The Delta independent., 1922-02-10
KAHN GIVES HIS VIEWS
OF THE FARM PROBLEM
BY EDW. PERCY HOWARD,

by E<bN. ibAeSh III w AMI
The spectacular activities of the Ma
tional Agricultural Conference coupled
with the persistent work of the farm
bureaus and the general movements
for cooperative selling have brought
sharply to the front aud impressed
upon the public mind the fact that the
welfare of the farmer can no longer
be ignored with national safety. Also
the fact is sensed in the world of
finance that the attitude of business
generally towards the problems of the
farmer must be one of sympathetic
cooperation rather than a further pur-
suing of the belief that the interests of
manufacturing and finance and the in
terest of agriculture are distinct units
to which economic laws prohibit mu-
tual prosperity.
What Financier Thinks of the Farmer
One of the first men Of note to
sound warning against any growing
feeling calculated to estrange the
farmer from the business man is Otto
H. Kahn, one of the wealthiest and
most astute financiers in the country.
Mr. Kahn has set down in concrete
form his thought in connection with
the farmer-business problem and re-
lationship. He has been moved to do
so largely because number of the
city newspapers in the west recently
attacked him as being opposed to the
Agricultural Bloc.
zone of these newspapers printed an
article headed Kahn Summons Busi-
ness to Organize Bloc" said Mr..
Kahn Nothing is further from the
fact. am opposed to bloc activities
OF all kinds. believing them to be per-
nicious and not compatible with our
system OF government. AS a fact i
particularly advised Business not to
attempt to organize bloc. The most
essential thing for all our people to
recognize is that in the last analysis
we are all in the same boat and sink
or swim together.
"The farmer is discontented and un-
der a sense OF grievance with the
existing order Of things. A contented
farming population is of immense
social value to the state. Farming is
a calling Of vital necessity. toilsome.
none too we'll requited at best and
involving inevitable hardships. The
lust grievances Of the farmer call for
immediate and Intelligent considera-
tion and for effective redress even
though that may mean the adoption
Of methods which arc new and some
what unpalatable to the established
ways Of business.
''If there is one calling which has a
higher claim than another upon the
helpful consideration Of the state then
that calling is that Of the farmer.
There is no adequate economic rea-
son, Notwithstanding the huge waste
and destruction wrought by the late
war, why the world and particularly
this favored country. should not now
resume the road Of prosperity; but in
order to do so we must all take hard
pull together, we must give full and
free scope to the forces Of energy and
enterprise instead Of cramping. shack
ling and fampering them. and we must
let ourselves be guided by the tested
lessons OF economic truths instead Of
giving ear to plausible fallacies or per-
hitting ourselves to be led into pre-
cipitate actions under influence Of
temporary conditions.
Every right-minded business man
must be desircus to have the legiti-
mate grievances of the farmer-and
he has and long has had such-re-
dressed and remedied. Justice de-
mands that this should be done. The
larger interest Of the nation demands
1t, for 1t is harmful and menacing to
the commonwealth that so numerous
and 80 valuable portion Of the popu-
lation should feel discontented and re-
sentful and be without prosperity. The
enlightened selfishness OF Business re-
quires it, for not only does the ma
terial well being, or the reverse Of the
farmer largely react upon business,
but experience has shown that when
the farming industry is in the throes
of depression the farmer is very apt
to blame business and to hit out at
business and to get himself in frame
OF mind which the we'll meaning self
deceived purveyor OF political and
economic nostrums or the cunning
demagogue are only too ready to take
advantage Of"
"It has been said, Mr.. Kahn, you
are opposed to the Agricultural Bloc.
yet 1t is pretty generally admitted that
the farmer has been the football Of
political gymnastics for years. that his
cries have been ignored. Is It any
wonder be halls with Joy the advent
of q political coalition that promises