Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1922-02-10

speculatively manipulated hi
spoilage, waste. scarcity, the ~
of defective distribution Of farm r.
ucts. Should it not occur TO n, \
we have a common interest win
farmer in his attempts to attain ,
gree Of efficiency in distributlon p
responding TO his efficiency in mn
ton? Do not the recent nuctp,s
in the May wheat option. appa,s
unrelated to normal interactio h
supply and demand, offer a MI
proof Of the need of some such M
izing agency as the grain growers
in contemplation?
1t Is contended that. If their 4
posed organizations be perfected Il
operated, the farmers win hav.
their hands an instrument that wa I
capable of dangerous abuse. We +
told that it will be possible to ned;
It to arbitrary and oppressive N.
fixing from its legitimate use Of os
ing and stabilizing the flow Of y
products to the market, to the mn.
benefit of producer and consume
have no apprehensions on this pdr
In the first place, a loose orgs.
ton, such as any union of fan
must be at best, cannot be 50 ,c
trarily and promptly controlled llt
great corporation. The one is Ii
bering democracy and the other anaN
autocracy. In the second place I.
all possible power of org IMITATION 3
farmers cannot succeed to any 4
extent. or for any considerable Id
of time, In fixing prices. The 1.
law of supply and demand wOrh
various and surprising ways, to
undoing of the best laid plans
attempt to foil it. In the third ID
their power will avail the far
nothing if it be abused. In our I
and country power is Of value to
p~ossessor only so long as it is /.
abused. It is fair to say that | b,
seen no signs in responsible guard
of a disposition to dictate phS
There seems, on the contrary, to ID
commonly beneficial purpose to real
a stability that will give an Ordei
and abundant flow of farm prOiI
to the consumer and ensure reasOm
and dependable returns to the |
Queer.
In view of the supreme importal
to the national w%ell-being Of a pd
porous and eontented agricultural pol
ulation. we should 1e prepaid to
a long way in assisting the farmers
get an equitable share of the wed
they produce, through the inaug1
ton of reforms that will proeur|
continuous and increasing strearI
farm products. They are far from
ting a fair share now. Considsi
his capital and the long hours OF !
put in by the average farmer and
family, he is ~remunerated less
any other occupational class, with
possible exception of teachers,
gious and lay. Though we know
the present general distress Of
farmers Is exceptional and is IL
with the inevitable economic read
ment following the war, 1t mus
remembered that, altho RI repre-
ing one-third of the indIHeMNnks
and half the total popt
nation. the rural conn ~
narily enjoy but a fifth t go
the net annual national gan. N0v
standing the taste of prosperity
the farmers had during the war,
is today a lower standard of |
among the cotton farmers of the )
than in any other pursuit in the cou
In conclusion, it seems to me tina
farmers are chiefly striving for a
orally beneficial indignation of
business. of the same kind and CHI
ter that other business enjoys.
should be found on examination
the attainment Of this end req
methods different from those !
other activities have followed FOL
same purpose should we not sy
thetically consider the plea fol
right to cooperate, If only from
W enlightened self interest, II
tanning an abundant and steady 10
farm products?
In examining the agricultural
ton with a view to Its improVe1
we shall be most helpful If we i
tain a detached and judicial view
remembering that existing wrongs
be chiefly an accident Of unsymI
cal economic growth instead OF
ton of malevolent design and cons
CIV. We Americans are prone, as
fessor David Friday we'll says u
admirable book, profits, Waga
| Prices" to seek a criminal mo-
hind every difficult and undesiraOs
nomic situation" I can positive
sert from my contact with nd
large affairs, including bankers
as a whole, they are endeavOr7
! fulfill as they e them the oblg'i
that go with their power. Preocc
with the grave problems ana
tasks Of their own immediate U
they have not turned their thou9
personal attention or their con-
i. tive abilities to the deficiencies oI