Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1922-02-08


SvariopaS ana iurprising ways, to TIE
sundoinS of tho best laid plans that
attempt TO foil it. In the third place,
their power, Win avail the farmers
nothing II IL be abused. In our time
and country power is Of value "a its
possessof only so long as It Ii not
abused. It ls fair to say that I have
seen mo signs In responsible quarters
Of disposition to dictate prices.
There seems. on the contrary, to be a
commonly beneficial purpose to realize
q stability tat will givn an orderly
and ABUNDANT flow Of farm products
to the consumer and ensure reasonable
and dependable returns to the pro-
ducer, la5
In View Of the supreme Importance
to the national well-being Of pros.
porous and cOntented agricultural pop.
ulation, we should be prepared to 30
a 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 ami Increasing stream Of
farm products. They are far from get
ting q 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 occupntfonal class, with the
possible exception Of teachers. rell-
gious 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, It must be
remembered that. although represent
Ing one-thtrd Of the Industrial product
and half the rotul population Of the
nation, the rural communities ordi-
narily enjoy but II fifth to quarter Of
the net annual national gain. Notwith-
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. If It
should be found OH 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, IL only from our
own enlightened self interest, In ob-
taining an abundant and steady flow of
farm products7 arq q..
In examining the agricultural situa
tion with view to lts improvement,
We shall be most helpful II we main
tain q detached and judicial viewpoint,
remembering that existing wrongs may
be chiefly an accident Of unsymmetri-
cal economic growth instead Of a crea-
tion Of malevolent design and conspira-
cy. We Americans are prone, as Pro
fessor David Friday we'll says in his
admirable book, "Profits. Wages and
Prices" to seek q criminal intent be-
hind every difticult and undesirable eco
nomict situation" ] can positively az.
serts from my contact with men Of
large affairs, including bankers, that,
as whole, they are endeavoring to
fulfill as they see them the obligations
that 60 with their power. Preoccupied
with the grave problems, and heavy
tasks Of their own immediate affairs,
they have not turned their thoughtful
personal attention or their construc-
tive abilities to the deficiencies Of agri.
cultural business organization. Agrl.
culture, 1t may be said, suffers from
their preoccupation and neglect rather
than from any purposeful exploitation
by them. They ought now to begin to
respond to the farmers difficulties,
which they must realize are their own.
On the other hand. my contacts with
the farmers have filed me with respect
for them-for their sanity. their pa
thence. their balance. Within the last
year, and particularly at meeting
called by the Kansas State Board Of
Agriculture and at another called by
tho Committee OF Seventeen. l have
met many Of the leaders OF the new
farm movement, and I testify in ali
sincerity that they are endeavoring to
deaf with their problems, NOT as pro-
moters Of q narrow class Interest, not
"a exploiters OF the hapless consumer,
net 40 merciless monopolists. but as
honest ment bent on the Improvement
o4 the common veal. a#3 ~rh
We can and must meet such men
and nush cause half way. Their
business II opr business- tho nations
husiness