Yerington times. [volume] (Yerington, Nev.) 1907-1932, 1922-02-08
III


lures, and are met with the accusation
that they are demanding, aud are the
recipients Of, special privileges. Lei
us see what privileges the governments
has conferred on the farmers. Much
has been made Of Section OF the
Clayton Antitrust Act, which pur
ported to permit them to combine with
immunity, under certain conditions
Admitting that, nominally this ey
emption was In the nature of a special
privilege,-though think it was so In
appearance rather than in fact we
find that the courts have nullified II
by judicial interpretation. Why should
not the farmers be permitted to ac
complish by cooperative methods what
other businesses are already doing by
cooperation in the form of incorpora
ton? II it be proper for men to form
by fusion Of existing corporations OF
otherwise, corporation that controls
the entire production of a commodity
or large part Of it, why is 1t moi
proper for a group Of farmers to unite
for the marketing. of their common
products, either in one or in several
selling agencies? Why should 1t be
right for a hundred thousand corporate
shareholders to direct % or 80 or 40
per cent of an industry, and wrong foi
hundred thousand cooperative
farmers to control Il no larger proper
ton of the wheat crop, or cotton, OF
any other product?
The Department of Agriculture is
often spoken Of as a special concession
to the farmers, but in its comnlercin
results, it is of as much benefit to the
buyers and consumers of agricultural
products as to the producers. or even
more do not suppose that anyone
opposes the benefits that the farmers
derive from the educational and re
search work of the department. or the
help that it gives them in working on
improved cultural methods and prac
tees, in developing better yielding W.
rieties through breeding and selection
in Introducing new varieties from re
mote parts of the world and adapting
them to our climate and economic con
dition. and in devising practical! meas
ures for the elimination or control OF
dangerous and destructive animal and
plant diseases, insect pests, and the
like. All these things .manifesilF tend
TO stimulate and enlarge production
and their general beneficial effects arr
obvious.
1t is complained that, whereas the
law restricts Federal Reserve banks
to three months time for commercial
paper the farmer is allowed Sin
months on his notes. This is not q
special privilege, bat merely such q
recognition Of business conditions as
makes it possible for country banks
to do business with country people
The crop farmer has only one turn
over a year, while the merchant and
manufactures have many. Incidental
ly, / note that the Federal Reserve
Board has just authorized the Fed
eral Reserve banks to discount export
paper for a period Of six months, Il
conform to the nature Of the bust
ness
The Farm Loan banks are pointed
to as an instance of special govern
ment favor for farmers. Are they not
rather the outcome Of laudable efforts
to equaliZe rural and urban condi
tons? And about all the government
does there is to help set mp an al
ministrative organization and lend n
little credit at the start. Eventually
the farmers will provide all the CAPT
tai and carry all the liabilities them
selves. ut is true that Farm Loa
bonds are tax exempt; but SO arr
bonds of municipal light and Traction
plants. and new housing is To be eX
empt from taxation, in New York, foi
ten years.
On the other hand, the farmer read
of plans for municipal housing prof
ects that run into the billions, Of hun
dreds of millions annually spent o,
the merchant marine; he reads tina
the railways are being favored will
increased rates and virtual guarantee,
of earnings by the government. will
the result to him of an increased toll
on all that he sells and all that ht
buys. He hears Of many manifesto
lions of governmental concern for par
ticular industries and interests. Res
cuing the railways from Insolvency l.
undoubtedly for the benefit Of tn,
country as whole, but what can b,
OF more general benefit than encour
agement Of ample production of til,
principal necessaries of life and theil
even flow from contented producers t
satisfied consumers?
While it may be conceded thai
snecial governmental aid may he nee
cssary in the general interest, we mus
all agree that it is difficult to see VIII,
agriculture and the production and dis
tribution Of farm products are not ac
corded the same opportunities that arr
nrovided for other businesses espe
cially as the enjoyment by the farmer
of such opportunities would appear to
be even more contributory to the gen
eral good than in the case Of other
industries. The spirit Of American
democracy is unalterabiy opposed
alike to enacted special privilege and
n the special privilege Of UNEQUAL CD