The Oakes times. [volume] (Oakes, N.D.) 1906-current, 1922-02-09
VIEW
OF FARM BLOC
Kahn Points Out that All American
Prosperity is in Same Boat
With Farmers
WOULD HAVE A JOINT INQUIRY
Insists that Farmer Can Be Helped
Without Injuring Others


Without Injuring Others
The spectacular activities of the Ma
tional Agricultural conference coupled
with the persistent work of the farm
bureaus and the general movements
for cooperative selling have brought
sharply to the front and impressed
upon the public mind the fact that the
welfare of the farmer can no longer be
ignored with national safety. Also
the fact is sensed in the world Of
finance that the attitude of business
generally towards the problems Of the
farmer must be one of sympathetic
cooperation rather than further
pursuing of the belief that the inter-
ests Of manufacturing and finance and
the interest of agriculture are distinct
units to which economic laws prohibit
mutual prosperity.
One of the first men of note to
sound a warning against any growing
feeling calculated to estrange the far
mer from the business man is Otto H.
Kahn, one Of the wealthiest and most
astute financiers in the country. =
Mr.. Kahn has set down in concrete
form his thought in connection with
the farmer business problem and re-
lationship. He has been moved to do
20 largely because a number Of city
newspapers in the west recently at
tackled him as being opposed to the
agricultural bloc.
Zone Of the newspapers printed an
article headed Kahn Summons Busi-
ness to Organize Bloc,,."' said he.
Nothing is further from the fact
! am opposed to bloc activities Of all
kinds, believing them to be pernicious
and not compatible with our form Of
government. AS fact l particularly
advised business not to attempt to
organize bloc. The most essential
thing for all our people to recognize
is that in the last analysis we are all
in the same boat and sink or swim
together.
"The farmer is discontented and un-
der sense of grievance with the
existing order Of things. A contented
farming population is of immense So
cial value to the state. Farming is a
calling of vital necessity, toilsome,
none too we'll requited at best and in
volving inevitable hardships. The just
grievances Of the farmer call for i'm
mediate and intelligent consideration
and for effective redress even though
that may mean the adoption Of meth
DDS that are new and somewhat unpal-
atable to the established ways Of bus
mess. If there is one calling which
has higher claim than another upon
the helpful consideration Of the state
then that calling is that Of the farmer.
There is no adequate economic
reason, notwithstanding the huge de-
struction and waste wrought BY the
late war, why the world and particu-
larly this favored country, should not
now resume the road Of prosperity;
but in order to do so we must all take
a hard pull together, we must give
full and free scope to the forces Of en-
ergy and enterprise instead Of cramp-
ing, shackling and hampering them
and we must let ourselves be guided
by the tested lessons of economic
truths instead Of giving ear to plaus-
ible fallacies or permitting ourselves
to be led into precipitate actions un-
der influence Of temporary conditions.
every right minded business mad
must be desirous to have the legiti-
mate grievances Of the farmer-and
he has and long has had such-re-
dressed and remedied. Justice de-
mands that this should be done. The
larger interest of the nation demands
it, for it is harmful and menacing to
the commonwealth that so numerous
and 50 valuable portion Of the pop
ulation should feel discontented and
resentful and be without prosperity.
The enlightened selfishness of busi-
ness requires it, for not only does the
material we'll being, or the reverse Of
the farmer largely react upon business
but experience has shown that when
the farming industry is in the throes
of depression the farmer is very apt
to blame business and to hit out at
business and to get himself in frame
Of mind which the well meaning self
deceived purveyor Of political and eco
nomical nostrums or the cunning dem
agogue are only too ready to take ad-
vantage Of"
I 1t has been said, "Mr. Kahn, you
are opposed to the agricultural bloc,
yet it is pretty generally admitted that
4 the farmer has been the football Of
political gymnastics for years, that
his cries have been ignored. Is it any
wonder he halls with joy the advent
Of political coalition that promises
relief for him and recognizes his func-
ton as>the basis Of American pros
perity?" sss
This put the issue fiat. And what
has the financier to say? Read:
at is manifest that the representa-
j tives of the farming communities and
4 sfafas n,i,sf knosr hakf6r than snnnaf