The patriot. (Glenmora, La.) 1918-1955, 1922-03-10

ural raw materials to retail sales, the
business Of agriculture has gone on In
much the one man fashion Of the back.
woods Of the first part Of the nine
teenth century. when the farmer was
self sufficient and did not depend upon,
or care very much, what the great
world was doing. The result is that
the agricultural group is almost as
much at disadvantage in dealing with
other economic groups as the jay farm
er OF the funny pages In the hands Of
sleek urban confidence men, who sell
| him acreage In Central Park or the
Chicago city hall. The leaders Of the
farmers thoroughly understand this,
and they. are intelllgently striving to
integrate their industry so that 1t will
/ be on an equal footing with other busi-
neSSes
I As. an example Of Indignation, take
the steel industry, In which the model
Is the United States Steel Corporation.
wirleats iron mines, Its coal mines, its
lake and rail- transportation, its ocean
vessels. its by-product coke ovens. its
blast furnaces, Its open hearth and
Bessemer furnaces, Its rolling mills, its
tube mills and other manufacturing
processes that are carried to the high
est degree Of finished production com.
patible with the large trade 1t has
built up. All this is generally conced-
ed to be to the advantage Of the con-
sumer. Nor does the steel corporation
inconsiderately dump Its products on
the market. On the contrary. 1t so
acts that II IL frequently stabIlizing
influence. as 10 often the case with 9TH
er large organizations. II Is master Of
its distribution as well as Of Its pro-
duction. II prices are not satisfactory
the products are held back or produc-
ton IL reduced or suspended. 1t Is not
compelled to send years work to the
market at one time and take whatever
1t can get under such circumstances.
It has one selling policy and Its own
export department. Neither are the
grades ahd qualities Of steel determin-
ed at the caprice Of the buyer, nor does
the latter hold the scales. In this sin.
gle indignation OF the steel corporation
Is represented about 40 per cent OF the
steel production Of America. The rest
Is mostly In the hands Of q few large
companies In ordinary times the
steel corporation, by example, stabilizes
all steel prices. II this Is permissible
lie Is even desirable. because stable
and fair prices are essential to solid
and continued prosperity why would
1t be wrong for the farmers to utilize
central agencies that would have SINH
lar effects on agricultural products?
Something nike that 10 what they are
aiming at.
Some farmers favored by regional
and contiguity. such as the
citrus.fruit-raisers Of California, al
ready have found a way legally to
merge and sell their products inte-
orally and In accordance with seasonal
and local demand, thus improving
'hslr position and rendering the con-
Jumer q reliable service Of ensured
quality. certain supply, and reasonable
md relatively steady prices. They
rave not found It necessary to resort
o any special privilege. or to claim
my exemption under the antitrust
egislation Of the state or nation. With
'ut removing local control, they have
'uilt up q very efficient marketing
Igency. The grain, cotton, and to-
'acco farmers, and the producers of
ides and wool, because Of their num-
ers and the vastness Of their regions,
nd for other reasons, have found
ntegration q more difficult task;
hough there are now some thousands
farmers cooperative elevators,
creameries, and other en-
erprises Of one sort and another, with !.
turnover Of billion dollers a year.
hey are giving the farmers business =
xperience and training, and. so far
. they 90, they meet the need Of =.
onest weighing and fair grading; but
ley do net meet the requirements Of :
ltionally adjusted marketing In any 0
rye and fundamental way.
The next step, which will be a pat :,
I'm for other groups, IL now being q
repaired by the grain-raisers through
10 establishment Of sales media which
TALL handle grain separately or col B
ctively, as the individual farmer may u
ect. II IL this step-the plan Of the r.
ommittee of Seventeen--which has o
Gated so much opposition and is u
ought by some to be In conflict with II
e antitrust laws. Though there Is =.
W before congress a measure de- u
yned to clear up doubt ON this point,
Q grain-producers are not relying on u
y immunity from antitrust legisla- "a
n. They desire. and they are en- d.
led. to coordinate their efforts Just &C
effectively 40 the large business In u
rests Of the country have done. In CO
injection with the selling organiza- re
ms the United States Grain Growers &C
corporated 10 drafting q scheme Of ~
ancing instrumentaIities md auxili. NJ
? agencies which are indispensable nc
the successful utilization Of modern se
slness methods. Ia
t is essential that the farmers AZ
,uld proceed gradually with these ~
ms, and aim to avoid the error of IN
apping the existing marketing ma WI
merry. which has been 80 laboriously "a
II up By long experience, before tn
y have q tried and proved substi- pc
e or supplementary mechanism. NV
ey must be careful not to become Gu
neghHd I'm their own reforms and Gu