Graham guardian., 1922-02-07

obstruction " their upward efrorts
We, as city people, see in high and
specuIatively manipulated prices.
spoilage, waste scarcity, the results
of defective distribution of farm prod.
uets. should II not occur to ss that
we have a common interest with the
rariiIer In his attempts to attain a se-
gree Of efficiency IN distribution cor.
responding 70 his efficiency In pPoduc-
tiohf Do not the recent fluctuations
4 IN tiie May wheat option, apparently
unrelated ~to normal intersctl0n Of
supply ard demand, ofrer tiRely
PROOF OF the need of Some such stsbii.
izihg agency as the grain growers have
In contemplation?
u Is contended that. II their pro-
posed organizations be perfected and
operated. the farmers will have In
their hands an instrument that will be
capable of dangerous abuse. We are
told that II will bc possible 10 rervert
u TO arbitrary and oppressive price.
h1ing from its legitimate use " order.
INK and stnl'ilIzlng the flow ~ farm
products 10 the market. 10 the mu,ual
beheflt Of producer and consumer. !
have no aiprehenslons on this paint.
In the first place. n lu Sc nr.anlza.
lion. such nS any urun ~ farmers
must he Hi best, cannot he 81 arhl.
trarily and promptly controlled az n
great corporation The ore Is a Iunr
bering democracy nnd tho other an nrile
auiocracy. In the saroq place. with
all possible power nf az. nizniion. IN,
farmers cannot succcrd to any great
extent, or for any considerable length
or time, In fixing prices. The great
law Of supply AMI demand works in
various aud surprising ways. tu tie
und"lng of TIE best hid plans that
attempt to foil II. In the third pla g
their pnwer will avail the farmer,
nothing u Il be abused. In our tim.
and country power Is OF value 10 itt
possessor only 50 long as It Is not
abused. II Is fair To- say tha, have
seen no signs in responsible quarters
OF disposition 10 dictate prices
There seems. on the contrary, Ia he
commonly beneficial purpose to realize
stability that will Civ, an ort.crl,
and abundast flow Of farm product,
to the consumer and ensure reasonsil,
and dependable returns TO the pro
ducer.
In view rf the supreme Importance
to the national well being Of pros
porous and cOntented agricultural pop
ulati"n, we should he prepared to e,
a long way In assisting the farmers I,
get al equitable share of the wealth |
they produce, through the inaugurs |
ton OF reforms thar will procure q
continuous and increasing stream Of |
farm pr"ducts. They are far from get |
ting fair share now. Considering |
Ills capital and the long hours " labor
put In by the average farmer and hi.
family. he Is renunerGted less than
any other occupational class, with the
possible exception Of teachers, reli
glous and lay. Though we know thai
the present general distress Of The
farmers Is exceptional and Is tinket
with the Inevitable economic readjust.
ment following the war, II must bs
remembered that, although represent
ing nne-third Of the Industrial product
and half the total population Of the
nation, the rural communities ordl !,
narly enjoy but fifth TO a quarter o,
the net annual national Esin. Notwith
standing the taste of prosperity that
the farmers had during the war, ther,
Is to-day lower standard OF Twins
among the cotton farmers of the South
than In any other pursuit In the country
In conclusion, II seems 10 me that tn,
farmers are chiefly striving FOR a gen.
orally beneficial integration OF theii
business, of the same kind and charsc
ter that other business enjoys. II
should he found on examination thai
the attainment Of this end require, I
methods different from those which
other activities have followed for the
same purpose should we not sympa
thetically consider the plea for TN,
right to cooperate, IL only from ou
own enlightened self interest, In oh
tanning an abundant and steady how oi
farm products?
In examining the agricultural situa
ton with view To its Improvement
we shall he most helpful IL we main
lain a detached and judicial viewpoint
that existing wrongs may
)e chiefly nm accident Of unsymmetri
al economic growth Instead of crea,
ion of malevolent design and conspira.
". We Americans are prone, ss Pro
lessor David Friday well says in hI.
admirable book, Profits, Wages and
Prices" to seek "crimlnal Intent be
lind every dlficult aud undesirable eco
lomic situation" can positively Ms
ert from my contact with men ci
srge affairs, Including bankers, that
IS a whole. they are endeavorlng t.
uifll as they see them the obligation.
hat 90 with their power. Preoccupiet
With the grave problems and heav. +
asks Of their own Immediate affairs
hey have not turned their Thoughtful, b
ersOnal attention or their construc
I've abilities t0 the deficiencies of agri
ultursl business organization. Agri
ulture, 1t may be said, suffers from
heir preoccupation and neglect rather
han from any purpoSefui exploitation
v them. They ought now to begin &c
pspnnd to the farmers diflculties
'hich they must realize are their own
On the other hand. my contacts witt
,e farmers have filled ME with respect