The Owosso times., 1921-06-17
WASHINGTON LETTER
DISSATISFACTION
AMONG FARMERS

Washington, June 14-(Special
correspondence )-Extrem dissatis-
faction among farmers is manifesting
itself in various demands for relief
at the hands of Congress. AS every
one knows, the farmers were the
first to feel the blow of deflation.
| They were not only the first to suf-
fer but have suffered the heaviest
losses. Their commodities are SELL
ing at pre-war prices while many of
the things they have to buy are SELL
ing at double 'pre-war prices or
more. This probably accounts for
much of the restlessness among farm
ers but their demands for legisla-
ton do not take the form of an eff
fort to correct the deflatioa evils
a one.
A large percentage of the stock
growers feel that there should be
some form of regulation of the pack
ers notwithstanding the frequent
demonstration that the packers take
an inconsiderable toll on each dol
lars worth of meat they handle. The
wide margin between the price paid
by the packers to the producer and
the price the consumer must pay the
retail meat dealer is probably the
reason for the demand for packer
regulation in the belief that such
regulation would afford a remedy.
There is also very widespread
demand for regulation Of grain ex-
changes, many farmers believing
that the selling of wheat on a margin
making sales of wheat with no ex-
pectation that the wheat will ever be
delivered-is one cause of the de-
preston in wheat prices. In one
western state, however, a group of
farmers appeared at the State Cap
itol to oppose legislation for the reg
ulation of grain exchanges, assert
ing that such regulation would be in
furious rather than helpful to the
agricultural interests.
There has long been feeling
among farmers who sell products on
consignment that there should be
some form of government supervis-
ion Of produce commission merchants
in order that the producer may be as
sured of a square deal. 1t fire.
quently occurs that although pro-
duce is bringing high price in the
retail market in cities, a farmer
ships his produce to the commission
merchant and the commission mer-
chant sells it for so low price that
it does not pay the freight and he
comes back on the farmer for money
to pay for transportation. Thous-
ands of farmers have not only Civ
en- away their crops but also paid the
freight. While there may be some
plausible explanations of transac-
tions of this kind, there are few farm
ers who will be satisfied with the
explanation given.
The degree Of unrest which exists
among the farmers was recently
called to the attention of the public
by an article in Wallace's Farmer,
owned by Secretary Henry c., Wal
lace Of the Department of Agricul-
ture, and edited by his son. This
article asserted that because of the
losses the farmers have sustained and
the unsatisfactory conditions they
find in marketing their produce, many
of them are turning once more to
Populism. Secretary Wallace him
self has been aggressive in setting
forth the injury the farms sustained
through reductions in prices of their
commodities out of all proportion to
reduction in prices of goods they
buy. Seeing no immediate promise
of relief, the farmer naturally turns
to the government for legislation
which he believes will protect him
from injustice. Experience with
governmental regulation in the past
has not shown the measure of ben
eficial results usually expected. Even
where some benefits are realized they
are usually accompanied by injuries
and handicaps sufficient to raise
question whether on the whole gov
ernmental supervision is an advan-
tage. Nevertheless, the farmers of
the country are apparently in a mood
to demand some sort of relief or
charge their grievances up against
the government.