Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1913-03-25
GOVERNOR URGES
A MARKET BOARD
MESSAGE RECOMMENDS PLAN
FOR PROFITABLE SALE OF
FARM PRODUCTS.
COOPERATIVE PLAN IS RIPE
assistance Requested to Protect the
AgriculturaIist Against Unfair Busi-
ness Practice-Executive Says Con-
sistant Policy Is Required.

Mar son.-In a message sent to
the Wisconsin legislature on March
II, Gov. McGovern recommends the
passage of a bill creating a state
market commission to enable farm
ers to sell their products to better
advantage and at the same time low
er the cost to the consumer. Ac-
companying the message was a bill
drafted by the governor which he de-
sires enacted into law.
The measure was submitted to the
legislature because of the insistent
demand from the rural communities
OF the state for assistance in organ
sizing and establishing cooperative
enterprises to protect the farmer
against unfair business practices and
methods of competition. The bill
also seeks to improve conditions sur
pounding home life in the country
and prevent the constantly inc-eas-
ing influx of persons from the rural
communities to the cities.
The proposed law creates a state
market commission composed of the
dairy and food commissioners as ex-
officio members and two others mem
bers to be appointed by the governor.
Purposes of Commission.
The purposes of the commission
summarized are:
To prevent monopoly, contracts
and combinations in every form det-
Timental to the people
To promote the interests of the
public, including consumer and pro-
ducer alike, economical and efficient
production and distribution of all
commodities.
To promote development of the
natural resources of the state and
its proper agricultural, industrial
and commercial interests, so far as
such development is consistent with
public welfare.
To improve country life and to
provide equally of opportunity for
the people of the state.
To perform the duties heretofore
performed by the dairy and food
commissioners, the state board of
Immigration and the state board of
agriculture.
To aid in the organization of CO.
operative enterprises and to give in
struction by correspondence and bull
4etins regarding the practical fea-
lures of production, distribution, eff
1lcient business methods and to es-
tablish a market news service, in
GLIDING information regarding crops,
freight rates, commissions and such
other matters as may be of service
to producers and consumers.
To devise economical systems OF
marketing and the best methods of
establishing markets.
To establish city markets and place
the consumer in close touch with
the rural producer.
To encourage competition without
fixing prices.
To investigate and consider COM
plants of the producer and con-
sumner.
Cities Outdistance Farms.
In his message Gov. McGovern
said among other things:
Like older communities, the
farming sections of Wisconsin re-
Gently have failed to keep pace with
the cities in wealth and population
One reason is there has been little
coordination of effort or concert CO
action among them. 1t is no ex-
travagance to say that farmers as q
rule are not good business men.
When the farmer needs money lie
throws his product on the market
at whatever price it will bring He
has neglected the commercial side of
farming Better business methods
are therefore his most urgent need.
Here is where the principle of CO.
operation is likely to prove most val
liable. 1t permits of specialization in
agriculture. The time has come in
Wisconsin to give practical effect to
the cooperative idea. But We must
act with our eyes open to the OBJ
stacles to be encountered and the
difficulties to be overcome. What
Is needed is the establishment of a
broad, consistent public policy in
harmony with economic conditions
as they now exist in all occupations"