Grainger County news. (Rutledge, Tenn.) 1917-current, 1922-02-22

To take 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 II 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 weIl-con-
sidered measures. It 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 II their upward efforts
We, as city people see In high and
speculatively manipulated prices
spoilage, waste, scarcity, the results
of defective distribution of farm prod
ucts. Should It not occur to MS that
we have common interest with the
farmer in his attempts to attain de-
gree Of efficiency in distribution cor
responding to his efficiency in produc-
ton? DO not the recent fluctuations
in the May wheat option, apparently
unrelated to normal interaction Of
supply and demand offer a timely
proof Of the need of some such stabil-
izing agency rs the grain growers have
In contemplation
II Is contended 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 it viii be possible to pervert
it to arbitrary and oppressive price
fixing from its legitimate use of order
ing and stablizing the flow Of farm
products to the market. to the mutual
benefit Of producer and consumer
have no approximations on this point.
In the first place, a Loose organza-
tion, such as any union Of farmers
must be at best, cannot be 50 arbl-
trarily and promptly controlled as a
great corporation. The one Is a lum-
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
undoing Of the best laid plans that
fn fN1 IN In tf,I
their power will avail the farmers
nothing If it be abused In our time
and country power Is Of value to It's
possessor only so long as II Is not
abused. It is fair to say that | have
seen no signs in responsible quarters
Of a disposition to dictate prices
There seems. on the contrary, to be a
commonly beneficial purpose to realize
a stability that win give 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 wel-being of a pros
porous and contented agricultural pop
ulation, we should be prepared to 60
a long way In assisting the farmers TO
get an equitable share of the wealth
they produce, through the Inaugural
ton OF reforms that will procure a
continuous and increasing stream OF
farm products. They are far from get
ting 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 occupatiNal class. with the
possible exception Of teachers, reli-
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, it 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
narly enjoy but fifth to quarter OF
the net annual national gain. Notwith'
standing the taste of prosperity that
the farmers had during the war, there
is today lower standard of living
among the cotton farmers of the South
than in any other pursuit in the country
In conclusion. 1t seems to me that the
farmers are chiefly striving for a gen
orally beneficial Indignation Of theil
business, Of the same kind and charac
ter that other business enjoys. If il
should be found on examination thai
the attainment Of this end requires
methods different from those which
other activities have followed for the
same purpose should we not sympa
thetically consider the plea for the
right 10 cooperate. II only from oul
~wn enlightened self interest, In Oh
tAiaing an abundant and steady fsow Of
/. 1Nxm products,