The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1922-02-17
SOME ASPECTS OF FARMERS PROBLEMS BY BERNARD a
Reprlnted from AllautIc Monthlrl
BARUCH

btSSeller lufnuceS, us rOlllnE Hills, III
tube mills and other manufacturin:
! processes that are carried to the high
est degree Of finished production com
| patDle with the large trade it ha!
built up All this is generally conced
! ed to be to the advantage of the con
sumner. Nor does the steel corporation
| inconsiderately dump its products or
the market. On the contrary. it 81
acts that it is frequently a stabiizine
influence, as is often the case with 9th
er large organizations. 1t is master OF
its distribution as well as of its pro
duction. If prices are not satisfactory
the products are held back or prOduc
ton is reduced or suspended. 1t is not
compelled to send a years work to the
market at one time and take whatever
1t can get under such circumstances
1t has one selling policy and its own
export department Neither are the
grades and qualities Of steel determin-
ed at the caprice of the buyer nor does
the latter hold the scales In this sin
gle indignation of the steel corporation
is represented about 40 per cent of the
Is mostly In the hands of q few large
companies In ordinary times the
steel corporation, by example, stabilizes
all steel prices If this is permissible
lit Is even desirable, because stable
and fair prices are essential to solid
and continued prosperity why would
ii be wrong for the farmers to utilize
central agencies that would have SINH
lar effects on agricultural productsi
Something like that is what they are
aiming at
Some farmers favored by regional
compactness and contiguity, such as the
ctrus-fruit-raisers of California, at:
ready have found a way legally II
merge and sell their products int
orally and in accordance with seasonal
and local demand, thus improving
their position and rendering the con
sumner a reliable service of ensured
quality, certain supply, and reasonable
and relatively steady prices They
have not found 1t necessary to resort
to any special privilege, or to claim
any exemption under the antitrust
legislation of the state or nation. With
out removing local control, they have
built up very efficient marketing
agency. The grain, cotton, and to
bacco farmers, ana the producers Of
hides and wool, because of their mum
bers and the vastDess of their regions
and for other reasons, have found
Indignation more difficult task
though there are now some thousands ,
Of farmers cooperative elevators
warehouses, creameries, and other Ell
terprlses Of one sort and another, with
a turnover of billion dollers a year
They are giving the farmers business |
experience and training, and, so fal |
as they go, they meet the need OF |
honest weighing and fair grading; but
they do not meet the requirements OF
nationally adjusted marketing in any
large and fundamental way.
The next step, which will be a pat
tern for other groups, is now being
prepared by the grain-raisers through
the establishment Of sales media which
shall handle grain separately or col
lectively, as the individual farmer may
elect 1t Is this step-the plan of the
|
created so much opposition and Is
thought by some to be In conflict with
the antitrust laws. Though there l.
now before congress q measure de
signed to clear up doubt on this point,
The producers are not relying on
my immunity from antitrust legisla-
ion. They desire and they are en-.
titled, to coordinate their efforts just
Is effectively as the large business In.
erests Of the country have done. In
with the selling organiza-
ions the United States Grain Growers
Is drafting scheme OF
instrumentalities and auxili-
ry agencies which are Indispensable
0 the successful utilization of modern
usiness methods.
1t is essential that the farmers
hould proceed gradually with these
lans, and aim to avoid the error of
trapping the existing marketing ma.
hinery, which has been so laboriously
uilt up by lcng experience, before I
hey have a tried and proved substl.
lite or supplementary mechanism. :
hey must be careful not to become :
in their own reforms and +
se the perspective of their place In =
lie national system They must guard f
yainst fanatical devotion to new doc. q
ines, and should seek articulation T
It'll the general economic system h
ther than its reckless destruction as n
relates to them. 8
2 q