The Elk Mountain pilot., 1922-02-02

view of the farmers strivings for bet
ter things is not to give blanket
endorsement to any specific plan. and
still less to applaud the vagaries of
some of their leaders and groups.
Neither should we, on the other hand.
allow the froth Of bitter agitation.
false economics, and mistaken radical
Ism, to conceal the facts of the farm
ers' disadvantages. and the practicable
Iity Of eliminating them by well-con-
sidered measures. It may be that the
farmers will not show the business
sasacity and develop the wise leader
ship to carry through sound plans but
that ppossibiifty does not Justify the
obstruction Of their upward EFFORTS
We, as city people, see In high and
speculatively manipulated prices.
spoilage. waste, scarcity, the results
Of defective distribution Of farm prod
ucts. Should 1t not occur to us that
We have a common interest with the
farmer In his attempts to attain a de-
gree OF efficiency In distribution cor
responding to his efficiency in produc-
ton? Do not the recent fluctuations
In the May wheat option, apparently
unrelated to normal interaction of
supply ana demand, offer a timely
proor OF the need of some such stabil-
izlng agency as the grain growers have
In contemplation?
| 1t 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 it will be possible to pervert
1t to arbitrary and oppressive price
liking from its legitimate use of order.
ing and stabilizing the flow of farm
products to the market, to the mutual
benefit of producer and consumer.
have no apprehensions on this point
In the first place, a loose organiza-
ton, such as any union of farmers
must be at best, cannot be so arbi
trarfy and promptly controlled as
great corporation. The one is n lum-
Dering democracy ana the other an agile
autocracy. In the second place. with
all possible power of org :niZation, the
farmers cannot succeed to any great
extent, or for any considerable length
OF time, In fixing prices. The great
law of supply and demand works in
various and surprising ways, to the
undoing of the best laid plans that
attempt to foil 1t. In the third place.
their power will avail the farmers
nothing IL 1t be abused. In our tim.
and country power is of value to its
possessor only so long as it is not
abused. 1t is fair to say that have
seen no signs in responsible quarters
of disposition TO dictate prices.
There seems. on the contrary, to be n
commonly beneficial purpose to realize
stability that will Civ, an orderly
and abundant flow of farm products
to the consumer and ensure reasonable
and dependable returns to the pro.
ducer.
In views of the supreme Importance
to the national well-being of a pros
porous and contented agricultural pop
ulation, we should be prepared to go
long way In assisting the farmers t.
get an equitable share of the wealth
they produce, through the Inaugural
tion of reforms that will procure
continuous and increasing stream OF
farm products. They are far from get
ting n fair share now. Considering
his capital and the long hours of labor
put in by the average farmer and his
family, he is remunerated less than
any other occupational class, with the
possible exception Of teachers, rell-
glous and lay Though we know that
the present general distress Of the
farmers Is exceptional and is linked
with the Inevitable economic readjust-
ment following the war, 1t must be
rnynn NH hnt nj ,wl,
ing one-third of the industrial product
and half the total population of the
hation, the rural communities ordi-
narily enjoy but fifth to n quarter OF
the net annual national gain Notwlth-
standing the taste of prosperity that
the farmers had during the war, there
is today lower standard of living
among the cotton farmers of the South
than in any other pursuit In the country.
In conclusion, 1t seems to me that the
farmers are chiefly striving for gen.
orally beneficial integration of their
business, of the same kind and charac-
ter that other business enjoys II 1t
should be found on examination that
the attainment Of this end requires
methods different from those which |
other activities have followed for the |
same purpose should we not sympa
thetically consider the plea for the
right to cooperate, If only from our
own enlightened self interest, in OBJ |
tanning an abundant and steady flow of |
farm products?
In examining the agricultural situa
tion with a view to Its Improvement,
we shall be most helpful If we main
tain detached and judicial viewpoint.
remembering that existing wrongs may
be chiefly an accident Of unsymmetri-
cal economic growth instead of crea-
ttop of maleyolent design and copspira- |