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

20 eradicate these inequalities, the
are subjected to stern economic let
lures, and are met with the accusation
tnat they are demanding. and are tn
recipients Of. special privileges. LIE
ps see what privileges the government
mas conferred on the farmers. Mucl
has been made Of Section Of tn
Clayton Antitrust Act, which pur
ported to permit them to combine witt
Immunity, under certain conditions
Admitting that, nominally, this ex
emption was In the nature Of q specia
privilege,-though I think It was SO II
appearance rather than In fact.-w,
ind that the courts have nullified 4
by judicial Interpretation. Why SHOULD
not the farmers be permitted to &C
complish by cooperative methods what
other businesses are already doing BY
cooperation In the form Of incorpora
ton? If It be proper for men to form
by fusion Of existing corporations OF
otherwise, corporation that controls
the entire production of a commodity
or large part of 1t, why Is II not
proper for group of farmers to unite
for the marketing Of their common
products, either In one or in several
selling agencies? Why should 1t be
right for hundred thousand corporate
shareholders to direct Is or 80 or 40
per cent OF an industry, and wrong for
hundred thousand cooperative
farmers to control no larger proper
ton Of the wheat crop, or cotton, or
any other product7
The, Qepartment of Agriculture il
often spoken OF as special concession
20 the farmers, but In its commercial
results, It Is Of as much benefit 20 the
buyers and consumers of agricultural
products as to the producers, or even
more. I 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 II gives them In working out
improved cultural methods and prac-
does, In developing better yielding va
Fieties 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 manlfestly tend
to stimulate and enlarge production,
and their general beneficial effects are
obvious.
1t is complained that, whereas the
law restricts Federal Reserve banks
to three months time for commercial
paper, the farmer u allowed six
months on his notes. This Is not q
special privilege, but merely such
recognition of business conditions as
makes 1t possible for country banks
to do business with country people. !
The crop farmer has only one turn /
over g year, while the merchant and
have many. Incidental
II, note that the Federal Reserve
Board has Just authorized the Fed
eral Reserve banks to discount export
paper for a period OF six months, to
conform to the nature Of the bust
ness
The Farm Loan banks are pointed
TO as an instance OF special govern
nent favor for farmers. Are they not
rather the outcome Of laudable efforts
% euualize rural and urban condt-
ions? And about all the government
ioes there Is to help set up an adj
organization and lend a
title credit at the start. Eventually
he farmers will provide all the capt.
n and carry all the liabilities them
elves. It Is true that Farm Loan
,onds are tax exempt; but so are
,onds Of municipal light and traction
,lants. and new housing Is to be ex-
mpt from taxation. In New York, for
en- years.
On the other hand, the farmer reads
( plans for municipal housing prof.
cts that run into the billions, of hun
reds Of millions annually spent on
he merchant marine: he reads that
he railways are being favored with !
,creased rates and virtual guarantees I
{ earnings by the government. with I
se result to him of an increased toll [
n all that he sells and all that he '
uye. He hears Of many manifesto. q
ons Of governmental concern for par @
cular industries and interests. Res /
ling the railways from Insolvency Ia O
for the benefit OF the O
,untry az whole. but what can be +
more general benefit than encour- t
cement Of ample production Of the
.incipal necessaries Of life and their q
ZEN flow from contented producers to c
.tisfled consumersf n
While It may be conceded that b
,eciai governmental aid may be nee n
sary In the general interest. we must Il
agree that It Is difficult to see why Ell
riculture and the production and dis b
button Of farm products are not &C. Il
rded the same opportunities that are 81
divided for other businesses; espe- 10
lily as the enjoyment by the farmer
such opportunities would appear to Ii
even more contributory to the gen m
al good than in the case Of other st
iustries. The spirit Of American u
is unalterably opposed, d
Ike to enacted special privilege and 81
the special privilege Of unequal ep- %
rfunlty that arises automatically al
IN the failure to correct aiarino tn
,nonfio Inequalities. I am opposed In
a. t.4~.ks IS ,~r~~-~-~u.~,.A s-A-F IN