Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-12-20
An Eboch-Mak;ng Charter Of
Georo;a' $ Economic Freedom,


IT was an event long to be remembered in
the constructive history of the Com
monwealth, when a group Of business
and civic leaders met in Atlanta last week
and adopted the charter Of the Georgia Farm
Market Federation. A terse, simple docu-
ment it u.s. and simple was the procedure of
it's creators. But in years to come, when
men look back upon the burdens and perplex-
tiles of these troublous days, and see how
the loads were lifted and the ways made
straight and clear, they will recognize in this
Farm Market plan a truly memorable
charter of economic freedom and breaker
of barriers to human progress
So closely interknit in Georgia are the
sinews of agriculture with those of commerce
and industry and social wellbeing, that II the
first be depressed the others all are dlsad-
vantaged or sorely weakened. Scarce busl-
ness or househ Id but feels, one way or an
other, the pinch of those problems whict be-
gin far out in fields of Weevil-1nvaded cotton,
spreading from farmstead to town, from the
leas. to the largest of mercantile and bank
ing institutions, and challenging at last the
whole States prosperity. 1t is to aid in their
solving that the Federation, with it's appeal
for liberal co-working from all counties, all
interests, and all citizens, has been formed.
If it succeeds, as undoubtedly it will with
due support, Georgia farmers no longer will
+, be perplexed to dispose of products other
than cotton; and hence no longer will they
hesitate to break the last letters OF one
crop agricultural system.
That this attainment will mark new
chapter, indeed a new book in our economic
: history needs not to be argued to any think
ing observer. To be Independent of the ups
weeyil into retreat and extinction; TO have
an income throughout the twelvemonth
rather than in one short, crowded season,
when the years debts speedily devour the
years earnings; to conserve instead OF ex-
hausting the soils strength, and to utilize
all instea. of but one of the farms resources;
to keep at home, for the promotion of native
enterprises, millions now paid away in food
bills to far regions; to trust more to business
and science, and not at all to luck; to take
the cash" and, except for constructive uses,
''let the credit go;'-this is to achieve a
prosperity that will be wide-sown and peren-
nial this is 20 find the materials of which So
cial progress and contentment are made.
AS means to that large end the Georgia
Farm Market Federation merits the support
It is receiving from able men of affairs. For
there can be no extensive and permanent
gains in diversified agriculture without ade-
Quate facilities for marketing the prOdu-ts
thereof. Moreover, the processes of market
ing are so interlocked with those of banking,
merchandising, shipping, and other functions
virtually helpless unless he has efficient
and considerate cooperation. Hence the
charter of the Farm Market Federation states
its purposes as being:
"To engage in any activity in connection
with the Investigation, marketing, selling,
harvesting and preserving, drying, process
ing, canning, packing, storing, handling, gin
ming or utilization of any agricultural prod
ucts; the manufacturing marketing of the
by-products thereof; or in connection with
4 hn hoC rirO of
chinery, or equipment; or in the financing of
any such activities" Activities so varied anG
Arranging may require, as they go forward,
divers adaptations and special aids. Hence
the Federation will be authorized, ITO pro-
mote, organize, form, operate, own, control,
have an interest in, own stock of or be a
member of any other corporation or corpora
tions with or without capital stock, and en-
gage in preserving, drying, processing, can
ming, packing, storing, handling, shipping,
ginning, utilizing, manufacturing, marketing
or selling of agricultural products, or the by
products thereof; to borrow money on, to
make advance in connection with the fore
going activities to act as the agent or repre-
sentative of any person, corporation or asso-
citation in any of the above mentioned activi-
ties"
These and the other provisions were adopt
ed at meeting last week o. the Federation s
board of directors and were cordially approx
ed by attending representatives of the State
department OIL Agriculture anu LIE OIdI0 Az
ricultura1 College. Another and highly i'm
portant step remains to be taken, however
before petition is made to the courts for the
charter grant. In January will be held q
Statewide meeting at Atlanta for the pur-
pose of presenting the plans to all who are
interested, especially to farmers and to citi-
zens Of the smaller towns. 1t is for the serv-
ice of all Georgia that the Federation has
been formed, and through the cooperative eff,
fort of all Georgia that it expects to succeed;
wherefore the agricultural and business
thinkers Of all Georgia will be heartily wei
come to the great central meeting early IL
. the new year. That occasion bids fair to be
of rare interest and influence for the whole
Commonwealth. 1t will serve as a council Of
action for the momentous months ahead
when the farm and business destinies of 1929
will be shaped. Moreover, it will mark
decisive stage in the "better marketing
movement which launched by The Jour
nal and the Country Bankers Association last
autumn, and which r NV stands ready, witt
due support from those whom it seeks tt
serve, to go splendidly forward.