Evening star., 1922-12-22
Market, Farm Problem.
Experienced Observer Offers So
luton for Agricultural Distress.


There seems to be Z genuine desire
ON The part of Congress to extend
some kind Of help to the farmers OF
the United States. Congress knows
that something Is wrong with the
farm. but II Congress knows Just
what It Is that constitutes that wrong
It keeps tho fact to itself.
On page 8. column s. of today's star
the Deparm of Agriculture tells
us that this years crops are worth
seven and a half billion dollars, near
ly a two-billion gain over last years
crops. II this IL true, why Is It that
the farmers are in a bad plight and
sadly in need of financial assistance?
II the American farmers actually
produced this colossal wealth. then
the farmers should he the wealthiest
and most independent Of our citizenry.
But the cold facts show that. though
the farmers really produce this vast
wealth. they scarcely share in II at
all. and are growing poorer every
year.
What's the iemedy-wheres the
Icak-who does GET the lions share
OF this enormous wealth created by
the American farmers?
I think I know what's wrong and
the remedy.
was reared on a farm. and with
tne exception OF lew years spent AZ
this city I have been continuously
identified with farms and farmers. AS
late az 1855 attended farmers
state meetings in Kentucky, Indiana.
Illinois. Minnesota. Wisconsin and
the Dakotas. mention this merely
n book farmer" but that I can speak
with the understanding Of one who
knows and knows that he knows.
ExamuIe OF COal Market.
1t doesn't matter to the farmer.
from a financial standpoint. how
much his products are worth unless
he himself realizes 4 profit from their
production. In order for the farmer
to realize a profitable return for his
right time and at the right place.
He-the farmer-should feed his crops
10 the markets. for an example. as
the coal operators are handing out
their products to.a shiverinR people
1 Just at this time-a little at time
making one ton OF very poor coal
bring as much cash as two tons Of
good coal should bring. At this very
moment there are at least one hun
dred British tramp steamers in port
in our eastern states. loaded with
English coal. and this coal is being
to consumers 10 ~ not to interfere
with the price of American coal. This
is. therefore. what we would call. on
the part OF the coal people. sensible
p1an of marketing
This leads us to the conclusion. then.
| that one Of the difficult clogs in the
wheel Of agriculture n is the lack Of "A
sensible plan Of marketing agricuI-
tursl products. There Is only one way
to eliminate this serious cioR-and
again may I point to the highly sue
| cessful plan Of the coal people-by
~ tS1yn hA
people meet in union With one an
other and Ak the price. The coal peo-
n1e at the same meeting determine
lust what part Of a ton of coal and
what kind Of Goa, 7 NAV have at one
time. and they max. Vt just enough tn
teen me- thinking that I am going 70
freeze to death sooner or later. My.
but it's easy when you know how!
Suppose the farmers had. or should
adopt. marketing nlan like this
| should. OF could. dribble out to the
market places OF the nation their
products. just a ruficiency to keep us
thinking Of starvation all the time? ?
IN that case the farmers would soon
he as irdeoendent as the cnsI people.
and. like the coal people. they would
not know that such a thing as Con-
gross existed,
The f1rst ster to be taken before the
farmers may even think Of sensible
marketing plan for their products is
,ower freight rates.
Small Returns to Producer.
The farmer in my state sells best
quality Of corn meal for so cents per
bushel to the local merchant. but
when I have to buy that same corn
meal-or some Just like it-in this city
It costs me $3.50 per bushei Here We
see that while the farmer-the producer
gets 50 cents FOR this item Of his
PRODUCTS. the railroads. the wholesaler
and the retailer get So. or hve times as
much, as the farmer gets for il.
ANY plan for the relief Of the farmer
that doesn't carry a reduction in. freight
rates is Of no account. so far RS the
farmer 10 concerned. Reduce the freight
rates and teach the farmer the plan OF
cooperative marketing. and the tiiler
Of the soil will come into his own, but
not until then.
Several years ago ] was employed by
a farmers organisat ton to go 10 western
Kentucky to try to take care Of the to-
bacco growers Of that section. For
three years previous to the time Of my
going the growers had received an aver
age price OF $5.25 per 100 pounds for
their tobacco. sold. mostly. at auction
over the loose-1eaf noors. With local
help, we organised q cooperative mar
ket plan. with 100000 pounds Of to-
bacco to offer buyers in q lump. We
finally sold that tobacco as follows:
Trash. IN cents; Tugs. 141s cents: leaf.
IS cents. In other words, that crop Of
tobacco yielded the farmers 4 quarter
lar crop had yielded them in three years.
and only because Of a sensible plan of
marketing. s. r. BLANTON. .