases is he getting |
more than an equitable profit for the
energy expended. 1t is true he is now
making a fairly decent living, but in
most cases he gets for his produce not
the price he sets on it, but the price
the middle man is willing to pay, and
4 g.. 1T
one crop a year as much profit as the
middle man gets out of 1t in q few
days
Farmers in the aggregate are rich,
mostly in lands, but as individuals
comparatively few of them are saving
any great amount of money, from the
sale of their products. They, too, have
their grievances and are the victims of
the rapacity of others. which makes
it necessary for them to get more for
their products than formerly Those
who claim the farmer is the sole cause
for the higher cost of living do so
from ignorance of the facts or from a
motive to distract attention from
themselves.
Another and the chief cause for the
higher cost of living is combination,
having as its purpose the destruction
of business competition. A protective ,
tariff equal to the difference between ,
the labor cost of production in this /
and other countries is not particularly
Objectionable. But a higher rate of
duty Is almost without exception TAX
en- advantage OF by those producing
the protected article. for their own
private nrichment. Being Sc si..e from I
competition from other countries those {
engaged in the protected industries. i
combine to limit production and in =
crease the price under the plan known |
as trusts. So successful were their 5
plans. so easy OF operation, and so }
gigantic were the fortunes built up
Hereunder, that gradually other pro- $
ducing interests combined on the same {
general lines. for the same purposes a
TO destroy healthy competition. and in $
sure greater profits. Then following
the example set by their employers,
labor also organized. on the same 2
plan. less work and more pay.
Each protected Industry and each !,
trust. and each combination and each i
labor union levies tribute on each OF :
the others In 50 far as the others have :
use for their special product. with the :
natural result that the finished article Il
row actually costs the producer more
than formerly. But we hear only lit
tie serious complaint from these. In
order 10 rest secure in their own ad-
santages. they submit to the exactlons
81 the others who are bleeding them
that the added cost together
with a handsome profit thereon will be .
10 them by the consumer Of I,
he finished product.-the man who "
stands AZ the end OF the line. And he. v
having no trust or tariff protected ar g
.icie 20 seli. and being IN no combine.
has no means OF recouping his loss by
himself becoming an extortionist. and ~
he a IL who r. sending up the wall y,
,Eainst the high cost Of living.
There are other causes for the high
iost of living. Many Of our people are D,
making fabulous fortunes BY reason Ia
4 their favorable business sdvantaEes
nd are spending IN q lavish manner.
fany others are making large sums
nd nearly All are making a little. bet Sc
n are spendinE uberaiiy. The liberal
y of TIE people h the opportunity of
be retailers 10 wax fat and they DO
90 fa1 % embrace TIRE opportunity. ns
hf aHuenf Who have no care for "a
..Ir ~.-.-r,-~1 rr~.r~. rrI.s~.r - - -
slallers who supply thelr wants any
rice asked without a murmur. This
Ees ne r-ics ne poorer cias1 u con- In
Sled to pay. willing e. unwilling re-
ne fart ~ that thrcurhout cur On
EcIs tus1e. ntructuTe from Carne- nj
- ard HerEefrurr. Ne hfrh erpo- q