Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-12-08

for any one or a score OF lines
without involving long array
of schedules, 1 think we shall
go long ways toward stabili-
cation if there is recognition of
the tariff commission fitness to
recommend urgent change; by
proclamation.
Hopeful Signs
I am sure about public opin-
ion favoring the early determi-
nation of our tariff policy. There
have been reaassuring signSot
a business revival from the deep 4,
slump which all the world has
been experiencing. Our unem-
ployment, which gave us deep
concern only a few weeks afo,
has grown encouragingly less,
and new assurances and re-
newed confidence will attend the
congressional declaration that
American industry will be held
secure.
Much has been said about the
protective policy for ourselves
making it impossible for our
debtors to discharge their obi
cations to us. This is conten-
ton not now pressing for deci-
sion. If we must choose be-
tween a people in idleness press
ing for the payment of indebted
ness, or people reSuming the
normal ways of employment and
carrying the credit, let us
choose the latter. Sometimes
we appraise largest the human
i'll most vivid in our minds. We
have been giving and are CIV
ing now of our influence and
appeals to minimize the likeli-
hood of war and throw off the
crushing burdens of armament.
1t is all very earnest, with a
national soul impelling. But a
people unemployed, and gaunt
with hunger, face a situation
quite as disheartening as war,
and our greater obligation to-
day is to do the governments
part toward resuming produc-
tivity and promoting fortunate
and remunerative employment.
Something more than tariff
protection is required by Amer
lean agriculture. To the Amer
lean farmer has come the ear
Her and the heavier burdens Of
readjustment. There is actual
depression in our agricultural in
dustry, while agricultural pros
perity is absolutely essential to
the general prosperity of the
country.
Congress has sought very
earnestly to provide relief 1t
has promptly given such tenn
porary relief as has been pos
sible, but the call is insistent
for the permanent solution. It
is inevitable that large crops
lower the prices and short crops
advance them. No legislation
can cure that fundamental law,
but there must be some eco
nomic solution for the excess
sive variation in returns for ag-
ricultural production.
Status of the Farmer
It is rather shocking to be
told, and to have the statement
strongly supported, that 9.000,-
900 bales of cotton, raised on
American plantations in a given
year, will actually be worth
more to the producers than 49,
100000 bales would have been.
Equally shocking is the state
ment that 00,000,000 bushels Of
wheat, raised by American farm
ers, would bring them more
money than a billion bushels.
statements. In a world where
there are tens of millions who
need food and clothing which
they cannot get, such condition
is sure to indict the social sys-
tenn which makes it possible.
In the main the remedy lies
in distribution and marketing.
Every %prOper encouragement
should be given to the co-opera-
tive marketing programs. These
have proven very helpful to the
cooperating communities in Eu-
rope. In Russia the co-opera-
tive community has become the
recognized bulwark of law and
order, and saved individualism
from engulfment in social paral-
ysis. Ultimately they will be
accredited with the salvation Of
the Russian state.
There is the appeal for this
experiment. Why not try it?
No one challenges the right of
the farmer to a larger share of
the consumers pay for his prod
uce, no one disputes that we can
not live without the farmer. He
is justified in rebelling against
the transportation cost. Given
q fair return for his labor he will
have less occasion to appeal for
financial aid; and given assur-
ance that his labors shall not be
in vain, we reassure all the peo-
pie of a production sufficient to
meet our national requirement
and guard against disaster.
The base Of the pyramid Of
civilization, which rests upon the
soil, is shrinking through the
drift of population from farm to
city. For a generation we have
been expressing more or less
concern about this tendency.
Economists have warned and
statesmen have deplored. We
thought for a time that modern
- conveniences and the more init
mate contact would halt the
movement, but it has gone stead
lily on. Perhaps only grim ne
cessity will correct it, but we
ought to find a less drastic
remedy.
Freight Rates
The existing scheme Of adjust
ing freight rates has been IA
voring the basing points, until
industries are attracted to some
centers and repealed from 9TH
ers. A great volume of unecon-
omic and wastefu1 transportation
has attended, and the cost in
creased accordingly. The grain
milling and meat-packing indus
tries afford ample illustration,
and the attending concentration
is rapidly apparent. The men
aces in concentration are not
limited to the retarding in
fluences on agriculture. Main