Pueblo chieftain., 1921-02-04
Putting Farming on a Modem
Business Basis

1t is a matter of general knowledge that farming,
which is in many respects the important business
in the world still being conducted with methods that
utterly inadequate to protect the farmers interests
and that almost equally injurious to the interests of
the consumers.
As compared with the methods of other industries,
such manufacturing, transportation and mining
the farming methods of production and of distribution
hopelessly oldfashioned and of the most i'm
porant needs of American industry at the present time
is to provide remedy that will the Con-
tnued production of food and textiles that is absolutely
necessary to national prosperity.
Vital is the need for such relief to farmers there
has been lack of practical suggestions of remedy and
this lack the unfortunate because radicals
theorists demagogues and agitators prompt to
plans that consisted for the most part of gen.
promises in defiance of well known business prn-
ciples and economic laws.
1t is therefore with unusual interest that general
consideration will be given to letter written by Ber
nard NJ. Baruch, of Americas bot known men of
big business the secretary of the Kansas state board
of agriculture, making suggestions of the things that
necessary to put farming modern business basis.
The suggestions of Mr.. Baruch will not, of course
commend themselves to those who insist upon holding
the deuson THAI big business in the United States is
wholly selfish and operates solely with the purpose of
robbng both the producers and the consumer For such
deuded folk the schemes of the MARKHAM Socialists and
of the Nonpartsan Leaguers the only attractive pro-
positions But business Americans generally, the
farms and in the cities will listen with interest and
respect to what Mr.. Baruch has to say.
Summarizing his suggestions Mr. Baruch says:
''To up if the suggestions have made adopt
ed the farmer would find himself in the following posi-
tion: First, he would have adequate modern storage
facilities under public supervision Second his products
would be certified to grade and amount by licensed
graders and weighers Third the certificates issued by
the graders and weighers would be used the basis
of sales and purchases we'll the basis of financing.
Fourth, fair share of the credits of the banking and
financial institutions of the country would reserved
during certain periods for crop movement. Fifth all
market information would be collected and made avail
able thru trained experts by the agricultural department
this information to be of the kind and character now
in the possession of buyers and farmers
products Sixth, new of credit, the private
INVESTOR would be reached by the establishment Of
financing corporations to make loans on warehouse
receipts. This program if put into effect would in my
opinion place the farmer in position to market his
crops advanaseousy whether he desires to do so ndi
vidually comparatively"
Tho principal difference between the suggestions of
Mr. Baruch and those of the Nonparsan League is that
he proposes to have these things done business way
by business men, whereas the Socialists propose have
similar things done in political by politicians tho
pretending that they be done popular way by
the people
One thing is certain and that is that the present
conditions cannot continue. Already the farmers have
suffered disastrous losses whose evil effects will be felt
by the nation whole There must be Improvement
and change will surely either in the way of bust
ness or in the way of politics. Without endorsing Mr.
Baruchs suggestions completely it reasonable to
say that the American people will prefer to try remedies
along business lines rather than experiments fantastic
socialism.