Mountain advocate., 1922-04-07
CONTINUED from last week.

NoW lUHl Tue w intIS ult Nttl ihS'
thinking, and uniting as never before
10 eradicate these inequalities, they
are subjected TO stern economic lee.
lures, and nre met with the accusation
that they are demanding. and are the
recipients uf. special privileges. Let
US see what privileges the government
has conferred on the farmers. Much
has been made Of Section G Of the
Clayton Antitrust Act, which pur.
ported to permit them to combine with
Immunity, under certain conditions
Admitting that, nomlnally. this ex.
emptlon was in the nature Of special
privilege. though | think II was so In
appearance rather than In fact,-we
find that the courts have nullfed II
by judicial Interpretation. Why should
not the farmers be permitted to ac.
compllsh by cooperative methods what
other businesses are already doing by
cooperation in the form OF incorpora-
tIon? II II he proper for men to form,
by fusion Of existing corporations or
otherwise, corporation that controls
the entire production Of a commodity,
or a large part Of II. why Is II not
proper for group Of farmers to unite
for the marketing Of their common
products. either in one or in several
selling agencies? Why should II be
right for hundred thousand corporate
shareholders to direct 25 or 30 or 10
per cent Of an industry, and wrong for
a hundred thousand cooperative
farmers to control no lurgcr proper
ton Of the wheat crop, or cotton. or
any other product7
The Department Of Agriculture Is
often spoken II as a special concession
to the farDlers, 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
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 prac'
tices, In developing better yielding va
rietles thrhugh breeding and selection
In Introducing new varieties from re.
9aot$ barlS IL the world and adapting
them to our climate and economic con,
ditlon. and in devlsing 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 for commercial
paper, the farmer Is allowed six
months un his notes. This Is not a
special privilege, but merely such q
recognition of business conditions as
makes 1t possible for country banks |
to dn business with country people |
The crop farmer has only one turn.
over a year. while the merchant and |
have many. Incidental |
ly, note that the Federal Reserve
Board has Just authorized tfe Fed |
eral Reserve banks to discount export |
paper. for q period Of six months, to
conform to the nature Of the busi-
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 equalIze rural and urban condl-
tlons? And about all the government
does there is to help set up an ad-
organization and lend
little credit at the start. Eventually
the farmers will provide all the capi-
tai and carry ali the liabilities them.
selves. II Is true that Farm Loan
bonds are tax exempt; but so are
,onds of municipal light and traction
plants. and new housing is to be eX
,mpt from taxation. in New York, for
en years.
On the ether hand, the farmer reads
u plans for municipal housing prof
,cts that run into the billions, of hun
lreds Of millions annually spent an
he merchan, marine; he reads thar
he railways are being favored with
increased rates ana virtual guarantees
IF earnings by the government, with
he result t. him Of an Increased toll
IN al! lha; he sells and all that he
,uys. He hears VI many manifcstn
ions of governmental concern for par
ocular industries and interests Res
,ulng the railways from insolvency Is
for the benefit of tho
country as a whole, but what can be
If more general benefit than encOur-
cement Of ample production Of the
principal necessarles of life and their
wen flow from contented producers 10
satisfied consumers?
While It may be conceded that
peclal governmental aid may be nee.
.ssary In the general interest, we must
III agree that It Is difficult to see why
agriculture and the production and dis
Of farm products are not ac-
orded the same opportunities that are
provided for other businesses; espe-
Joliv . tho antnvmont hv tho farDar