The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1920-10-01


| voice In governmental administration
has been practically ignored, and at
times the farmer has suffered griev-
ously as result. The farmer has a
vital interest In our trade relations
with other countries, In the admins
tration of our financial policies and In
many Of the larger activities of the
government.
Seeond.-The right of farmers to
form cooperative associations for the
marketing of their products must be
granted. The parasite In distribution
who preys on both producer and con-
sumner must no longer sap the vitality
of this fundamental life.
Scientific Study.
Third. - The Republican party
pledges itself to scientific study Of
agricultural prices and farm produc-
ton costs, both at home and abroad.
with a view ID reducing the frequency
OF abnormal fluctuations here. Stabili-
cation will contribute to everybody's
confidence. Farmers have complained
bitterly OF the frequent and violent
fluctuations In prices of farm products,
and especially In prices of live stock.
They do not find such fluctuations In
the products of other industries. In a
general way prices of farm products
must go up or down, according to
whether there Is q plentiful crop or a
snort one. The farmers raw materials
are the fertility of the soil, the sun
SHINE and the rain, and the size of his
crops Is measured by the supply of
these raw materials and the skill with
which he makes use of them. He can.
not control his production and adjust
II TO the demand as can the manufac-
turer. But he can see no good reason
why the prices Of his products should
huctuate so violently from week 10
week and sometimes from day to day.
To Stop Price Fixing.
Fourth.-We promise to nut an end
to unnecessary price f,xlno Of farm
products and to III considered efforts
arbitrarily to reduce farm product
prices.
Government drives against food
prices such as we have experiences
during the past two years are vain and
useless. The ostensble purpose of
such drives is to reduce the price the
consumer pays for food. The actual
result Is unjustly to depress for a time
the prices the farmer receives for his
grain and live stock, but with no an.
preclabie reduction In the price the
consumer pays. Such drives simply
give the Spectator and the Drofiteer
additional opportunities to add to
their exactions.
Fifth.-We favor the administration
OF the farm loan act so as to help men
who farm to secure farms of their own
and to give to them long time credits.
needed to practice the best methods az
diversified farming.
We also favor the authorization OF
associations TO provide the necessary |
machinery to furnish personal credit
to the man, whether land owner or
tenant, who Is hampered for lack of
working capital. Unfortunately as
land increases in value tenancy also
Increases.
An Increasing Evil. /
This has been true throughout his.
tory. AT the present time probably
one-half Of the high priced land In the
corn belt states Is farmed by men who,
because of lack Of capital, find II nee.
essary to rent. This increase in ten.
ancy brings with 1t evils which are a
real menace to national welfare. The
tenant who lacks sufficient working
capital and who too often Is working
under short time lease Is forced tn
farm the land to the limit and rob IL Of
lis fertility in order TO pay the rent
amlu such conditions We have lne:fi.