The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1922-02-10
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Now, what Is the farmer asking?
without trying 10 catalogue the re-
medal measures that have been sug-
gested In his behalf, the principal pro-
posals that bear directly on the I'm
provement Of his distributing and mar
keting relations may be summarized as
follows -
First: storage warehouses for cot
ton, wool, and tobacco, and elevators
for grain, of sufficient capacity to meet
the maximum demand on them at the
peak Of the marketing period. The
farmer thinks that either private capi'
tai must furnish these facilities, or the
state must erect and W the eleva-
tors and warehouses.
Second: weighing and grading Of
agricultural products. and certiication
thereof, to be done by impartial and
dlsinterested public inspectors (this Is
already accomplished to some extent
by the federal licensing OF weighers
and graders). to eliminate underpay-
ing, overcharging, and unfair grading,
and TO facilitate the utilization OF the
stored products as the basis OF credit.
Third a certainty Of credit sufficient
to enable the marketing Of products
In an orderly manner.
Fourth: the Department Of Agricul.
ture should collect, tabulate, summa'
rize, and regularly and frequently pub
Ill. nd Act rth,vto 20 thu 20 rr1nra mil
Information from all the markets OF
the world, so that they shall be as well
Informed Of their selling position as
buyers now are Of their buying posi-
ton.
Fifth freedom to integrate the busi-
ness Of agriculture by means Of con-
solidated selling agencies, c%o-ordinat.
ing and cooperating In such way as to
put the farmer on an equal footing
with the large buyers Of his products,
and with commercial relations In other
industries.
When a business requires specialized
talent, II has to buy 1t. SO will the
farmers; and perhaps the best way for
them to get II would be to utilize some
of the present machinery Of the larg-
est established agencies dealing In
farm products. OF course, II he wishes,
the farmer may 60 further and engage
In nour-milling and other manufactures
of food products. In my opinion,
however, he would be wise to stop
short of that. Public interest may be
opposed to all great integrations; but,
in Justice. should they be forbidden to
the farmer and permitted to others
The corporate form Of association can
not now be wholly adapted to his OBJ
iects and conditions. The Iooser co.
operative form seems more generally
suitable. Therefore, he wishes to be
free. II he finds II desirable and feas
bile. to resort to cooperation with his
fellows and neighbors, without run
ming afoul Of the law. To urge tha'
thu farmers should have the same lib
erty to consolidate and coordinate
their peculiar economic functions
which other industries in their fields
enjoy. Is not, however. to concede tina
n business indignation should have
legislative sanction to exercise monop
olistIc power. The American people
are a. firmly opposed to industrial Al
to political autocracy. whether at
tempted BY rural or by urban Industry
For lack Of united effort the farmer
a 4 whole are still marketing thei
crops by antiquated methods. or by n
methods at al. but they are s%urrounde'
by q business world that has bee
modernized to the last minute and !
trelessly striving for efficiency. TIL
eniciency 10 due In large measure I
big business, to united business. to ir
terrated business. The farmers nov
seek the benefits Of such largeness, ur
ion and indignation.
The American farmer IL a modern c
the moderns In the use Of labor savin
machinery, and he has made vas
strides In recent years In scientif
tillage and efficient farm management
hut as a business in contact with othe
businesses agriculture Is a Zone hors
shay" In competition with high powt
automobiles. The American farmer
the greatest and most intractable
indiyidualists. While industrial pr
duction and all phases Of the huge cor
mercial mechanism and Its myriad a
cessoriea have a~rticulated and co-ore