The Washington herald., 1921-02-22
Heav'n but the Vision of fulflrd Desire,
And Hell the Shadow of a Soul on FIRE.
-Khayyam.
Farmers Is Marketers.

T'HE Committee of Seventeen representing the
%" great farmers organizations of the West,
have decided the farmers must market their
own grain crops Far from opposing or objecting
to this, the grain traders will probably welcome
the movement. Certainly have reason
to complain if men sell in their way what they
produce.
:, The movement really is not new. II began
years ago with the cry of hold your wheat" 1t
took form in cooperative elevators of which there
are now scores throughout the grain regions. 1t
was and is the object of the Society of Equity with
headquarters in Minnesota. 1t is at least genera
tion old, and has had the usual variance of success
and failure.
This greater and more ambitious program is
but sort of elimination and has promise of value
to all interests. 1t is the contention of the grain
traders, that the present marketing machinery for
the farmers is the best and most economical that
can be devised The farmers do not believe it and
here, as in all else the proof of the pudding will
be in the eating.
: Whatever will profit the farmers by adding to
their income most desirable 1t will profit the en-
tire country. II they get more from their grain
by taking its marketing into their own hands, that
is what is best for everyone. 1t would lead to in
creased production, and a greater crop of raw
wealth most widely distributed
This is the "if' of the plan The certainty is
that it win be the best possible school of instruction
in all the intrcacics of the marketing of grain The
farmers will learn in the only conclusive way-by
doing it. They will be brought into close and i'm
mediate contact personally with all the problems
now solved for them.
Futures, hedging and all the rest, will take on
new meanings to them They will discover what it
i to spread through the year to best advantage, a
total product which natures in a months time
They will appreciate what it is to handle this mar
o best II,
Ike product of other countries whose crop natures
al other dates.
They will discover how far it is possible to con-
Gol the world market prices and whether or not
neHS holding of their supply, brings ultimate profit
or loss. They will learn what facilities they must
have to- bed, and what is necessary to that miracle
of rsading The minds of other men scattered all
orcrvheSwor
Tksy may seve the riddle of when, how far
and how one minds better than many, and how far
other judgment connterchecks and balances the one
They will have to study and learn all the intricacies
of operation and the mechanism of the most COM
plicated marketing machine in the world
The result is assured in advance and after all it
it what is the most to be desired Whether or not
the venture is financial success how much it adds
to-the sum Of business acumen and wisdom now
expended on these problems, it will bring to the
farmers fuller, more complete, juster and better
based judgment of grain trading as a whole
knowing will replace prejudice. Facts will
come instead of theories Substance will replace
imagining. If the farmers show better methods,
the grain traders themselves will adopt them and
between these two great agencies-the producers
and their market agents-there will come better
understanding and more friendly attitude whether
as competitors, principals and agents
1t will bring this most to be desired result and
with it add by actual experience to the farmers
trained judgment to when to sell or hold and
his democratic right to have provided the facilities
for exercising his judgment In all wisdom the
grain trade should welcome this movement and
not combat it. They should learn from it where
they can, just the farmers will have to learn
from them. Inevitably each will have to adjust
their dealings to the other and this should be in
friendly rivalry.