Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-11-25
u. S. FARMERS
LOSE HEAVILY
REDISTRIBUTION

The cry about giving the farmer a
square deal has dtnned our ears for
a long time, says Uncle Dudley
in the Boston Globe. So far, how
ever, especially in New England, he
has received more advice than help
His labor problems are discussed by
the public-and forgotten; his high
expenses fail to paste themselves IN
the ledger of public attention. So
he stands, embattled behind his col
lapSed fences, waging difficult con-
f1ict with the memorable laws of eco
Monies.
To a large degree, the local situa-
And it is exactly this which has
finally induced the man at the pillow
to recall a suggestion of school days
IF you would have thing well
done, you must do it yourself" re-
marks Myles Standish in the reader
about the eighth grade. The farmer
Is turning to himself for the solu-
ton.
From the great wheat belt of
America there assembled in Chicago
conference. 1t was of farmers. 1t
took one highly important step: -Four
committees were ordered to investi-
gate the cooperative agricultural
movement in the United States and
abroad. The purpose is to effect a
cooperative national organization tC
market products and to purchase sup
plies.
a wastefu1 System
This may easily prove the most
significant step American farmers
have taken since the beginning OF
their troubles. For it may not only
constitute an agency tending to sta
bilize markets and thus protect agri-
culturalists from hazardous fluctu-
atoms, but it may also be blow
aimed directly at the casual specu-
Iator in the necessaries of life. Thus
would it win for the farmer the ap-
probation of his partner, the con-
sumer.
Our system Of distribution is no.
toriously wasteful. Tons of vegeta-
Jersey recently because of faulty
marketing arrangements. Yet, across
the river, few miles away, 10y
the largest metropolis in the world,
with nearly six million mouths to
feed thrice daily. In the west, says
a news dispatch, thousands of bush
els Of onions are being plowed under
because of prohibitive transporta-
ton and uncertain market. The CO.
operative movement could remedy
this. For no political party, no bust
ness in the country, could afford to
ganization.
The four farmers committees will
discuss some interesting things in
their investigation. In California
the cooperative agriculture move
ment has reached a stage where it
amazes. travellers from New England.
There is no end to the cooperative
storage plants, growing associations
and marketing agencies.
The Co-operativeS of France
Most of this country, however,
they will find practically virgin soil
for large scale of cooperative ag-
ricultural movement. America is al
most alone in the world in this.
England has agricultural co-opera-
tives of tremendous Importance.
They have spread all over the isles.
1t was against cooperative cream
were directed in Ireland.
1t is in France, however, that the
New England farmer will find an
analogy worth his bordering. For
not by any means does the cooper
ative apply only to large scale farm
ing. In the land of Jacques and
Pierre it is applied to six-acre farms
cooperative owns all the implements
of the profession in each society.
Modern machinery, such as the peas
ant cannot afford himself, through
the society, becomes his servant.
And an equipment of machinery suf-
fees for an entire community Of
farms.
The organization does the market
ing and the purchasing. Fertilizer
problems are brought to the mat not
only by individual farmers. but by
powerful and we'll financed organiza-
problems. The farmer loses none of
his indenendence