Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1922-02-10

finf themselves al DISADVANTAGE lli
.Ae marketing Of their productions
especially raw milk. because Of the
higa c,ssss OF distribution. which they
must ultimately bear.
III
Now that the farmers are stirring
blinking and uniting as never before
10 eradicate these inequalities. they
are subjected to stern economic lee
tures. and are met with the aceuSatieu
that they are demanding. and are ihs
recipients If. special privileges. Lei
Us see what privileges the government
has conferred on the farmers Much
has been made OF Section Of The
Clayton Antitrust Act. which pur
ported 10 permit them to combine with
Immunity. under certain conditions
Admitting that, nomInally. this ex-
emptlon was In the nature Of special
privilege. Though ! think II was so in
appea rance rather than in fact.-we
fnd that the courts have nullified II
by judicial Interpretation. Why should
not the farmers be permitted TO &C
cempIlsh by cooperative methods what
other businesses are already doing By
cooperation In the form Of tncorpora
tlon7 II 1t be proper for men to form.
By fusion Of existing corporations OF
otherwise, a corporation that controls
the entire production Of commodity
or a large part Of II. why Is 1t not
proper for group Of farmers to unite
for the marketing Of their common
products, either In one or In several
selling agencies1 Why should It be
right for hundred thousand corporate
shareholders to direct Is or 80 or 10
per cent Of an industry. and wrong for
a hundred thousand cooperative
farmers to control no larger proper
ton of the wheat crop. or cotton. or
any other product?
The Department of Agriculture Is
often spoken of as a special concession
TO the farmers, but in its commercial
results, II is of as much benefit to the
buyers and consumers of agricultural
products as to 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 1t gives them In working out
improved cultural methods and prac-
tices, In developing better yielding va
rletIes 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 devislng 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 Tor commercial
paper, the farmer Is allowed six
months on his notes. This Is not "a
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 year. while the merchant and
manufacturer have many. Incidental
ly, l note that the Federal Reserve
Board has Just authorized the Fed
eral Reserve banks to discount export
paper for 4 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
ment favor for farmers Are they not
rather the outcome Of laudable efforts
to equallze rural and urban coudi-
tionsl And about all the government
does there is to help set up an ad-
organization and lend a
little credit at the start. Eventually
the farmers will provide all the capt.
tal 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 to be ex- |
empt from taxation, 10 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 10 him u al Increased toll
10 all that he sells and all that he
buys. He hears OF many manlf.sts.
tons 81 governmental copcern for PAR
Iieuisr industries and interests. Res-
eulng the railways from Insolvency Ia
undoubtedly for the benefit on the
eountsy Va Whole, but shat can no
~ aasse xensral beae1t than secour.
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sven Cos ftoA eoatsnfsd DFoaucsfo ~
ss1lssad c0naomassl
While y nks bs cooesdsd that |
speeds soysfausnt~l ale mey b. nse.
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ssnsslgefe ana 'hs SEaxuellen sns H. |
EiAuulp ~ faFia NsuANatA ara ute III