Milford chronicle., 1922-01-20

has been made Of Section of tn
Clayton Antitrust Act, which puI
ported to permit them to combine witt
immunity, under certain conditions
Admitting that, nOminally, this ex
emptlon was In the nature Of a specia
privilege,-though I think 1t was so Il
appearance rather than in facr,-wl
find that the courts have nullified 1
by judicial Interpretation. Why SHOULD
not the farmers be permitted to &C
complish by cooperative methods wha
other businesses are already doing BY
cooperation in the form Of lncOrpora
tlOn? n 1t be proper for men 80 form
by fusion OF existing corporations o.
otherwise, a corporation that controls
the entire production of a commodity
or large part Of 1t, why is 1t not
proper for a group Of farmers to unite
for the marketing Of their common
products, either in one or in several
selling agencies7 Why should 1t be
right for a hundred thousand corporate
shareholders to direct 25 or 80 or 40
per cent of an industry, and wrong for
farmers to control a no larger proper
tiOn Of the wheat crop, or cotton. or
any other product?
The Department Of Agriculture is
often spoken of as a 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. 1 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-
tIces, In developing better yielding va
rieties through breeding and selection,
IN introducing new varieties from re-
mote parts Of the world and adapting
them to our climate and economic con-
ditiOn, and in devising 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.
It 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
special privilege, but merely such .
Of business conditions a.
makes It possible for country banks
10 do business with country people.
rhe crop farmer has only one turn
,ver a year, while the merchant and
have many. Incidental !
y, note that the Federal Reserve
Board has Just authorized the Fed
raj Reserve banks to discount export /
,aper for a period Of six months, to
onfOrm to the nature Of the busi-
Iess.
The Farm Loan banks are pointed
o as an instance Of special govern
lent favor for farmers. Are they not
ather the outcome Of laudable efforts
D eQualize rural and urban cOndi-
ons? And about all the government
Oes there is to help set up an ad-
organization and lend a
tile credit at the start. Eventually
le farmers will provide all the capi-
i and carry all the liabilities them
lives. It Is true that Farm Loan
onds are tax exempt; but so are
1nds Of municipal light and traction
ants, and new housing is to be eX-
npt from taxation, in New York, for
n years.
On the other hand, the farmer reads
plans for municipal housing prof.
is that run into the billions, Of hun
eds Of millions annually spent on
e merchant marine; he reads that
e railways are being favored with
creased rates and virtual guarantees
earnings by the government, with
e result to him of an increased toll
all that he sells and all that he
Us. He hears Of many manifesto
ms Of governmental concern for par
ular Industries and interests. Res
Ing the railways from insolvency Is
dOubtedly for the benefit Of the ,
1ntry as a whole, but what can be
more general benefit than encour-
ement Of ample production of the 4 I
ncipal necessaries Of life and their I
en- flow from cOntented producers to ] {
listed consumers? {
While It may be conceded that S
,cial governmental aid may be nee |
AIRY in the general interest, we must I {
agree that It Is difficult to see why {
.icultUre and the production and dis a
1utlon Of farm products are not ac- f
ded the same opportunities that are b
,vided for other businesses; esp0- q
lily as the enjoyment by the farmer
such opportunities would appear to ii
even more contributOry to the gen. |:
| good than in the case Of other v
ustries. The spirit of American Il
lOcracy is unalterably lopposed, Y
,e to enacted special privilege and B
he special privilege Of unequal op- b
tunity that arises automatically Il
n the failure to correct glaring p
nonie inequalities. am opposed e.
the injection Of government into p
lness, but do believe that 1t Is an b
initial function of democratic gov e'
nent to eQualize opportunity so 81
as 1t is within its power to do so. II
'ther by the repeal Of archaic. Il
utes or the enactment Of modern. al
}. If the antitrust laws keep the IN
ners from endeaVOring scientifically el
their industry while other 1t
lstries find a way to meet modern d1
iitlons without violating such stat. tn
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