Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1919-01-03
INCREASED PRODUCTION
AND THE PRICE
(By 0. F. Dornblaser)

The Farmers Educational ana
Cooperative Union of America CON
tends that the control OF manulac-
tured goods remains with the manu-
facturers and so for the same reason
should the control of farm crops re-
main in the hands of the farmers IN
til the demand of the consumer calls
for them This will come to pass
! when the farmers are organized, lof
their marketing will be done in large
quantities and direct to the consuh-
ers instead of in dribs to the local
buyer. Then when the price Is not
M 10 the price demanded. because OF
temporary surplus, the extra quail
ity will be stored at home or put Ill
elevators or warehouses owned by
the farmers. There is not a crop pro
duced but can be handled in this
way, then the evils of eXtortion and
greedy spectators will be removed.
Where the farmers are sufficiently
organized and are doing business on
these plans, a steady price is main
tanned for all farm crops year after
year. We know there will be seasons
Of heavy production and seasons Of
light production, owing to weather.
All thinking people know that with
out system in storing and market
ing the years Of big crops see low
prices, and our poor crops bring high
prices, but where the farmers are
storing their crops the surplus in
good seasons is held over, to come
out and reinforce the poor seasons.
In this way, all farm crops will sell
at the same price just as the mer-
chants goods do.
Bankers, merchants and business
men generally have been giving big
premiums for the best acre of corn
and best five acres of corn and so on.
The railroads have done ever so
much in helping the farmer in teach
ing him how he can make his farm
produce more. Increased production
means greater railroad tonnage,
freight rates are the same whether
corn is 80 cents or 100 cents. But
this is only part of the truth, for
really the true interest of the rail
roads should be in the financial pros
perity of the farmer. When the
farmer is prosperous he is a buyer as
well as a seller and furnishes the
railroad company with a load coming
as we'll as going.
The railroads and the business
world in general, must keep in mind
that heavy production does not al
ways bring prosperity to the farmer.
DO not misunderstood me. | believe
in increased production but there is
another end to it and that is the pric-
ing end. If the farmer doesn't get
the price, increased production with
out the price leaves the actual farm.
er just about where he was before
The farmers themselves know this tc
be true, so then why not give pre-.
mimums for the acre of corn that
brings the most dollars as well a,
the most bushels? Why not?
Everything that the farmer buys
is controlled by combinations. oil
wealth and power, exacting prices
not determined by cost and fair
profits, but whose measure is greed
While what the farmer sells is priced
down low and bulked in a few con.
gested centers and when the con.
sumer buys what was priced down to
The farmer is now priced up to those
who consume it. If the business
world and the farmers would realiz,
that price is the farmers real ele
ment of wealth and that good prices
are lost by dumping farm products
II they could see more clearly theil
real interest they would assist tn
Farmers Union. in getting an in
creased price as well as an increase'
production. And then the profits o
increased production would go int
the PRODUCERS and consumers pock
cts, instead of into the pockets of tn
gamblers. Low prices for farm pro
ducts never have and never can brin