Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-07-19
LOBBY CHARGED AGAINST
COOPERATIVE MARKETING
BY RALPH BURTON
(Leased Wire Service to The Journal.)
Copyright, 1929


WASHINGTON, July 16.-Coopera-
tive marketing has been brought
very much into the foreground, so
far as farmers and labor organiza-
lions in the United States are con-
cerned by the charges Of Senator
business group has raised a fund of
$250,000 to fight proposed legisla-
ton which would make such cooper
ative marketing possible.
The American Farm Bureau Fed
Grafton has sponsored cooperative
marketing as perhaps the most feast
BILE means out of the present demon
the assumption that the insecure
economic position Of the farmer, who
can not control the price of his sup
plies or of his product, would there
by be somewhat improved. The
organizations of middle men between
the farmer and the consumer are, so
the farmers at least believe, making
unduly large profits, and consequent
ly the votes of members of the farm
bureau federation in favor of it's pro-
gram of relief have been practically
unanimous.
The allegations contained in Sena-
tor Kenyon's resolution will tend to
for it is charged specifically that
two large wholesale organizations
not in the least connected with agri-
culture, are opposing the cooperative
marketing plan: This indicates a
business interests toward cooperative
ventures. similar to the opposition
Of business to municipal or govern
ment .oWnership-for those tendeu-
cies limit the scope Of business and
though an industry may not be af-
fected by legislation. Immediately.
it recognizes the possibility that flu
ture legislation may be more, in
elusive.
Labor leaders interested in cooper
alive enterprises were not in the
least surprised by the Kenyon affair,
for the literature Of labor organiza-
lions is filled with accounts of the
conflict between competitive and CO.
operative forms Of organization.
The opposition of this strong bust
ness bloc to cooperative marketing is
a matter of serious moment to the
farmers who, in view Of the closing
of European markets to their prod
uce by reason of the effective slim
ulatlon or agriculture abroad, have
come to look upon cooperative meth
DDS as their best hope of salvation.
There is, to be sure, some improve
ment in the livestock export situa-
ton, according to current reports,
but this may not be an unmixed bene-
fit. Many farmers are in dire finan-
cial straits, and as a result cows
and young cattle that never ought to
be placed on the market are being
forced there.
Credits and the stimulation of for
eign trade are urgently needed for
the promotion of American agricul-
tural interests. This is the firm con-
tention of the bloc Of agricultural
senators, prominent among whom are
Kenyon and Capper. AS means
to that end, a bill has been intro
duced in congress for the formation
of an agricultural export corporation,
somewhat along the lines of the for
eign trade corporation formed under
the Edge act; but the opposition of
the business bloc to cooperative mar
keting is expected to be directed also
against this bill and as though there
will be strong support for it in SEN
ate and house, it is not in the least
likely that the support will be suf-
ficient to insure it's passage.
The evident interest Of the de-
partment of agriculture in cooperH
tive marketing plans has encouraged
the farming interests considerably,
and the intention of Secretary Wal
lace to strengthen the economic posi-
ton of farming is also warmly well
coined.
The disclosures, if such they are,
of the business opposition to cooper
atiVe marketing is expected to slim
ulate opinion among the farmers not
already converted to that point of
view, and for that reason the spon-
by the opposition they seem destined
TO face