Jackson County sentinel. (Gainesboro, Tenn.) 1914-current, 1922-02-09

world was 0OinG. Inc result u that
the agricultural group Is almost as
much at disadvantage In dealing With
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 lntelllgently striving TO
integrate their industry so that II will
be on an equal footing with other husi-
nesses
AS an example OF indignation. take
the steel industry, In which the model
is the United States Steel Corporation,
with Its iron mines, Its coal mines, Its
lake and rail- transportation. Its ocean
vessels, Its by-product coke ovens, Its
blast furnaces, its open hearth and
Bessemer furnaces, Its rolling mlls, Its
tube mills and other manufacturing
processes that are carried to the high
est degree Of finished production COM
patible with the large trade Il has
built up. All this is generally conced-
ed to be to the advantage OF the con-
sumer. Nor does the steel corporation
inconsiderately dump Its products on
the market. On the contrary, II SO
acts that It Is frequently stabllizlng
influence, as Is often the case with 9TH
er large organizations. II Is master Of
Its distribution as well as Of Its pro-
duction II prices are not satisfactory
the products are held back or prOduc-
ton is reduced or suspended. 1t 10 not
compelled to send years work to the
market at one time and take whatever
II can get under such circumstances.
II has one selling policy and It's 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 sim
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. stabilizes
all steel prices. II this is permissible
Ut Is even desirable, because stable
and fair prices are essential to solid
and continued prosperity why would
It be wrong for the farmers to utilize
central agencies that would have slmi.
lar effects on agricultural productsi
Something like that Is what they are
aiming at.
Some farmers favored by regional
compactness and contigulty. such as the
-fruit-raisers Of California, a.
ready have found a way legally %
merge and sell their products inte-
orally and In accordance with seasonal
and local demand, thus improving
their position and rendering the con-
sumer a reliable service Of ensured
quality, certain supply, and reasonable
and relatively steady prices. They
have not found II 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 a very efficient marketing
agency. The grain, cotton, and to-
baccO farmers, and the producers Of
hides and wool, because of their num-
bsrs and the vastness Of their regions.
and for other reasons. have found
Indignation q more difiicult task;
though there are now some thousands
Of farmers cooperative elevators.
warehouses, creameries, and other en-
terprlses Of one sort and another, with
a turnover Of a billion dollers year.
They are giving tie farmers business
experience and training, and, so far
as they go, 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 q 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.
lectively, as the individual farmer may
elect II is this step-the 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 IL
now before congress q measure de-
signed to clear up doubt on this point,
the grain-producers are not relying on
any immunity from antitrust legisla-
ton. They desire. and they are en-
titled. to coordinate their efforts Just
as effectively as the large business In
terests of the country have done. In
connection with the selling organiza-
lions the, United States Grain Growers
Incorporated. Is drafting a scheme Of
financing instrumentalities and auxffi-
airy agencies WHICH are indispensable
10 the successful utilization Of modern
business methods. pB 4 4
II Is essential that the farmers
should proceed gradually with these
plans. and aim to avoid the error Of
serapplng the existing marketing ma
ehinery. which has been so laborlously :
built up by long experience. before ,
they have a tried and proved substi.
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 devotion to new doc