Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-07-20

( and Mexico, backErounded by the At
I lautlC and foptIghted By the Pacific.
THE 100000 farmers Of this
country are laboriug under an in
debtedness Df $6,00O,000 900. on this
amount. counting commissions and
renewal charges. they are paying an
annual interest Of S IL per cent OF
$50 100000 while the business men
and manufacturers pay AN average
of per cent interest, or $500 600, zoe,
on $4,000 600. 600 This $4,000 600 ex-
cess interest paid by the farmers
would pay of our farm Indebtedness
ia % years. Cooperative efforts and
rural credits would right these
wrongs So. let us continue to dis
courage this present system until il
has passed into history and is only
remembered IN the misty back yon-
der
distribution being one Of our
greatest problems, our second deCla-
ration Of purposes is to assist our
members in buying and selling. The
Federal Government has spent 800
600 600 in the last ten years. teaching
us how to produce and not a cent to
teach us how TO market.
The real reason Of the high cost of
living Is not because the farmer pro-
duCes an inadequate amount Of prod
uCts or gets too much for what he
grows. but il is that there are too
many toll gates between the field of
production and the table of Consump-
ton
AS long as we continue our pres
put methods we viii build mp the
towns and cities at the expense of
the rural districts The consuming
public pays $4,000, 600 600 for what
the farmer parts with for $4,000 .000,
600. The farmer gets "A cents and
the distributor gets Sc cents Of each
dollar If there is "A practical work
able way 10 stop this plundeTing Of
the producing and consuming masses,
and do away with this stupendous
waste It should be done. Surely no
one would oppose the change. except
those who think the ieweled hand Of
greed should be licensed TO pick the
threadbare pockets Of those who toll.
Expense Is Unavoidable.
We all agree that there is an I'M
avoidable expense in the distribution
OF farm products. But let us make
what seems to MS reasonable di-
vision Of the $4,000, 100000 consum-
ers other than farmers pay for farm
products each year.
Give the wholesaler and jObher
81 600 600. 0OO the transportation COM
81. 5OO, 600 600. then throw IN $500,
600 900 for all possible misallowance,
and we have S9,0O000o,0 600, which Is
$4,000, 100000 more than the farmer
gets This amount falls into the
waste basket Of speculation.
IT II were divided between the
producer and consumer II would
clothe the naked, feed the hungry anj
educate tine illitcrate instead OF
breeding milionaires paupers, an
arChists and suicides. II the Farm
prs' Union fills It's mission. It VIII
not be long until a less portion OF the
laborers' toll Will be turned in at thu
toll gate of the palace and great
portion will find its way through the
( door Of the cottage, and help to lift
the humble tenement to the comfort
1 dignity and luxury Of a home.
/ within the next deCaSe the farm
ers Of this country wi produce
( enough to load 100000 900 freight
cars. and its value viii approximate
| SlOo.000.O0O 900, If properly handle T.
| this should double the farmer s
wealth But producing IS Il all N
/ farming We cannot prosper unless
We can control prices; We cannot
{ control prices unless We operate;
! we cannot cooperate unless We or.
/ ganiZe. The farmer must keep MS
pace with the organized Industries
/ of the age, or verify he viii have his
! reward
Mr.. Rhodes then spoke I'm detail n
| the work the Farmers Union hat
done. its aims Its objects. Its hopes
and the effect was so marked tina
there were responses on every han,
hy farmers who heard him, and tn,
beginning Of tho $4,000 membership
i'm Georgia was inaugurated. and tn.
elimination win be certainty i
President Barrett and Mr. Rhode
| u-- IN \ L.M .A.-LAa ~ nrranlZa Don