The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1922-01-26
III

Now that the farmers are stirring
ghllkue and uniting as never before
% eradicate these inequalities. they
are subjected tU stern economic lee
lures. and are met with the accusation
L3t they are demanding and are me
recipients ~. special privileges. Let
MS see what privileges the government
has conferred pn the farmers. Much
has been made of Section g ~ the
CLAYTON Antitrust Act. which pur
ported o. permit them 10 combine with
Immunity. under certain conditions
Admitting THAT. nominally. this eX-
gmu-i was Ia the nature ~ special
urIyiIe-e.- -thuu-h I think 10 was SO IN
inheritance rather tlan ia tdct.-we
eri chat tha courts have uulInrd II
rv judicial Interpretation. Why should
not the farmers he permitted 10 ac-
rumpESn hy cooperative methods what
other hu~.u rs~cs are already doing by
c.-ouerHti an in the form ~ inc1rpora-
tIou2 II 60 be proper for men % form,
hy fusion Of existing corporations or
otherwise. "a corporation that controls
the entire production % a commodity.
Or LARGE part Of %. why is 10 not
prsuer for % group n farmers 10 unite
FOR the uur.efln- of their common
products. either in one or In several
selling a-eucies2 Why should II he
ri-ht for q hundred thousand corporate
shareholders 90 direct - or 30 OF 10
! per cent Of an industry. and wrong for
[ n hundred thousand cooperative
farmers o. control "a no larger proper
t.ou Of the wheat crop or cotton, or
any other productr
The Department ~ Agriculture Is
often spoken % as a special concession
/ 20 the farmers. but iu it's commercial
results. 70 is - rs much benefit 70 the
buyorS and consumers ~ agricultural
products as 20 the produc ers. or even
more 3D. not suppose that anyone
[ opp1~as tie benefits that the farmers
derive from the educational and re-
search work - the department. or the
/ helm that ir gives them In working out
improved cultural methods and prac-
! uces. % developing better yielding va
rieticS through breeding and selection,
in Introducing new varieties from re-
\ mote uartS ~ the world and adapting
/ them 10 our climate and economic con
/ dition and In devising practical meas
/ ures FOR the elimination or control OF
! dangerous and destructive animal and
/ piant diseases. insect pests. and the
4 ike. All these things mauifestly tend
20 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 for commercial
| paper the farmer is allowed six
| months ON hts notes. This is not q
| special privilege. but merely such
recognition OF business conditions as
makes Il possible for country banks
10 do business with country people
/ The crop farmer has only one turn
| over a year. while the merchant and
| manufacturer have many. Incidental
IL. note that the Federal Reserve
Board has Just authorized the Fed
eral Reserve banks 20 discount export
paper for period f six months, q
conform 10 the nature of the bust
I ness.
The Farm Loan banks are pointed
10 as an instance Of special govern
ment favor for farmers Are they not
rather the outcome Of laudable efforts
In equalize rural and urban condi
tlonsq And about all the government
does there IS 10 help set up an ad
/ minlstratlve organization and lend
little credit al the start. Eventually
the farmers will provide all the capi
tai and carry all the liabilities them
selves II Is true that Farm LOar
bonds are tax exempt; but so arr
bonds OF municipal Hight and traction
plants and new housing Is To he ex
empt from taxation. ia New York, FOL
ten years.
on the other hand. the farmer reads
of plans for municipal housing PROF
ects that run into the billions. OF hun
dreds OF millions annually spent OF
The merchant marine; he reads tina
the railways are being favored viii
increased rates and virtual guarantee
Of earnings by the government. witt
the result 10 him Of an increased tol
m all that he sells and all that IN
puvs He hears Of many manifesto
lions Of governmental concern for par
ocular Industries and interests. Res
.uins the railways from insolvency /
undoubtedly for The benefit OF III
I country as a whole. but what can b
II more general benefit than encour
agement of ample production OF IN
principal necessarles Of life and thei
even flow from contented producers I
satisfied consumers?
While II may he conceded tina
P special governmental aid may be me-
| aSsary in the general interest. we mus
all agree that Il Is difficult TO see VIII
; agriculture and the production and dis
tribution Of farm products are not az
! corded the same opportunities that ar
provided for other businesses esp'
cially as the enjoyment by the farrne
] Of such opportunities would appear
! be even more contributory TO the gel