Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1922-02-02

The Farm Loan Drinks arc pOInte0
to as an instance Of special goveTn- I
ment favor for farmers. Are they not
rather the outcome Of laudable efforts
to euuallze rural and urban condi.
tionsp And about oil the government
does there Is to help set up IN ID.
ministrative organization and lend OIL
little credit at the start. Eventually
he farmers will provide all the capl-
tai ard carry all the liabilities them.
selves. It IL true that Farm Loan |
bonds are tax exempt; but % are
bonds of municipal light and traction
plants. and new housing Il to be e. |
empt from taxation. In New York, for
ten years. Il
On the other hand, the farmer reads |
of plans for municipal housing proj. !
ects that run into the billions. OF hum
dreds OF millions annually spent on
The merchant marine; he reads that
the railways are being favored with
increased rates and virtual guarantees
Of earnings by the government, with
the result to him Of an increased toll
on all that he sells and all that he
buys. He hears Of many manifesto
tions Of governmental concern for par
tlcular Industries and Interests. Res.
cuing the railways from Insolvency ID
undoubtedly for the benefit Of the
country as a whole, but what can be
OF more gencral benefit than encour-
agement OF ample production ct the
principal necessaries Of life and their
even flow from contented producers to
satisfied cons uInerS2
While 1t may be conceded that
special governmental aid may be nec-
essary In the general interest. we must
all agree that It Is difficult to see why
agriculture and the production and dis
trlbutlon Of farm products are not &C.
corded the same opportunities that are
provided for other, businesses; espes
clally a, the enjoyment BY the farmer
Of such opportunities would appear to
be even more contributory to the gan.
eral good than In THO case Of other
Industries. The spirit Of American
democracy is unalterably opposed.
alike to enacted special. privilege and
| to the special privilege Of unequal ep.
portunIty that arises automatically
from the. failure to correct slarino
economic InsquaIltisa I am opposed
to the injection Of government into
business, but do believe that It II 40
essential function Of democratic gov
ernment to equallze opportunity 70
far as It Is within its power to do 90.
whether by the repeal Of archaic
statutes or the enactment Of modern
ones. If the antitrust laws keep the
farmers from endeavoring scientifically
to integrate their industry while other
Industries find q way to meet modern
conditions without violating such stat
utes, then 1t would seem reasonable
to find a way for the farmers to mse'
rthem under the same conditions. TIT
Flaw should operate equally 10 fact. Re
pairing the economic structure on on
| side Is no Injustice to the other side
which Is In good repair.
We have Travelled q long way from
the old conception Of government O
merely defensive and policing agency
and regulatlve, corrective, or equals
Ing legislation, which apparently 70 Q
a special nature, Is often Of the mos
general beneficial consequences. Eve
the First Congress passed tarih &C
that was avowedly for the protsctiol
Of manufacturers; but q protectiv
tariff always has been defended as
means Of promoting the general goo'
through 4 particular approach; an1
the statute books are flled with act
for the benefit Of shipping. commerce
and labor.