The Mena weekly star., 1922-01-19

reClpients or, BpeC1Rl prlFneBes. L1t us see what privileges the government has conferred on the farmers. Much has been made of Section 6 of the Clayton Antitrust Act, which pur- ported to permit them to combine with immunity, under certain conditions Admitting that, nominally, this ex- emption was in the nature of special privilege, e,--though I think it was so In appearance rather than In fact,-we find that the courts have nullified 1t 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- tion7 If 1t be proper for men to form, by fusion of existing corporations or otherwise, a corporation that controls the entire production of commodity, or a large part of 1t, why is It not proper for group of farmers to unite for the marketing of their common products, either in one or in several selling agencies7 Why should it be right for q hundred thousand corporate shareholders to direct 25 or 30 or 40 per cent of an industry, and wrong for hundred thousand cooperative farmers to control no larger propor- ton of the wheat crop. or cotton. or any other productf
 The Department of Agrbculture is often spoken of as special concession to the farmers, but In its commercial results, 1t 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 1t gives them in working out improved cultural methods and prac- tices. in developing better yielding va 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 ditlon, 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 manifestly tend to stimulate and enlarge production, and their general beneficial effects are obvious.
 II Is complained that, whereas the law restricts Federal Reserve banks to three months time foe commercial paper, the farmer Is allowed six months on his notes This is not a special privilege, but merely such recognition of business conditions as makes 1t possible for country banks to do business with country people The crop farmer has only one turn over 6 year, while the merchant and manufacturer have many. Incidental ly, l note that the Federal Reserve Board has just authorized the Fed eral Reserve banks to discount export paper for a period of six months, to conform to the nature of the busi. ness.
 The Farm Loan banks are pointed Co as an Instance of special govern ment favor for farmers Are they not rather the outcome of laudable efforts to equallze rural and urban condi- tions7 And about all the government does there Is to help set up an ad- mlnlstratiye organization and lend a little credit at the start. Eventually the farmers will provide all the capI- tai and carry all the liabilities them selves. | Is true that Farm Loan