Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1921-01-20
PRODUCERS AND CONSUMERS
WILL GET NEARER TOGETHER
AT BIG MARKET CONFERENCE.

What are we going to do about it ?"
Wisconsin's agricultural forces have
heard this query and accepted this
challenge until they propose to find
out if anything can be done" to
"straighten the road" between the
farm field and the family table.
They appreciate that true to predic-
tons prices-at least some prices
have fallen but they also realize that
farm prices have fallen first and far
thest. Thus the constantly widening
gap between producer and consumer
is still further widened.
Are there unnecessary dams in
the channels of trade-unnecess
transfers of cargo-unnecessar dis
tances covered ?" If so can not these
distractions be removed, this rehand-
ling prevented, and these hauls
shortened without disturbance to the
orderly procedure of legitimate pro-
ductlon and transfer!
TO work out plans for "doing some
thing" about it all of the states agri-
cultural forces will meet in one of the
biggest and most comprehensive Get
Together Market Conferences" vet
planned in America at the Agriculture
al College, Madison, February Ito.
The Agricultural College, the De-
partment of Agriculture, the Division
OF Markets, the Wisconsin live stock
breeders association, the Wisconsin
Dairymans' Association, the Wiscon-
sin Farm Bureau Federation, the Wis
consln Potato Growers Association,
and all other organizations of farmers
will meet with the manufacturers, dis
trlbutors, and consumers of farm pro-
duets for an earnest consideration of
the defiant question, what are we
going to do about it,"
Never before, in time of abundant
crops was the prosperity of the coun-
try more seriously threatened. Many
are unable to pay their debts-labor-
ers are being thrown out of work
the buying power of the country is
being continually lessened. Can any,
things be done about it? 1t is certain
that nothing will be done until all in
terested parties '1get together" in an
effort to do something. Nothing of
value to the public at large will be
gained by "strikes" and "look outs
and laying off" men, and "cancell-
ing orders and all the other purely
temporary and artificial props to in
dividual business. What we all need
IS accurate knowledge of world facts
and an honest effort to meet world
conditions as they exist rather than
playing for class or Individual ad-
vantage.
The farmers prices, to day, are de-
termined largely by world conditions
the prices paid by the consumer of
his products are too often artifcially
and locally controlled. The "Get To-
gether Market Conference" proposes
to get at facts, remove unnecessary
distractions, smooth and straighten
the road.
1t IS to the interest of both farmer
and packer that they consider together
the question of cooperative marketing
OF live stock and its products, to un-
derstand each others point of view
and to work out a practical method
OF dong business acceptable to both
parties. 1t is likewise to the interest
OF the pea grower and the pea packer.
the sugar beet grower and the sugar
factory operator, the sheepman and
the wooden manufacturers, the dairy
man and the consumer of his products
to get together" for a consideration
OF mutual problems. It is of no less
interest to the consumer that waste |
and lnefficiency in the distribution be |
since in a very large degree |
he will be the chief beneficiary. If |
prices are thus lessened to him his |
dollar will buy more. This will add |
to his consuming ability, which in
turn will reflect itself in a better mar
ket for raw materials and resultant
manufactured products.
To get together" on these problems
VII lnjure no one and will ultimately
work to the benefit of all.
The one man in America who knows
about world food conditions and world
markets for raw products outside of
Herbert Hoover-is Alonzo Taylor of
pennsylvania, who, thruout the war
md since has divided his time between
his country and Europe in study of
'hese questions. His information is
irst hand. He has collected his own
statistics and observed conditions him
elf
Mr.. Taylor will open the Get To-
sether Conference" with a discussion
# the two topics upon which any con-
tructure marketing program must ul-
rest-"The Worlds Food {