Vashon Island news-record. [volume] (Vashon, Wash.) 1919-1954, 1922-02-10


other businesses nre already doing by
cooperation In the form Of lncorpora-
tiOnY II II he proper for men to form,
by fusion OF existing corporations or
otherwise, a corporation that controls
the entire production OF commodity.
or large part OF II, why is It not
proper for n group of farmers to unite
for the marketing OF their common
products, either in one or In several
selling agcncles7 Why should II be
right for hundred thousand corporate
shareholders to direct 20 or 30 or 40
per cent OF an industry, and wrong for
n hundred thousand cooperative
farmers to control no larger proper.
ton Of the wheat crop, or cotton, or
any other product2
The Department of Agriculture Is
often spoken Of MS special concession
to the farmers, but In Its commercial
results, It is OF as much benefit to the
buyers and consumers OF agricultural
products as to the producers, or even
more. do not suppose that anyone
opposes the benefits that the farmers
derive from the educational and re-
search work OF the department, or the
help that 1t gives them In working out
improved cultural methods and prac.
tlces, In developing better yielding VA
rIetIcs through breeding and selection,
In introducing new varieties from re-
mote parts Of the world and adapting
them to our climate and economic con-
ditlon, and In devislng practical meas
ures for the elimination or control OF
dangerous and destructive animal and
plant diseases, insect pests, and the
like All these things manifestly tend
to stimulate and enlarge production,
and their general beneficial effects are
obvious.
1t Is complained that, whereas the
law restricts Federal Reserve banks
to three months time for commercial
paper, the farmer Is allowed six
months on his notes This Is not n
special privilege, but merely such a
recognition of business conditions rs
makes It possible for country banks
to do business with country people,
The crop farmer has only one turn.
over a year, while the merchant md
manufacturer have many. Incidental
", | note that the Federal Reserve
Board has Just authorized the Fed
era Reserve banks to discount export
paper for a period Of SIX months, to
conform to the nature Of the busl-
ness.
The Farm Loan banks are pointed
to as an instance of special govern
ment favor for farmers. Are they not
rather the outcome of laudable efforts
to eQualize rural and urban cond!-
lions? And about all the government
does there Is to help set up an ad.
ministrative organization and lend a
little credit at the start. Eventually
the farmers will provide all the capt.
tai and carry all the liabilities them
selves. 1t is true that Farm Loan
bonds are tax exempt; but so are
bonds of municipal light and traction
plants, and new housing is to be ex-
empt from taxation, In New York, for
ten years.
On the other hand, the farmer reads
of plans for municipal housing prof,
ects that run into the billions, of hun.
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,
lions Of governmental concern for par
tIcular industries and interests. Res
cuing the railways from insolvency is
undoubtedly for the benefit Of the
country as II whole, but what can be
Of more general benefit than encour-
agement of ample production Of the
principal necessaries of life and their
even flow from contented producers to
satisfied consumers7
While It may be conceded that
special governmental aid may be nee
essary in the general interest, we must
all agree that II Is difficult to see why
agriculture and the production and dis
tribution Of farm products are not nc.
corded the same opportunities that are
provided for other businesses; espe-
cIally as the enjoyment by the farmer
of such opportunities would appear to
be even more contributory to the gen
eral good than in the case Of other
Industries. The spirit of American
democracy Is unalterably opposed,
alike to enacted special privilege and
to the special privilege Of unequal op-
portunity that arises automatically
from the failure to correct elarino
economic inequalities. l am opposed
to the Injection of government into
business but do believe that 1t is an
essential function of democratic gov
eminent to equallze opportunity so
far as 1t is within It's power to do so,
whether by the repeal of archaic
statutes or the enactment OF modern
ones. If the antitrust laws keep the
farmers from endeavorlng scientifically
to integrate their industry while other