The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1922-07-06

We are beginning q new year, The
last was a trying one fot all For the
farmer il was perplexing year rs well
lie has seen the prices VI his prodWts
approach the prc-war level and. in some
important Instances, fan below il, Al the
same time ne has paid substantially double
the freight rates which he paid before the
war and from 10 TO lis per cent more FOR
practically everything he has had TO buy
The much.talked- of dedation hit him hrst
and hardest OF all lie has felt Therefore
that he has genuine grievance. He
believes that the prizes Of his products. as
compared with the prices OF other com
moditics bcfore the war. were fixed by the
operation Of natural economic laws en-
tending over a long series Of years.
Is il any wonder. then. when he sees
that balance rudely shattered. that he
should think something Is wrong with the
distribution and marketing Of his prof.
ucts' In his efforts to improve these
conditions he doubtless has made many
mistakes That he is sound in his in
stinctive feeling. however. that the road
OF progress lies along the line Of closer
cooperation among farmers. there can he
no doubt
Many Co-ops Formed.
Many cooperative societies for the
sale Of farm products have been and are
being formed Some OF them will doubt
less fail from lack OF efficient management
Others. too, will fail Il they attempt arbi-
trarily to FIX the price Of the product
For in that case more men viii rush into
the production OF the particular article
and the supply will exceed the worlds
need
Those organizations now being formed
under the direction OF the American Farm
Bureau Federation are seeking to avoid
this peril They are based upon sound
economic principles They recognize the
fact that over a long period OF years the
law of supply and demand hSes the price
Of every commodity. They know, too,
that when the price Of wheat on Wednes-
day Of one week is ten cents more bushcl
than il was on the Tuesday Of the Seek
before, this law of supply and demand Is
not freely operating on both days. And
that difference may mean the difference
between a profit or loss upon a whole
years work OF the farmer. BY orderly.
intelligent marketing. they seek TO correct
this injustice
Builded Correctly.
This great organization, the American
Farm Bureau Federation, is builded upon
a correct principle. First there was the
county Grm bureau. Then in many
states came the state organization. And
50 the American Farm Bureau Federation
rests upon the same principle as our
Federal Government. IL thus has vitality
in all its parts. This strength is the total
strength Of all the county bureaus OF the
land Through them il is in daily con-
tact with men who live and produce upon
| the farm.
| think the most hopeful movement Of
modern times in agriculture is the farm
bureau believe the county agent is
going to help US improve agricultural con
ditions more rapidly than any other
agency we have had. and that is because
he gets the farmers to cooperate with one
another along the most practical and
successful lines. I know that is true in
my State, and arm quite sure il is equally
true here.
Not Satisfied
| have heard many people criticize the
81 esent frame Of mind OF the farmer
His amiability and his serenity are Ques-
toned. Knowing the things have out
lined here, is il to be wondered ati The
farmer is not satisfied. and he will not be
until the proper equilibrium 10 restored
as between prices which he receives for
his products ADD the prices Of Other
commodities and services. including freight
rates He believes. too. that no genuine
permanent prosperity can come to Other
classes and other occupations until this
balance is regained.
Perhaps I have spoken 10 what many
may regard ~ too pessimistie . strain
That has not been my intention. The
conditions I have described are being
remsdied.
There 10 no reason to despair. The
world must be clothed and fed. There
10 relatively but little arabic land in all
the world capable Of cultivation that Il
rot now under the plow. Meanwhile the
increase in the worlds population gces
.seadily on. The old law Of supply and
demand. which 80 many people assert &c
be the reason for low prices. will soon b