Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1922-02-10
III

III
Now that the farmers are stirring
thinking. and uniting as never De1ore
TO eradicate these inequalities, they
are subjected to stern economic lee
tures and are met with the accusation
that they are demanding, and are the
recipients of. special privileges. Let
ms see what privileges the government
has conferred on the farmers. Mucn
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-
emntion was in the nature of a special
nrivilege,-though l think 1t was so In
~appearance rather than In fact,-we
find that the courts have nullihed II
" judicial Interpretation. Why should
not the farmers be permitted to ac-
complish by cooperative methods what
| other businesses are already doing by
co-operation in the form of incorpora-
tion7 If it be proper for men to form,
by fusion Of existing corporations or
otherwise. a corporation that controls
the entire production Of a commodity,
or a large part Of it, why Is 1t 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 30 or 40
ner cent of an industry, and wrong for
a hundred thousand cooperative
farmers to control a nc larger proper
ton of the wheat crop, or cotton, or
any other product?
The Department Of Agriculture Is
often spoken of as a special concession
to the farmers, but In its commercial
results. It is of as much benefit to the
buvers and consumers of agricultural
products as to the producers, or even
more. l do not suppose thai anyone
opposes the benefits that the farmers
derive from the educational n re-
search work of the department, or the
help that it gives them in working GU
improved cultural methods and prac-
tices. in developing better yielding va
rieties through breeding and SELECTION.
In introducing new varieties from re-
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
nlant diseases, insect pests, and the
like. All these things manifestly tend
to stimulate and enlarge production
and their general beneficial effects are
obvious.
II is complained that, whereas the
law restricts Federal Reserve banks
to three months time for commercial
paper. the farmer is allowed siS
months on his notes. This Is not
special privilege, but merely such
recognition of business conditions as
makes 1t possible for country banks
to do business with country people
The crop farmer has only one turn
over a year, while the merchant ant
manufacturer have many. Incidental
Iy. I note that the Federal Reservt
Board has just authorized the Fed
eral Reserve banks to discount eXpOr'
paper for a period of six months, tt
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 no
rather the outcome of laudable effort
1-.o1.uo ,r,roI on1 1phon 0On6i
tons? And about all the government
does there Is to help set up an ad
ministrative organization and lend
little credit at the start. Eventual,
the farmers will provide all the CAPT
tai and carry all the liabilities them
selves. 1t is true that Farm Loal
bonds are tax exempt but so ar
bonds Of municipal light and tractiol
plants, and new housing Is to be ez
empt from taxation, In New York, 70
ten years.
On the other hand, the farmer read
Of plans for municipal housing pro.
ects that run into the billions. Of hur
dreds Of millions annually spent o
the merchant marine; he reads tina
the railways are being favored wit
increased rates and virtual guarantee
Of earnings by the government, wit
the result to him of an increased to
on all that he sells and all that h
buys. He hears of many manifesto
lions of governmental oncern for pa
ticular industries and interests. Re-
cuing the railways from insolvency
undoubtedly for the benefit of tn
country as a whole, but what can b
of more general benefit than encou,
agement of ample production of tn
principal necessaries of life and the
even flow from contented producers
satisfied consumers?
, While it may be conceded ths
special governmental aid may be ne
essary in the general interest, we mu'
all agree that it Is difficult to see WI
agriculture and the production and di
tribution Of farm products are not a
corded the same opportunities that a.
. provided for other businesses esp
oialIv ac thp pniovment NV the farm,