The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1922-02-02

sumsr. Nor does the steel corporation
inconsiderately dump Its products on
the market. On the contrary, 1t so
acts that It is frequently stabilizlng
influence. as Is often the case with 9TH
er large organizations II is master OF
Its distribution as well as Of Its pro-
duction. II prices are not satisfactory
the products are held back or produc-
ton Is reduced or suspended. 1t Is not
compelled to send years work to the
market at one time and take whatever
1t can get under such circumstances.
1t has one selling policy and Its own
export department. Neither are the
grades and qualities Of steel determin-
ed at the caprice Of the buyer, nor does
the latter hold the scales. In this sin
gle integratlon Of the steel corporation
Is represented about 40 per cent OF the
steel production Of America. The rest
Is mostly In the hands Of q few large
steel corporation. by example, stabilizes
all steel prices. II this Is permissible
Qt Is even desirable, because stable
and fair prices are essential to solid
and continued prosperity why would
II be wrong for the farmers to utilize
central agencies that would have simi-
lar effects on agricultural productsr
Something like that Is what they are
aiming at.
Some farmers favored by regional
compactness and contlguity, such as the
citrus-fruit-raisers Of California, al
ready have found a way legally to
merge and sell their products inte-
orally and In accordance with seasonal
and local demand, thus improving
their position and rendering the con-
sumer reliable service of ensured
quality. certain supply, and reasonable
and relatively steady prices. They
have not found 1t necessary to resort
any exemption under tho antitrust
legislation Of the state or nation. With
out removing local control, they have
built up a very efficient marketing
agency. The grain, cotton, and to-
bacco farmers, and the producers of
hides and wool, because Of their nun.
bers and the vastness Of their regions,
and for other reasons, have found
integration a more difficult task
though there are now some thousands
Of farmers cooperative elevators,
warehouses; creameries, and other on
terprSes of one sort and another, with
turnover Of billion dollers q year.
They are giving the farmers business
experience and training, and, so far
as they go, they meet the need Of
honest weighing and fair grading; but
they do not meet the requirements of
nationally adjusted marketing In any
large and fundamental way.
The next step, which will be q pat
tern for other groups, is now being
prepared by the grain-raisers through
the establishment Of sales media which
shall handle grain separately or COL
lectlvely, as the Individual farmer may
elect. 1t Is this step-the plan Of the
Committee Of Seventeen-which has
created so much opposition and Is
thought by some to be In conflict with
the antitrust laws. Though there Is
now before congress a measure de.
signed to clear up doubt on this point
the grain-producers are not relying on
any immunity from antitrust legisla.
ton. They desire, and they are en-.
titled, to coordinate their efforts just
as effectively as the large business in
terests Of the country have done. In
connection with the selling organiza.
tions the United States Grain Growers
Incorporated Is drafting scheme OF
financing instrumentalitles and auxli-
airy agencies which are Indispensable
to the successful utilization Of modern
business methods
1t Is essential that the farmers
should proceed gradually with these
plans, and aim to avoid the error Of
scrapping the existing marketing ma.
chinery, which has been 30 laboriously
built up by long experience, before
they have a tried and proved substi-
tute or supplementary mechanism
They must be careful not to become
enmeshed Ia their own reforms and
lose the perspective Of their place In
the national system. They must guard
against fanatical devotion to new doc
trincs, and should seek articulation
| with the general economic system
rather than Its reckless destruction as
IL relates to them.
To take a tolerant an' sympathetic
view Of the farmers strivings for bet.
ter things is not to give blanket
| endorsement to an~ specific plan. and
still less to applaud the yagaries Of
some OF their leaders and groups
| Neither should We, on the other hand.
allow the froth Of bitter agitation
false economics. and mistaken radical
Ism to conceal the facts Of the farm
ers' disadvantages. and the pra cticabil.
il. Of eliminating them by well-con
sidered measures II may he that the
farmers vii not show the business
segac't' and develop the wise leader
sh.p to carry through sound plans: hut
hat possibility does not justify the
Instruction Of their upward efforts
We, as city people. see IN hlxh ami
speculatively manipulated prices
sp"l'aSe. waste, scarcity, the results
"i defective distribution OF farm prod.
"cts Should 1t not occur to us that
we nave common interest with the