The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1921-09-01

from chapter " on American Agri'
culture:
Il believe that the American peo-
pie. through their government and
otherwise, not only in behalf OF the
farmer but in behalf of their welfare,
and the pocketbooks of the consumers
of America, will encourage, make
lawful, and stimulate cooperative
buying, cooperative distribution, and
cooperative selling Of farm products.
But of late years there have sprung
I'D farmer organizations of a quite diff
/ ferent sort, organizations with a very
large membership, with an aggressive
and intelligent leadership, and with
a way of raising whatever funds they
may find necessary to promote the in.
terest of their members. The leaders
Of these organizations are leaning
rapidly how to adapt to their work
the methods which business men and
working men have found successful in
f%urthering their OWL interests. The
f~ruit-growers Of the western coast have
become so strong that they are now
able not only to do away with many
others, but also to influence the price
of their products. The grain growers
of the west and northwest have be-
come strong enough to bring about
many changes they desired in the mar
keting Of their crops. The farmers of
the corn belt states are rapidly per-
fecting the most powerful organization
of farmers ever known in this coun-
try. All Of these are natural develop
ments in the evolving change of rela.
tionship and the modern complexities
of productivity and exchange.
1T is more than conceivable, it is
apparent, hat We are able 70 Zeal
more wisely and more justly with our
agriculture than we have in the past.
Unless w do deal more fairly there
may come a conflict between the or.
ganized farmers in the surplus prOduc-
ing states and those who insist on buy
ing their crops below production costs.
We have witnessed the restricted pro.
ductiOn of manufacturers and of labor.
but we have not yet experienced the
Intentionally restricted production Of
foodstuffs. Let us hope we never may.
1t is our business to produce and con-
serve, not to deny, deprive or destroy.
The need of farm representation in
larger governmental affairs is recOg-
nized. During the past seven years
the right Of agriculture to a voice in
practically ignored, and at times the
has suffered ~grievously as a
result. The farmer has a vital inter
in our trade relations with other
countries, in the administration of our
financial policies, and in many of the
larger activities of the government.
His interests must be safeguarded by
who understand his needs, he
must be actually and practically repre-.
scented.
The right Of farmers to form CO.
operative associations for the market.
ing of their products must be granted.
The concert Of agriculture is as essen
tial to farms as a similar concert of
action is to factories. A prosperous
agriculture demands not only efficiency
in production, but efficiency in market
ing. Through cooperative associations
the route between producer and the
consumer can and must be shortened.
Wasteful effort can and must be
avoided. Unnecessary expense can
and must be eliminated. 1t is to the
advantage of all our people that every
possible Improvement be made in our
methods of getting the products of
Jul farms into the hands of the peo-
pie who consume them. The legiti-
mate functions Of the middleman may
continue to be performed, by private
enterprise, under conditions where
the middleman is necessary and gives
his skill to our joint welfare. The
parasite in distribution who preys on
both producer and consumer must no
longer sap the vitality of this funda.