Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1922-01-26
Some Aspects of the
Farmers Problems
By BERN ARD M. RUCH
(Reprinted from Atlantic Monthly

influence, as is often the case with otn-
er large organizations. 1t is master OF
its distribution as well as of its pro-
ductiOn If prices are not satisfactory
the products are held back or produc-
ton is reduced or suspended 1t is not
compelled to send a years work to the
market at oae time and take whatever
1t can get under such circumstances.
1t has one selling policy and its own
export department. Neither are the
grades and qualities of steel determln-
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 few large
companies In ordinary times the
steel corporation, by example, stabilizes
all steel prices IF this is permissible
lit is even desirable, because stable
and fair prices are essential to solid
and continued prosperity why would
it be wrong for the farmers to utilize
central agencies that would have SINH
lar effects on agricultural products?
Something like that is what they are
aiming at.
Some farmers favored by regional
compactness and contiguity, such as the
Observation-Disclosures 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
their position and rendering the con-
sumner a reliable service of ensured
quality, certain supply, and reasonable
and relatively steady prices They
have not found it necessary to resort
to any special privilege. or to claim
any exemption under the antitrust
legislation of the state or nation. With
out removing local control, they have
built up very efficient marketing
agency. The grain. cotton, and to-
bacco farmers, and the producers Of
hides and WOOL because of their num-
bers and the vast SIS of their regions,
and f"" other reasons, have found
indignation more difficult task;
though there are now some thousands
Of farmers cooperative elevators,
warehouses, creameries, and other en-
terprises Of one sort and another, with
a turnover. of billion dollers a year.
They are giving the farmers business
experience and training, and, so far
as they go, they meet the need Of
honest weighing and fair grading; but
they do not meet the requirements Of
nationally adjusted marketing in any
large and fundamental way.
The next step, which will be a pat
tern for other groups. is now being
prepared by the grain-raisers through
the establishment of sales media which
shall handle grain separately Or col
lectively, as the Individual farmer may
elect 1t is this step-the plan Of the
Committee Of Seventeen-which has
created so much opposition and is
thought by some to be in conflict with
the antitrust laws Though there is
now before congress a measure de-
signed to clear up doubt on this point,
the ain-producers are not relying on
any immunity from antitrust legisla-
ton They desire, and they are en-,
titled, to coordinate their efforts just
as effectively as the large business in
terests Of the country have done In
connection with the selling organiZa-
tons the United States Grain Growers
Incorporated is drafting a scheme of
financing instrumentalities and auxili-
airy agencies which are Indispensable
to the successful utilization Of modern
business methods
1t is essential that the farmers
should proceed gradually with these
plans. and aim to avoid the error Of
scrapping the existing marketing ma
chinery, which has been so labOriOusly
built up by long experience. before
they have a tried and proved substl-
tute or supplementary mechanism
, They must be careful not to become
enmeshed in their own reforms and
lose the perspective of their place in
the national system They must guard
against fanatical devotion to new doc
trines, and should seek articulation
with the general economic system
rather than its reckless destruction as
1t relates to them.