The dispatch-news. [volume] (Lexington, S.C.) 1919-2001, 1922-01-25

especially raw mlIh, ueCduSe VI tie
high costs of distribution, which they
must ultimately bear.
Now that the farmers are stirring.
thinking. and uniting as never before
to 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
US see what privileges the government
has conferred on the farmers. Much
has been made Of Section 6 Of. the
Clayton Antitrust Act, which pur-
ported to permit them to combine With
Immunity, under certain conditions.
Admitting that. nominally. this ex-
emptfon was IN the nature OF SpeciH!
privilege, e,-though ] think it was so In
appearance rather than in fact.-we
fnd that the courts have nullified 1t
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 fncorpora-
ton? If it be proper for men to form,
by fusion Of existing corporations or
otherwise, corporation that controls
the entire production Of commodity.
ora large part Of it, why is it 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 1t be
right for a hundred thousand corporate
shareholders to direct 25 or|3O or 40
Der cent of an industry, and wrong for
hundred thousand cooperative
farmers to control a no larger proper
ton Of the wheat crop, or cotton, or
any other product?
The Department Of Agriculture Is
often spoken of as special concession
to the farmers, but in its commercial
results, 1t 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
belp that it gives them in working oui
improved cultural methods and prac-
tices. in developing better Yielding v::Ss
rieties through breeding 5nd selection
in introducing new varieS g ~ ::
mote parts of the world and adapting
them to our climate and economic con-
dition. and in devising practical meas
ures for the elimination or control OF
dangerous and destructive animal and
plant diseases, insect pests. and the
like. All these things manifestly tend
to stimulate and enlarge production,
and their general beneficial effects are
obvious.
i 1t is complained that, whereas the
law restricts Federal Reserve banks
to three months time for commercial
paper. the farmer is allowed six
months on his notes This Is not
special privilege. but merely such
recognition Of business conditions as
makes it possible for country banks
TO do business with country people.
The crop farmer has only one turn
over a year, while the merchant ana
manufacturer have many. Incidental
". I note that the Federal Reserve
Board has just authorized the FED
eral Reserve banks to discount export
paper for a period Of six months. to
conform to the nature Of the busi-
ness.
The Farm Loan banks are pointed
70 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-
tons? And about all the government
does there is to help set up an ad-
ministrative organization and lend
little credit at the start. Eventually
the farmers will provide all the capi-
tal and carry all the liabilities them
selves. It 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'
emnt from taxation, in New York, for
ten years.
On the other hand. the farmer reads
IT plans for municipal housing prof.
ects that run into the billions, of hun
dreds of millions annually spent on
tho merchant marine; he reads that
the railways are being favored with
increased rates and virtual guarantees
of earnings by the govern@>"nt, with
the result to him of an nc ased toll
On all that he sells and all that he
hnvs He hears Of many nlanifesta'
tions Of governmental concern for par
ticular industries and interests. Res
cu,ns the railways from insolvency Is
undoubtedly for the benefit OF the
country as whole. but what can be
Of more general benefit thar cncour-
agemen, OF ample production Of the
nrincipal necessaries Of life. and their
even flow from contanted producers to
satisfied consumers?
While it may be conceded that
special governmental aid may be nee
essary in the general interest, we must
y, ,.Soo +h.+ r. ic difirult TO see WHY