The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1922-02-03
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Now, what Is the farmer asking?
without trying to catalogue the re-
medal measures that have been sug-
gested In his behalf, the principal pro-
posals that bear directly on the I'M
provement of his distributing and mar
ketlng relations may be summarized as
follows -
First: storage warehouses for cot
ton, wool, and tobacco, and elevators
for grain, of sufficient capacity to meet
the maximum demand on them at the
peak of the marketing period The
farmer thinks that either private capl-
tai must furnish these facilities, or the
state must erect and own the eleva-
tors and warehouses.
Second: Weighing and grading of
agricultural products, and certlflcatlon
thereof, to be done by impartial and
dlslnterested public inspectors (thls Is
already accomplished 10 some extent
by the federal licensing of weighcrs
and graders), to eliminate underpay-
Ing. overcharglng, and unfair grading.
md TO facilitate the utilization of the
stored products MS the basis of credit.
Third n certainty Of credit sufficient
to enable the marketing OF products
IN an orderly manner.
Fourth: the Department OF Agrlcul-
ture should collect, tabulate. summa-
rize, and regularly and frequently pub
ashland distribute to the farmers. full
information from all the markets OF
the world. so that they shall be as well
Informed OF their selling position as
buyers now are of their buying posi-
tinn.
Fifth: freedom to integrate the busi-
ness of agriculture by means of con-
solIdated selling agencies, co-ordinat-
Ing and cooperating In such way as TO
put the farmer on an equal footing
with the large buyers OF his products,
and with commercial relations In other
Industries.
When business requires specialized
talent, II has to buy 1t. SO VIII the
farmers: aud perhaps the best way for
them to Get II would be TO utilize some
OF the present machinery of the larg-
est established agencies dealing In
farm products. or course, IL no wishes,
the farmer may 20 further and engage
{ In -four milling and other manufactures
+ ~ food products In my opinion.
( short of that. Public Interest may be
( opposed to all great lntegratlons; but
( In justice, should they be forbidden to
/ the farmer and permitted TO others?
The corporate form Of association can
not now be wholly adapted to his OBJ.
jects and conditions. The looser co.
operative form seems more generally
free, IL he finds It desirable and feas
ible, to resort to cooperation with his
fellows and neighbors, without run
ming afoul OF the law. To urge that
the farmers should have the same lib
erty to consolidate and coordinate
their peculiar economic functions
which other Industries In their fields
enjoy, Is not, however, TO concede tina,
| any business Indignation should have
legislative sanction to exercise monop
ollstlc power. The American people
are as firmly opposed to Industrial a.
to political autocracy, whether at
tempted by rural or by urban industry
For lack OF united effort the farmer,
as whole are still marketing .hel
crops by Anticipated methods, or by n,
methods at all. but they are surrounde,
by business world that has beef
modernized TO the last minute and 4
tirelessly striving for efficiency. Thi
efficiency Is due In large measure I,
big business. to united business, to In
tegrated business. The farmers nov
seek the benefits OF such largeness, I'm
ion aud indignation.
The American farmer Is modern o
the moderns In the use of labor savin
machinery, and he has made vas
, strides In recent years In scientifi
, ( tillage and efficient farm management
but MS business in contact with othe
| / businesses agriculture Is zone hors
. shay In competition with high powe
+ automobiles. The American farmer
. the greatest and most intraetable {
. indiyldualists. While Industrial DIR,
n duction and all nhases of the hu0e can