The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1921-10-26

cial distribution OF the food products OF
this country is to grant to farmers the right
to organize and market comparatively. This is
the Volstead-C apper bill which has passed the
House and is pending IN the Senate. 1t is only
the city resident, wholly unfamiliar with agricul-
=sture vocation, who opposes this measure as
unsafe. The city dweler lives surrounded by mo-
nopolies and what he conceives to be monopolies,
and fears others.
- The greatest waste in this country is in dis
tribution. The largest single element in the cost
Of foods is distribution. The city dweller as
consumer is the victim of this waste at one end
and the farmer is the victim at the other end
The consumer may organize to buy comparatively
surely the farmer should not be denied the right
to organize to market comparatively, and until he
can do this, both will remain the victims of dis
tributing system from which there is far more
danger of manipulation of food prices, and of near
food monopoly than ever through CO.
operative marketing
Such marketing is permitted in several States
1t has proved beneficial and the one and only
answer to the socialism of the Nonpartsan League
The farmers quite generally organized in the
West and Middle Western States, for the farm
end They cooperate in seed selection in seed
ing, cultivating, cropping, preparing for market
and shipping. They have cooperative creameries
and cheese factories. They cooperate in small
crops. There cooperative State organi-
cations for marketing potatoes and other like
semi-perishables, and perishables. There or
CARNATIONS in several cities for distributing milk
The farmers have gone long way on the CO.
operative road.
The first thing these organizations find is that
they must have warehouses, storage houses and
stations. This requires capital and business growth
demands more capital and bank credits. For this
they must be legal entity with financial respon-
sibility. They have generally begun in a small
way. For potatoes in States there were
already many local farm cooperative warehouses
But the result in every has been better
price for the producers and a generally lower
price to the
The salvation of agriculture lies along this
way. Senator Capper is entirely right when he
points out the impossibity of agricultural mo-
nopoly or crop manipulation The producers can
not stop a crop after planting; only nature can
do that and there should be but restrictive PEN
alty-for destroying food products. This is some
thing equally needed now, food destruction by
traders, not by producers, is all too common.
The right to market comparatively, then would
have to be followed by cooperative distribution
from the producer to the retailer. 1t would bring
into being not huge cooperative organization,
but a score of them There would be no lack OF
competition in marketing, but ultimately there
would be and should be chain of great ware
houses for the common the chief market
centers, Of all these organizations. These would
receive, hold and ship, but neither buy nor SELL
Ct. 1t is useless to oppose this bill 1t is as sure
tosbecome law as that this country will continue
10 progress 1t is -everlastingy right 1t is eco
nomically sound and is essential to the right and
full development of agriculture. AS agriculture
prospers the country prospers; it droops, all
other interests droop. 1t is the source of the
great bulk of new wealth and is the broadcast and
most equabe distributor OF wealth and new values.