Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1922-02-01

we nave coiuliVh 4itN4N''
farmer in his attempts 10 attain de-
gree Of efficiency In distribution cor
responding 10 his efficiency In produc-
tlonf d. not the recent fluctuations
IN the May wheat option, apparently
unrelated TO normal interaction OF
supply and demand, offer timely
proof OF the need Of some such staDil-
lzlng agency as the grain growers have
in contemplation?
II Is contended that, II their pro-
posed organizations be perfected ana
operated. the farmers will have In
their hands an instrument that VIII be
capable Of dangerous abuse. We are
told that it will be possible to peryert
II 10 arbitrary and oppressive price
fixing from its legitimate use Of order
Ing and Stabllizlng the flow Of farm
products to the market, 20 the mutual
benefit of producer and consumer.
have no apprehenslons on this point.
In the first place, a loose organiza-
ton, such as any union OF farmers
must be ut best, cannot be so arOi-
trarlly and promptly controlled as
great corporation. The one Is luIh-
bering democracy and the other an agile
autocracy. In the second place, with
all possible power Of org nization, the
farmers cannot succeed % any great
extent. or for any considerable length
Of time. In fixing prices The great
-
various and surprising ways. 10 the
undolng Of the best laid plans that
attempt 10 foil H. In the third place,
their power will avail the farmers
nothing IL Il be abused. In our time
and country power Is OF value 10 Its
possessor only so long as Il Is not
abused II Is fair 20 say that | have
seen no signs In responsible quarters
Of a disposition 20 dictate prices
There seems, on the contrary, 20 be
commonly beneficial purpose 10 realize
a stability that will Civ an orderly
and abundant flow Of farm products
TO the consumer and ensure reasonable
and dependable returns TO the pro
Queer.
In view II the supreme Importance
10 the national well-being Of a pros.
porous aud contented agricultural pop,
ulatlon. we should be prepared to 90
long way In assisting the farmers g.
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 a 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 OccupatiOnal class, with the
possible exception Of teachers, reli-
glous 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. Ii must he
remembered that, although represent
ing one-third Of the industrial product
and half the total population Of the
nation. the rural communities Ordi-
narlly enjoy but fifth 10 a quarter Of
the net annual national gain. N0twlth-
standing the taste Of prosperity that
the farmers had during the war, there
Is today a lower standard Of living
among the cotton farmers Of the South
than In any other pursuit In the country
In conclusion, II seems TO me that the
farmers are chiefly striving for gen
orally beneficial Indignation OF their
business. Of the same kind and charac-
ter that other business enjoys. II Il
should be found on examination that
the attainment Of this end requires
methods different from those which
other activities have followed for the
same purpose should we not sympa-
thetlcally consider the plea for the
right 10 cooperate, II only from our
own enlightened self lnterOa!. in OBJ
talning an abundant and steady now Of
farm products?
In examining the agricultural situa
ton with a view TO its improvement,
we shall be most helpful II we main
tain detached and judicial viewpoint.
remembering that existing wrongs may
be chiefly an accident Of nnsymmetrl-
cal economic growth instead II crca-
ton OF malevolent design aud cOnspira-
cy. We Americans are prone, as Pro
fessor T9avld Friday well says In his
admirable book, Profits, Wages and
Prices" to seek criminal intent be-
hind every difficult and undesirable eco.
nomic situation" can positively as
sert from my contact with men Of
Iarga Affairs fncIudino houkars fhof
as a whole, they are endeavorIng 10
fulfill as thOy see them the obligations
that go with their power. Preoccupied
with the grave problems and heavy
tasks Of their own immediate affairs,
they hare not turned their thoughtful
persona attention or their cOnstruc-
tive abilities 10 the deficiencies OF agri-
cultural business organization. Agri-
culture. II may be said, suffers from