The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1922-03-01


tute or supplementary mechanism.
They must be careful not to become
enmeshed In their own reforms and
lose the perspective Of their place In
the national system. They must guard
against fanatical derotion to new doc.
trlnes, and should seek articulation
with the general economic system
rather than its reckless destruction az
It relates to them.
To take a tolerant and sympathetic
view Of the farmers strivings for bet
ter things Is not to give blanket
endorsement to any specific plan, and
still less to applaud the vagaries 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 practicable
ity of eliminating them by well-con.
sldered measures. 1t may be that the
farmers will not show the business
sagacity and develop the wise leader
ship to carry through sound plans; but
that possibility does not Justify the
obstruction of their upward efforts.
We, as city people, see in high and
speculatively manipulated y prices
spoilage, waste. scarcity, the results
OF defective distribution OF, farm prod
ucts. Should It not occur to us that
we have common interest with the
farmer In his attempts to attain a de-
gree OF efficiency in distribution cor.
responding to his efficiency In produc.
tlon? Do not the recent fluctuations
IN the May wheat option, apparently
uhrelated to normal interaction of
supply and demand, offer timely
PROOF OF the need of some such stabil.
izlng agency as the grain growers have
In contemplation
1t Is contendod that, II their pro-
posed organizations be perfected and
operated. the farmers will have in
their hands an instrument that will be
capable Of dangerous abuse. We are
told that 1t will be possible to pervert
II to arbitrary and oppressive price.
uxing from Its legitimate use of order.
ing and stabillzing the flow Of farm
products to the market, to the mutual
benefit OF producer and consumer.
have no apprehensions on this point.
In the first place. loose organiza-
tion, such as any union of farmers
must be Mt best, cannot be so arbi.
trarily and promptly controlled as a
great corporation. The one Is a lum.
bering democracy and the other an agile
autocracy. In the second place, with
all possible power of org .nization. the
farmers cannot succeed to any great
extent, or for any considerable length
OF time, In fixing prices. The great
law Of supply and demand works In
various and surprising ways, to the
undolng OF the best laid plans that
attempt to foil 1t. In the third place.
their pnwer will avail the farmers
nothing II It be abused. In our time
ana country power Is Of value to its
possessor only so long as 1t Is not
abused II Is fair to say that I have
seen no signs In responsible quarters
OF disposition to dictate prices,
There seems, on the contrary, to be q
commonly beneficial purpose to realize
stability that will Civ, an orderly |
and abundant flow of farm products |
to the consumer and ensure reasonable
and dependable returns to the pro.
Queer.
In view Of the supreme Importance
to the national well-being of a pros.
porous and contented agricultural pop
ulatlon. we should be prepared to 20
long way In assisting the farmers to
get an equitable share of the wealth
they produce, through the Inaugural
tion of reforms that will procure a
and Increasing stream of
farm products They are far from get.
ting q fair share now. Considering
his capital and the long hours of labor
put In by the average farmer and his
family. he Is remunerated less than
any other occupatiOnal class, with the
possible exception Of teachers, rell-
gious and lay. Though we know that
the present general distress of the
farmers Is exceptional and Is linked
With the inevitable economic readjust.
ment following the war, 1t must be
remembered that. although represent.
Ing one-third Of the Industrial product
and half the total population Of the
nation. the rural communities ordl.
1arily enjoy but fifth to a quarter of
he net annual national gain Notwith.
standing the taste Of prosperity that