Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1922-02-10

much at q disadvantage ln.ueallng Win
other economic groups as the jay farm
or Of the funny pages In the hands OF
sleek urban confidence men. who sell
him acreage In Central Park or the,
Chicago city hall. The leaders OF the
farmers thoroughly understand this,
and they are mtellgently striving 70
integrate their Industry so that Y VIII
be on an equal footing with other bust
aesses.
AS an example of Indignation. take
the steel industry, III which the model
is the United States Steel Cooperation.
with It's iron mines, It's eoal mines, us
lake and rail transportation, It's ocean
vessels its by-product coke ovens. IT'S
blast furnaces, its open hearth ana
Bessemer furnaces, It's rolling mills. ITS
tube mills aud other manufacturing
processes that are carried to the high
est degree of finished production com
patible with the large trade II has
built up. All this is generally eonced'
ed to be TO the advantage Of the con,
sumner. Nor daes the steel corporation
Inconsiderately dump its products on
the market. On the contrary II so
acts that ii Is frequently stabilzlng
Influence as is often the case with 9th
er large organizations. 1t is master OF
It's distribution as we'll as OF its pro-
duction. If 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
it can get under such circumstances.
II 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 Indignation of the steel corporation
Is represented about 40 per cent Of the
steel production of America The rest
is mostly In the hands Of few large
companies In ordinary times the
steel corporation. by example, stabillzes
all steel prices If this Is permissible
Ut 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
lar effects on agricultural products?
Something like that Is what they are
aiming at
Some farmers favored by regional
eompactness and contigulty, 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
sumner q reliable service Of ensured
quality, certain supply, and reasonable
and relatively steady prices. They
have not found 1t necessary to resort
to any special privilege, or to claim
any exemption under the antitrust
legislation Of the state or nation. With
out removing local control, they have
built up very efficient marketing
agency. The grain, cotton, and to-
bacco farmers, and the producers Of
hides and wool, because Of their num-
bers and the vastness of their regions,
and for other reasons, have found
indignation more difficult task
though there are now some thousands
Of farmers cooperative elevators,
warehouses, creameries, and other en-
terprises Of one sort and another, with
a turnover Of billion dollers a year
They are giving the farmers business
experience and training, and, so far
as they 90, 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 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
lectiveiy, ~ the individual farmer may
elect. 1t ls this step-ths plan of the
Committee Of Seventeen-which has
created 50 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 legisls-
ton. They desire, and they are en-
titled, to coordinate their efforts lust
as effectively as the large business In
terests Of the country have done. In
connection with the selling organizs-
lions the United States Grain Growers
Incorporated is drafting a scheme Of
financing lnstrumentalities ard auxiII-
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 me-
which has been 80 laborIouslv
built up by long experience before
hey have a tried and proved suhsn-
ute or supplementary mechanism
rhey must be careful not to become
In their own reform. and
oSe the perspective OF their place IN
he national system. They must guard
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