Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1913-05-30
SHOW FARMERS HOW
BETTER METHODS OF MARKET
ING TO BE TAUGHT BY THE
GOVERNMENT.
NEW BUREAU is PROPOSED
Cooperative Selling by Farmers WIN
Result in Great Benefits Not Only
to the Producer but to the Con-
sumner as Well.
BY GEORGE CLINTON.

Observation-Disclosures is now IN tne
agricultural department new dlvi-
sion known as the rural organization
service" Its chief, T. N. Carver, who
has just been appointed, was until re-
Gently a professor at Harvard uniVer-
Sity. II Secretary of Agriculture
Houston has his way, Professor Car
yer probably will be made the chief
Of another new bureau to be known as
the bureau of markets" There Is al
ready bureau OF markets organiza-
ton. but 1t is unofficial, and Mr.. Hous-
ton VIII ask congress to give definite
approval with a definite appropriation
for bureau Of this kind.
Just what the new service will do In
detail has not yet been determined
but 1t is well known that a primary
duty will be to study the economics
Of the marketing Of products. 1t Is
known that Secretary of Agriculture
Houston, with the complete sympathy
Of President Wilson, will interest him
self particularly in an attempt to cut
down the cost of living by cutting out
inefficient and unbusinesslike methods
in marketing the products of the farm.
DR. George r. Holmes. who is the
statistieian Of the division Of produc-
ton and distribution, has found out
that the consumer pays for his Yege-
tables, fruit, poultry and dairy prod
ucts about twice as much as the farm
er receives for them.
What Farmer Should Do.
DR.. Holmes has said on this matter:
"A survey of the systems of market
Ing farm products clearly discovers
what the farmers can best do to their
advantage. They must associate them
selves together for the purpose of as
sembling their individual contributions
of products, to consider means of
shipping in carload lots. of obtaining
market news at places to which It Is
practicable to send their products, to
sell in a considerable number of mar
kets If not in many markets, and to
secure the various other economic
gains of associative selling. But
farmers need some help in establish
ing associations. They always need a
leader for such purposes, and there
may be no leader.
"A division of markets could per
form excellent service in helping farm
ers to help themselves to organize
marketing associations. These asso-
Citations could either handle their
products until sold in various markets
or could ship their products to a non
cooperative marketing agency, which
would take charge of the entire bust.
ness OF distributing from a central re-
ceiving point.
1T seems not always feasible to
market products comparatively, or, at
any rate, the producers are not always
disposed to do so. However, that may
be, there are many homeopathic
marketing agencies In this country
that are performing excellent service
for farmers, and some of them are do
ing business of immense proportions
A division of markets, equipped with
corps of competent field agents
could get into touch with farmers fol
the purpose of promoting the organi
cation of marketing associations
wherever the farmers request assist
ance or information; the agent coulc
meet the assembled farmers and prac
ticaliy organize them If they desired
It can hardly be doubted that this
service can be successfully performed
and, eventually, with results greatly
beneficial to farmers.
To Probe Civil Service.
It is virtually settled that there
Ia to be a sweeping investiga
ton of the civil service law under
which thousands upon thousands o.
Americans hold their places. o.
course there will be a feeling thai
the investigation is prompted by the
desire of the dominant party to create
vacancies for party workers. but il
seems likely that any such investiga
ton would affect comparatively few b
the holders of minor positions undeI
the civil service, and would strike ONLY
a few of the heads. and 1t would
strike nobody IL an inquiry SHOULD
divulge that there is nothing wron,
with the system as 1t stands.
AS matters are 1t seems that nearl,
everybody in congress. irrespective O
party, wants to see the civil service
law revised. This is plain becaus,
every once In a while criticism Il
heard of the civil service system from
the mouths of Democrats. Republican,
and Progressives. while debates ar,
on In either house. The civil servic,
commission always has insisted tina
non-partisanship methods have beef
adhered to absolutely In the giving o
appointments to men who apply unde
the civil service law. and the prob
ability is, everybody says, that al