The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1921-03-25
THE FARMER AND
THE MARKETS

A short cut from the producer to
the consumer, without dependence up
on the middle-men for distribution, is
the purpose of cooperative marketing,
planned by the American farmers or
CARNATIONS. There is no good rea-
son for interposing innumerable COM
sion men, brokers and trade exchanges
between the sources of the supply and
the intimate distinction. The farm
er would gain by improved, scientific
methods; by uniting and creating new
facilities not intended to yield profits
and pile up burdens against both the
producer and the consumer. The con-
sumner would gain, through the elimin-
alton of the middleman's profit, and
the country's interests wauld be served
materially.
The plan to substitute an organiza-
ton of grain growers, with national
sales agency, for much of the machin-
cry of the grain exchanges, is intelli-
gent and sound. OF course it means
revolution in established methods of
handling grain, but the evils that have
arisen, including the swollen fortunes
piled up by gamblers in wheat and
other foodstuffs, fully justify the en-
tire program, whether revolutionary
or not. 1t is proposed that the nation
al sales agency shall provide ~
branch sales offices and central grain
markets; (2) terminal elevator service
in connection Herewith; (3) facilities
for financing the marketing of grain
by country elevators through finance
corporation organized by the members
Of the growers organization; (4) ia
cilities for marketing grain exports
through an export corporation, and (5)
which is very necessary, the establish
ment of service Departments furnishing
information covering local, national
and worldwide conditions affecting
trade in grain. All of these organiza-
tions are perfectly practicable and can
be brought about, if the farmers will
yield their utmost in aiding the estab-
lishment of these various agencies.
The foundation of our national pros
perity is in the farm--the farms pros
posity is the basis of ours. Any mea-
sure contributing to better prices for
farm products, especially by natural
means, without attempting to force a
market price by arbitrary methods,
will insure to the benefit of the con-
sumner and general public. What boots
it if the present system, with its great
exchanges and their complicated meth
DDS, their interlocking relations with
the railroads and the multi-millionaire
manipulators of all markets, must
largely go by the board? 1t is part of
the movement of the time, toward uni
fed and cooperative methods in bust
mes and otherwise.
The grain spectators says this
would mean a farmers trust. 1t might |
mean a benevolent trust. without pro-
fits in the handling of the product; it |
might mean a combination of brains |
and energy not for the purpose of
crushing out competition or for reduc-
ing production, but for reducing the
cost of marketing the foodstuffs of the |
world, for insuring to the farmer |
prices the demand justifes, and pro-
tecting the consumer against food |
hoarders and food bandits, who prey
all along the wide pathway from the
farmhouse to the consumers door. A
trust that does no injury save to the
avaricious is a public institution Of n
value.-Missouri State Jour-
nal.