The Ontario Argus. (Ontario, Or.) 1???-1947, 1922-03-23

especially raw milk, because OF tne
high costs OF distribution, which they
must ultimately bear.
III
Now that the farmers are stirring,
thinking. and uniting as never before
to eradicate these inequalities, they
are subjected to stern economic lee.
lures, and are met with the accusation
that they are demanding, and are the
recipients Of, special privileges Let
US see what privileges the government
has conferred on the farmers. Much
has been made OF Section Q OF the
Clayton Antitrust Act, which pur
ported 10 permit them 10 combine with
immunity, under certain conditions.
Admitting that, nominally. this ex'
emptlon was In the nature OF special
privilege. I think II was 30 In
appearance rather than In fnct.--we
find that the courts have nullifed II
by judlcip Interpretation. Why should
not the farmers be permitted to nc.
complish by cooperative methods what
other businesses are already doing by
cooperation In the form OF incorporn.
tion7 II Il be proper for men 20 form,
ny fusion OF existing corporations or
otherwise, a corporation that controls
the entlre'productlon Of commodity,
or n large part OF II, why Ia II not
proper for group Of farmers 10 unite
for the marketing OF their common
products, either In one or In several
selling agenciosi Why should II be
right for n hundred thousand corporate
shareholders 10 direct 20 or 30 or 10
per cent Of an industry, and wrong for
hundred thousand cooperative
farmers 20 control n no larger proper
tlon OF the wheat crop, or cotton, or
any other producti
The Department OF Agriculture IL
often spoken Of as n special concession
20 the farmers, but In lts commercial
results, Il Is OF AZ much benefit TO the
buyers and consumers OF agricultural
products as 10 the producers, or even
more. 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 prc-
tices, In developing better yielding va.
retIes through breeding and selection,
In introducing new varieties from re-
mote parts OF the world and adapting
them 10 our climate and economic con
dltlon, and In deylslng 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
10 stimulate and enlarge production.
aud their general beneficial effects are
obvious.
II Is complained that. whereas the
law restricts Federal Reserve banks
10 three months time for commercial
paper, the farmer IL allowed slH
honths on his notes, This Is not
special privilege. but merely such
recognition Of business conditions NJ
makes Il possible for country banks
10 do business with country people,
The crop farmer has only one turn
over a year, while the merchant and
manufacturer have many. Incidental
ly, note that the Federal Reserve
Board has just authorized the Fed
eral Reserve banks TO discount export
paper for a period u six months. 10
conform 10 the nature OF the busi'
ness.
The Farm Loan hanks are pointed
20 as an instance of special govern
ment favor for farmers. Are they not
rather the outcome OF laudable efforts
TO equallze rural and urban eondi'
tionsf And about all the government
does there Is TO help set up an ad'
minlstratlye organization and lend a
little credit at the start. Eventually
the farmers will provide all the capt
tai and carry all the liabilities them
selves. II is true that Farm Loan
bonds are tax exempt; but so are
bonds OF municipal light and traction
plants, and new housing Is 70 be e1'
empt from taxation, In New York, for
ten years
On the other hand, the farmer reads
Of plans for municipal housing prof
ects that run into the billions. OF hun
dreds Of millions annually spent on
the merchant marine; he reads that
the railways are being favored with
increased rates and virtual guarantees
OF earnings by the government, with
the result to him OF an Increased toll
ON all that he sells and all that he
buys. He hears Of many manifesto.
tions OF governmental concern for par.
ticular industries and interests Res
cuing the railways from Insolvency IL
undoubtedly for the benefit OF the
country as a whole, but what can be
OF more general beneht than encour.
agement OF ample production OF the
principal necessaries Of life and their
even dow from contentsd producers TO
satisfied consumersf
While II may he conceded that
special governmental aid may be nee.
essary in the general Interest, we must
all agree that II Is dlfficult TO see why
agriculture and the production and dis
trlbution OF farm products are not &C.
corded the same opportunities that are
provided for other businesses espe-
cially as the enjoyment by the farmer
~ auoh onnorfunifiaa vwould annAar ~