The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1922-01-25

The most he can do Is to curtail pro
luction a little or alter it's form, and
,llat-because he is in the dark as to
the probable demand for his goods
may be only to jump from the frying
pan into the fire, taking the consumes
with him.
Even the dairy farmers, whose ont
PAT is not seasonal, complain that they
find themselves at a disadvantage IN
the marketing of their productions.
especially raw milk, because ef the
high costs of distribution, which they
must ultimately bear.
Now that the farmers are ~stirrin.
thinking, and uniting as never before
to eradicate these inequalities. they
arc 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 6 of the
Clayton Antitrust Act, which prr
ported to permit them to combine with
immunity, under certain conditions.
Admitting that, nominally, this ex-
emption was in the nature Of q special
privilege,-though ! think it was SO In
appearance rather than in fact.-we
find that the courts have nullitied it
by judicial Interpretation. Why should
not the farmers be permitted to ac-
complish by cooperative methods what
other businesses are already doing by
cooperation In the form Of lncorpora-
ton? II it be proper for men to form,
by fusion of existing corporations o.
otherwise, a corporation that controls
| the entire production Of a commodity,
or a large part Of 1t, why Is ii not
proper for a group Of farmers to unite
!! for the marketing Of their common
products, either in one or in several
selling agencies? Why should It be
right for a hundred thousand corporate
shareholders to direct Is or 30 or 10
per cent Of an industry. and wrong for
a hundred thousand cooperative
| farmers to control a no larger proper.
! ton OF the wheat crop, or cotton, c'
any other product?
The Department of Agriculture IL
often spoken OF as q special concession
to the farmers, but In its commercial
results, it 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
oppose 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'
tees. In developing better yieldiag va
rietles through breeding and selection
In Introducing new varieties from re-
mote parts Of the world and adapting
them to our climate and economic con
dillon. and 10 devislng practical meas
ures for the elimination or control Of
dangerous and destructive animal anc
plant diseases, insect pests, and thu
like. All these things manifestly tent
to stimulate and enlarge production
aud their general beneficial effects arr
obvious.
II Is complained that, whereas tht
law restricts Federal Reserve banks
to three months time for commercial
paper. the farmer is allowed 81,
months on his notes. This Is 0 8
special privilege, but merely such
recognition Of business conditions a
makes 1t possible for country banks
to do business with country people
The crop farmer has only one turn
over a year, while the merchant ant
manufactures have many. Incidental
". / note that the Federal Reserve
Board has Just authorized the Fed
eral Reserve banks to discount expOr
paper for a period Of six months, t.
conform to the nature Of the bust
ness.
to as an instance OF special govern
ment favor for farmers. Are they no
rather the outcome Of laudable effort.
to euuallze rural and urban condf
tons? And about all the government
does there Is to help set up an ad
ministrative organization and lend {
little credit at the start. E%ventuall!
the farmers will provide all the CAPT
tai and carry all the liabilities them
selves. It is true that Farm Loan
bonds are tax exempt; but SO ar'
bonds OF municipal light and traction
plants. and new housing Is to be ex
empt from taxation. In New York, fo'
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 OF
the merchant marine; he reads tina
le railways are being favored Will
Increased rates and virtual guarantee
OF earnings by the government, will
the result to him Of an increased tol
on all that he sells and all that h.
buys. He. hears Of many manifesto
lions OF governmental concern for par
ticular industries and interests. Res
cuing the railways from insolvency I
undoubtedly for the benefit OF tn
country as a whole. but what q b.