Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-06-07

Entered at the Grand Forks. North Dakota, postohtce ..
re sss.,nx s,.sy %o.s,a< except Monday morning and
aubse1iSsrs s. desiring ssn easrs sxsn changed must send old ID
dress a. we'll IS new one.
TUESDAY EVENING, JUNE :. 1921.
WHEAT ~ AND CO-OPERAT1ON.
Two great organizations have been formed by sep
Arate groups of farmers for the purpose of systematizng
the marketing of wheat. Each plan contemplates CO.
operative effort. Each is an independent organization,
self-contained, self-soverned, raising its.own funds among
It's own members, expending under their direction, and
governed entirely by its membership through appropriate
machinery created for that purpose. 1t is not the place
OF the Herald to say which of these organizations has
the better plan. There is a decided difference of opinion
on that point among men who have devoted a great deal
OF study to it and some strong arguments are presented
on both sides. Neither is it necessary at this time that
. decision should be reached as to the comparative value
OF the two plans. 1t is probably a good thing that both
are being tried because with both in. actual operation on
. large scale there will be an opportunity to determine
rs to the value of each method much better and much
more easily than could be done by the presentation of
theoretical arguments. 1t is quite likely that in process
Of time the superiority OF one of these plans will be DEM
onstrated In actual practice, and when that occurs we
may expect that that plan, or some modification of it,
Will be generally adopted. 1t seems evident that one as
socaation working along cooperative lines will be in the
end more useful than two, but in the meantime while a
good dear Of uncertainty surrounds the subject. it will
doubtless be useful to have two separate experiments GO
ms at the same time in order that those who are partlc-
ularly interested may become well informed.
One merit of either of these plans lies in the fact
that 1t Is controlled and conducted entirely by those whose
personal interests are affected by the result. Each Is a
farmers movement organized by farmers for their own
benefit and, controlled entirely by them without even the
semblance of political interference. Every cooperative
movement thus far inaugurated, which has been even
measureably successful has been OF this Independent char
acter. Movements masqueradng under the suise Of bust
ness cooperation, but being in reality strongly political
in their character, have always failed and failed miser-
ably. The success of the wheat growers movement in
accordance with either plan proposed depends largely
on its retention Of this independent feature. The mo-
ment that either movement becomes a political move
Inent. its fate II sealed. -.
Farmers who participate in either Of these enter
prises must not expect inpoasibilities There is every
reason to believe that q cooperative movement among
the wheat growers for the systematic marketing of their
grain under their own control can be made successful in
eliminating considerable waste, and thus reducing the
spread between the producer and consumer. How much
OF this can be done win depend entirely upon the Ell
cheney with which the business is handled. The market
ing of grain is accomplished as Utmost any other bust
ness. 1t cannot be, handled successfully by inexperienced
men, or men of small capacity. If this movement is to
succeed, those who are engaged in it must employ men
who are honest and men who are capable. Unless they
do this they will fail.
Tn movement cannot be made to succeed by rain
bow chasing. The farmers Of North Dakota and the
farmers of the entire United States cannot fix absolutely
the price of their product any more than producers in
any other line can fix their prices. The product Of the
Aarm like the product of the mine and the factory
" subject to the law Of supply and demand and while the
Inference appears in certain instances to create sharp
fluctuations in prices during a limited time. in the long
run this lnexorable law asserts itself and prices are fixed
according to the relative needs OF producer and consumer.
Neither can the movement be made successful if
those who occupy positions of leadership in it fail to look
facts squarely in the face. There is a theory of long
standing that somebody in the fall depresses the price of
wheat, buys it all up and then advances the price in the
spring. This theory has been detained from a thousand
platforms and in thousands Of publications. The record
elbows that itsis false. The wheat prices in the United
States during the past twenty-five years have not, as a
rule, been enough higher in the spring than in the fall
to pay for carrying charges. In some instances there has
been a material advance. In other instances there has
been a very appreciate decline, but taking the matter
year by year. as records which have been published in
the Herald show beyond dispute, the best time to sell
grain has usually been in the fall Just why it is that
lnenswho have access to the facts will persist in repeating
this exploded; theory is beyond comprehension. "A
movement which must be based on business principles
il it is to succeed must have incorporated in it's policy
the work Of ascertafning facts and then adjust tn eories
to those, facts. Nothing can be gained by insisting on
theories and ignoring the facts which would Offset them.