The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1922-02-17

obstruction Of their upward efforts
We. as city people. see In high and
manipulated prices
spoila2e, waste, scarcity, the results
Of defective distribution of earm prud-
ucts Should ii not occur to us that
we have common interest with the
farmer in his attempts 20 attain de-
gree of efficiency In d.tribution cGr-
responding to his efficiency IN prodnc-
uont DO not the recent fiuctuati0ns
IN the May wheat option, apparently l
unrelated TO normal nteraction-.-af
supply and demand. offer a Timely |
proof of the need Of some such stabl-
izlng agency as the grain growers have
in contemplation?
1t is contended that, If their pro- /
posed organizations be perfected and |,
operated, the farmers viii have in
their hands an instrument that will be
capable of dangerous abuse. We are
told that 1t will be possible to pervert
1t to arbitrary and oppressive price
fixing from its legitimate use of ORDER
ing and stabilizlng 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, loose organiza-
ton, such as any union of farmers
must be at best, cannot be so arbi-
trari!y and promptly controlled as
great corporation. The one is a lun-
herring democracy and the other an agile
autocracy. In the second place, with
all possible power of org lnization, 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 it. In the third place
their power will avail the farmers
nothing II it be abused. In our time
| 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 n disposition to dictate prices.
| There seems on the contrary, to be a
commonly beneficial purpose to realize
| stability that will give an orderly
| and abundant flow of farm products
to the consumer and ensure reasonable
and dependable returns to the pro-
Queer.
In view of the supreme importance
! to the national well-being of a pros
porous and contented agricultural pop
ulatlon, we should be prepared to so
long way in assisting the farmers to
get an equitable share of the wealth
they produce, through the inaugural
tion OF reforms that will procure a
continuous and increasing stream of
farm products. They are far from get.
ting a 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, reli
gious and lay Though we know that
the present general distress of tht
farmers is exceptional and is linked
with the inevitable economic readiust
ment following the war, 1t must bt
remembered that, although represent
ing one-third of the industrial produc
and half the total population Of thu
nation, the rural communities ordl
narily enjoy but a fifth to a quarter o
the net annual national gain. Notwith
standing the taste of prosperity tina
the farmers had during the war, Their
Is today a lower standard of Twin,
among the cotton farmers of the Soutl
than in any other pursuit in the country
! In conclusion, it seems to me that tn
farmers are chiefly striving for gen
orally beneficial Indignation of thei
business, OF the same kind and charat
ter that other business enjoys If
should be found On examination tina
the attainment Of this end require
methods different from those whic
! other activities have followed for tn
same purpose should we not sympi
S thetically consider the plea for tn
+ right to cooperate, IL only from on
own enlightened self interest, in oil
? tanning an abundant and steady flow {
! farm products2
In examining the agricultural stu;
5 ton with n view to Its Improvement
G we shall be most helpful If we NAH
f tain a detached and judicial viewpoin
remembering that existing wrongs ma
y be chiefly an accident of unsymmetr
g cal economic growth instead of ere
L ton Of malevolent design and conspirt
/. cy. We Americans are prone, as Pr
g fessor David Friday well says in h
d admirable book, profits, Wages al
n Prices" to seek criminal intent b
d hind every difficult and undesirable &c
' monte situation" l can positively a
n sert from my contact with men
II large affairs, including bankers, tina
S MS whole, they are endeavortng
fulfill as they see them the obligation
that go with their power, Preoccupi,
with the grave problems and hea'
c tasks Of their own immediate affair
t. they have not turned their thought
II personal attention or their constru