The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1922-02-17

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endorsement to any specific plan, and
still less to applaud the vagaries Of
some Of their leaders and grouns,
Neither should we, on the other hand,
allow the fr0th Of bitter agitation.
false economics, and mistaken radicai.
ism to conceal the facts of the farm.
ers' disadvantages, and the practicable
ity Of eliminating them by well-con-
sidered measures. It may be that the
farmers will not show the business
sagacity and develop the wise leader
ship to carry through sound plans bur
that possibility does not justify the
obstruction Of their upward efforts.
We. as city people see in high ana
speculatiNely manipulated prices,
spoilage, waste, scarcity, the results
of defective distribution of farm prod
ucts. Should it not occur to us that
we have a common interest with tile
farmer In his attempts to attain a de-
gree Of efficiency in distribution cor
responding to his efficiency In produc-
ZION? 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 of some such stabll-
izing agency as the grain growers have
in contemplation?
1t Is commended that. If their pro-
posed organizations be perfected and
operated, the farmers viii have in
their hands an instrument that will he
capable of dangerous abuse. We are
told that 1t will be possible to pervert
1t to arbitrary and oppressive price
fixing from its 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 apprehensions on this point.
In the first place, loose organize
ton, such as any union Of farmers
must be at BEST cannot be 50 arbi-
trarily and promptly controlled as a
great corporation The one is lum-
bering democracy and the other an agile
autocracy. In the second place. with
all possible power of org IMITATION, 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, TO the
undoing of the best laid plans that
attempt to foil it. In the third place,
their power Will avail the farmers
nothing IL il be abused In our time
and country power is of value to its
possessor only so long as 1t is not
.,h, y fc faf, tns that I have
seen no signs in responsible quarters
of a disposition to dictate prices.
There seems, on the contrary, to be a
commonly beneficial purpose to realize
stability that will give an orderly
and abundant flow Of farm products
to the consumer and ensure reasonable
and dependable returns TO the pro.
Queer.
In view of the supreme importance
TO the national well-being Of pros.
porous and contented agricultural pop
ulation, we should be prepared to 60
a long way in assisting the farmers t.
get an equitable share of the wealth
they produce, through the Inaugural
ton OF reforms that will procure q
continuous and increasing stream Of
farm products. They are far from get
ting fair share now. Considering
his capital and the long hours of labor
put in by the average farmer and hi'
family, he is remunerated less thar
any other occupational class, with tht
possible exception of teachers, rell
gious and lay. Though we know tina
the present general distress Of thu
farmers is exceptional and Is linked
with the inevitable economic readjust
ment following the war, 1t must b
remembered that. although represent
ing one-third of the Industrial produc
and half the total population of u
nation. the rural communities ofdl
narily enjoy but fifth to a quarter o
the net annual national gain. Notwtth
standing the taste Of prosperity tina
the farmers had during the war, Their
is today a lower standard of llYini
among the cotton farmers OF the Sontl
than in any other pursuit in the country
In conclusion, it seems TO me that III
farmers are chiefly striving for gen
orally beneficial Indignation OF thei
business. OF the same kind ana charat
fer that other business enjoys. u
should be found On eSamieation tina
the attainment Of this end require
methods different from those wtlic
other activities have followed for u
same purpose should we not sympi
thetically consider the plea for tn
right to cooperate, If only from on
own enlightened self Interest, IN Of
tanning m abundant and steady flow q
farm products?
In examining the agricultural situ'
ZION with view to It's Improvement
We shall lie most helpful II we man
tain a detached and judicial viewpoin
remembering that existing wrongs ma
be chiefly an accident Of unsylnmetr
cal economic growth instead e Il cree
zion ~ tnnlevnlent DESIGN and conspiri