Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1914-07-27

NNNt'HHf pi"Nhtt hh- 1tNA h'siih ~ oAtF4i
that II Is not now necessary u discuss IT,
merits. We may safely assume that the
distress is real aud that the necessity Tor
succOr from some source j. imminent for
have not ambitious Congressman. looking
forward TO the comforts ~ \ second term.
sent up 4 wall and 4 bin FOR ihc relief u
the farmers. Not that the majority ot
these politicians Or embryo statesmen know
anything about marketing. if~ many diff
%cultieS. or whether or not there j. really
anything that can be- done: but they are
a%nxiou~ 10 help The "dcar farmer" hy
dipping into the public treasury. through
the Agricultural department. and re-
ceive credit in advance of the primaries:
but | would particularly di~claim any dis
arrangement OF the honest efforts Of n
Congressman. or il YOU please, Of a Con
gresham to be. who really knows some
thing ~ the problems ~unnected with
marketing, aud whose ability and expert
ence III such matters Justify. in some
measure III least. hi activities ia behalf ~
the farmer, and the hope of an intelligent
outlining of the bill he i 90 introduce. But.
besides the cry of the ever alert memi,cr Of
Congress. preparing seductive way for n
second term. We know there IN real diff
Guilty among oar farmers III MHrkctin. their
products, and the problems have 70 TAR
been beyond The reach 81 solution hy the
farmer himself: because we find our
papers from day 10 day and week io week
almost a unit in their demands for RELIEF
from some source: because those connect
ed with our agricultural colleges and ex-
pertinent stations. who have had no opp0r-
tunity 10 observe and study the matter.
feel that something -honld be- done: be-
cause Of Stae Department Of Agriculture
and the United States Department of Aeri
culture have alike felt their energies and
resources should BE- directed toward re-
lief: because the officials ~ our railroad-
Interested IN this pha~c Of transportation.
both traffic Managers and horticultural
agents. feel that the lack Of proper dis
tribuiion and disposition OF farm products
Is the greatest menace we have 10 the
growth of the agricultural resources along
their respective lines: finally. because our
sales agencies them~elve~ feel that their
IRE difficulties beyond their control.
II Is left 10 me then 10 assume, upon the
evidence, that We are in trouble and that
We need help: then 10 suggest way~ and
methods by which the State and Federal
governments can extend such aid. II /.
true that the law Of supply and demand j.
the most potent single factor connected
with the marketing problem Il N ia many
respects intricate and ahStru~c. and has
been discussed here BY othcr~ more com
peteni than 10 deal with it, many phases.
II has always seemed to nae that the
States are rather too willing ID secure
money from the Federal treasury. We have
had N the last quarter 81 a century \ great
many demonstration 81 this fact. We are
disposed 10 ccnSure orr Congressman. who
does not get his part of the public pie for
distribution among his constituents aud.
be II said 10 our shame. the Southern
States are no less active IN 4hi~ respect
than those north of a.: who are supposed
% hold different views III regard ID \ cen
tralixcd government. In the last analysis.
the people have only themselves To- blame
II j. another illustration ~ the popularity
of indirect taxation a. opposed To direct
taxation. When We get the money Of the
United States treasury We nrc indirectly
taxing ourselves. but when We ret Il from
the state treasury We feel more ~cn~iblv
the effect oi IN, tax. 4 State having the
most influential delegation IN Congress. or
a delegation that happens to be- best dis
tribnted upon desirable committees. i
likely 10 secure the largest APPROXIMATIONS.
or the greatest share ~ Il general appro-
priation for expenditure IN such State:
consequently Texas ha~ usually received 4
liberal pro rata 81 the National funds to
be distributed 10 the States either a. 4
direct Appropriation. or Indirectly through
some department Of the cabinet. But in
the ease Of marketing. national aid seems
not only justified hut necessary. IN. dit
faculties are largely Interstate. and must
L met IN \ great part ID least y, The mn
tional government. Whatever action Con
gre~ has taken. however. has been only the
reflection of an enlightened public ~enti-
ment which ha~ finally ery~talizcd into a
demand. The hast C"nerc~. made 4 liberal
appropriation a. the Agricultural drpari-
mcnt M Washington Tor the purpose III ILL.,
veSti-ating waN~ and means ~ which the
department could and the farmer to secure
better prices for hi~ produce. 4 bureau
of markets has hecu established and ennis
sarie~ Of this bureau are NOW IN The field.
and have under INVESTIGATION the principal
truck producing cenier~ ~ the country. III
order ~ collect information NJ first hand
that may bc subsequently u~cd hy the de-
parimcnt. II appears that the department