Licking Valley courier., 1922-02-09

tne marketing OF their pr0ductl0nS,
especially raw milk, because of the
high costs Of distribution. which they
must ultimately bear.
.ls. III
Now that the farmers are stirring,
thinking. and uniting as never before
70 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
" zee what privileges the government
has conferred on the farmers. Much |
has been made Of Section 8 Of the |
Clayton Antitrust Act, which pur-
ported to permit them to combine with |
immunity. under certain conditions.
Admitting that, nominally, this ex-
snption was n the nature Of special
privilege. though / think II was 50 In
appearance rather than In fact,-we
and that the courts have nulllhed it
81 judiclal Interpretation. Why should
not me farmers be permitted TO ac-
cempiish By cooperative methods what |
ether businesses are already doing by |
cooperation IN the form Of incorpora-
tio.f ]. II itbe:proper for men to form,
~ fusion d existing corporations or
othegwiss, q evaporation that controls
ths ehtirs production Of a commodity.
o. Z isfse part Of 1t, why is It not
proper fSf 4 group Of farmers to unite
fer .tha marketing Of their common
produces, either In one or In several
selling afenciesf Why should II be
righk 6os 1 hundred thousand corporate
sharSh6iders to direct 25 or 80 or 40
pr esnt q an industry, and wrong for
4 hundred thousand cooperative
farmers to control no larger proper
hsa II. the wheat crop, or cotton, or
any ether prodHctf
The Department Of Agriculture 10
sften spoken OF as q special concession
~ the farmers, but In its commercial
results, II Il Of as much benefit to the
buyers and consumers Of agricultural
products as 10 the producers, or even
1lora I DO not suppose that anyone
opposes the benefits that the farmers
derive from the educational and re-
search. ksiE " the department, or the
help that It gives them In working out
Improved cultural methods and prse-
tees, In developing better yielding va
reties through breeding and selection.
IN introducing new varieties from 70
mote parts Of the world and adapting
them 10 our climate and economic COB
ditiea. and In devtsinE practical meas
urss for the elimination or control Of
daartrsus and destructive animal and
plant diseases, insect pests, and the
like. Ali these things manifestly tend
10 stimulate and enlarge production,
and their general beneficial effects are
esyisus.
Il ID complained that whereas the
Law restricts Federal Reserve banks
70 three months time for commercial
papee. the farmer IL allowed SIX
months on his notes. This Is not .
special privilege. but merely such
recognition OF business conditions as
makes Il possible for country banks
to DO, business with country people.
The crop farmer has only one turn
over year, while the, merchant and
manufacturer have many Incidental
IL. Ignots that the Federal Reserve
hoard has Just authorized the Fed
eFal Reserve banks to discount export
papeesfor q period Of six months. to
!, conform to the nature Of the bua-
ks M Farm Loan banks ara pointed
20 * an instance Of specials govern
ment favor for, farmers. Are they not
ratherSthe outcome Of laudable efforts
ts edusllxe rural and urban condl'
tiensi And about all the government
dses there n 70 help set up an ad-
ministrative organization and lend a
little credit at the start, Eventually
the farmers will provide all the capl-
tai and carry all the liabilities them
selves. II u true that Farm Loan
bonds are tax exempt; but so are
bonds Of municipal light and traction
plants, and new housing Is to be ex-
smpt from taxation. In New York, for
ten years.
On The ether hand, the farmer reads
sf plans for municipal housing prof.
ects that run into the billions, OF hun
dreds Of millions annually spent on
the merchant marine; ho 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 manifesia'
,lons OF governmental concern for par.
licuIar industries and interests Res.
culng the railways from insolvency Il
undoubtedly FOR the benefit Of the
10.