The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1920-11-18
Forcing the Issue.

While it is rather severe on the
farmers the country over, the
present crisis in the agricultural
world ought to teach lesson
that will not soon be forgotten,
and one that will never be repeat
ed if the farmers as a whole will
but study and benefit by it.
Never before in the history of
the country were the producing
classes SO completely at the mer-
cy of the vandals and wolves who
prey off them. Never was the
outlook so dark for agriculture.
And never was there more clearly
demonstrated the truth of the old
adage which says that: "In I'm
ion there is strength
When all else had failed them,
and it seemed that only one ave-
nue. Of escape was possible, the
farmers we're betrayed by their
own government-by the men
who ought to have sense enough
to protect them. The Federal re
serve board and the secretary of
the treasury, instead Of lending
a helping hand such as would
have been given any other indus
try in the world, gave the farm
ers the cold shoulder-they even
went further than that and offer
ed them a deliberate insult when
they said there was money to
move crops, but none to tide the
farmer over the treacherous per-
iod.
But there is a way out, and the
farmer must take it. That is the
way of Cooperation. There is no
other way And the proof of the
fact that TIE farmers are finding
that Wagons is found in the num-
bers who are coming to the coop
erative idea.
Where the Wheat Growers As
sociation last spring found only
hostility and opposition they now
find ready welcome.
Hundreds of farmers, having
learned their lesson within the
past few weeks, are signing up
with the organization. 1t can not
accomplish everything in one
year, but it can accomplish some
thing, and it surely points the
way to the bigger organization
which will ultimately control the
wheat market in the United
States.
If there is any wheat grower IN
the Northwest who, in the light
of the events Of the. past few
weeks, does not believe in coop
GRAFTON, he is certainly blind to
his own interests.
It may not suit every one in
every detail, but nobody will now
dare deny that it is a step in the
right direction. And if there is
some little thing you don't like
about it, the best way to correct
these minor defects is from the
inside, not the outside. Get in
and help make it the perfect or
ganization that it should d-and
will-become.
So far, the farmer has market
ed his wheat always on a forced
sale in from sixty to ninety days.
Now it is neither right nor reas-
enable that he should be forced
to dump his wheat on the market
in so short a period when it takes
twelve months to produce it and
twelve months to consume it. The
marketing period should be ex-
tended over a period of from SIX
to eight months.
That is the function Of the
Wheat Growers Association-to
market the wheat as needed and
as the demand Of consumption
dictates, thereby guaranteeing
the grower a more nearly level
price for his product and a fair
and equitable margin of profit.
AS stated before, the only way
to secure our aims is by co-opera-
ton. Standing alone, the indivi-
dual has no power. But united
in the organization he is in posi-
ton to bring about the reforms
that are so sorely needed and
which must come if the farmer is
to ever come into his own.
The Farmer.
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