The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1922-01-26

To take a tolerant an9 sympathetic
4 view of the farmers strlyings for bet.
I 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 economies. and mistaken radical
ism 10 conceal the facts Of the farm
ers' disadvantages. and the practicable
\ lty of eliminating them by well-con
/ sidered measures. II may be that the
! farmers will not show the business
sagacity and develop the wise leader
/ shin to carry through sound plans; but
! hat possibility does not Justify the
I obstruction Of their upward efforts.
/ We, as city people see In high and
| speeulatively manipulated prices,
spoiage, waste scarcity, the results
/ Of defective distribution Of farm prod.
ucts Should II not occur TO us that
we have a common interest with the
farmer In his attempts 10 attain de-
gree OF efficiency IN distribution cor
responding 10 his efficiency In produc-
| tionY 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 If some such stabil-
izing agency as the grain growers have
in contemplation?
II is conteHded that. II their pro-
posed organizations be perfected and
operated, the farmers will have In
their hands an instrument that win be
/ capable Of dangerous abuse We are
told that # viii be possible to pervert
II 70 arbitrary and oppressive price
fixing from It's legitimate use OF order
Ing and stabilizing the flow Of farm
products TO the market. to the mutual
benefit of producer and consumer.
have no apprehens.ons on this point.
In the first place. a loose organlza.
ton, such as any union Of farmers
must be at best, cannot be so arbls
trarlly and promptly controlled as a
great corporation The one is lnm-
bering democracy ana the other an agile
autocracy. In the second place. with
all possible power ~ 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, 10 the
undolng OF the best laid plans that
attempt to foil It, In the third place.
their power will avail the farmers
nothing II Ii be abused In our time
and country power Is OF value 10 It's
possessor only so long as II is not
abused. II is fair 70 say that have
seen no signs in responsible quarters
Of disposition to dictate prices.
There seems. on the contrary, 10 be
commonly beneficial purpose TO realize
a stability that will Civ an orderly
and abundant flow ~ farm products
TO the consumer and ensure reasonable
and dependable returns 10 the pro-
Queer
In view II the supreme Importance
10 the national well-belng Of a pros
porous and contented agricultural pop
ulation. we should be prepared 10 go
a long way IN assisting the farmers 70
get an equitable SCARE OF the wealth
they produce. through the Inaugural
tion Of reforms that will procure a
continuous and increasing stream Of
farm products They are far from get
ting a fair share now. Considering
his capital and the long hours o. labor
put in By the average farmer and his
family. he is remunerated less than
any other occupational class. with the
possible exception ~ teachers. reli- f
gIous and lay Though we know that
the present general distress 81 the 7.
farmers Is exceptional and IL linked f
with the Inevitable economic readtusf-
ment following the war. II must BE- .
remembered that. although represent 4
ing ane-ihird Of the Industrial product /
and half the total population % the
nation. the rural communities ordi-
narily enjoy but nth 70 q quarter % .
the net annual national gain. Notwith- 4
standing the taste ~ prosperity that
ne farmers had during the war. there
Is today q lower standard o. living
among the cotton farmers - the South
than 30 any ether pursuit In the country. Z
In conclusion. Il seems 70 me that the
farmers are chiefly striving for q gen
orally beneficial infegration % their
business. q the sane kind and charnc-
ter that other business enjoys. II ~ I
should be found On examination that
the attainment 81 this end requires
methods drerenf from those which
other activities have followed for the
same purpose should ne not sympa.
.haficaliy consider Tie plea for The