Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1922-02-08
Some Aspects of the
Farmers Problems
By BERNARD M. BARUCH
Geprinted from Atlantic Monthly
By BERNARD M. BARUCH
CReprinted from Atlantic Monthly

utfIe rredi at the start Eventually
the farmers viii provide all the capi-
tai and carry all the liabilities them
solves n Is true that Farm Loan
honls are tax exempt; but so are
bonds Of municipal light and traction
giants and new housing Is 10 be ex'
smp, from taxation. In New York, for
Ten years
on the ether hand. the farmer reads
= nlans FOR municipal housing prof
cots that run into the billions. Of hun
areds n millions annually spent on
the merchant marine; he reads that
ne railways are being favored with
increased rates and virtual guarantees
~ earnings by the government, with
the result q him ~ an Increased toll
=, All that he sells and all that he
buvs lie hears n many manifesto
lions Of governmental concern for par.
flrular Industries and interests. Res
euin. thp railways from insolvency Is
undoubtedly for the benefit Of the
,,uufry As n whole. but what can be
= more general benefit than encour
aremeni ~ ample production Of the
prlnrlnal necessarles Of life and their
even nsw from c0ntented producers %
satisfied runsumersG
While q may be conceded that
special governmental aid may be nee
ssSary IN the general interest, we must
an agree that Il i difficult 10 see why
agriculture and the production and dis
trihution - farm products are not &C
corded the same opportunities that are
provided Tor other businesses; espe-
clally as the enjoyment By the farmer
n such opportunities would appear 10
be even more cOniributory TO the gen
erai good than In the case 81 other
industries The spirit Of American
democracy is unalterably opposed.
alike 10 enacted special privilege and
10 the special privilege Of unequal op-
oortunity that arises automatically
from the failure 10 correct glaring
economic inequalities. ! am opposed
20 the Injection OF government into
business, but / do believe that Il Is an
essential function OF democratic gov
eminent 10 equalize opportunity so
far as Il Is within its power to do so.
whether by the repeal OF archaic
statutes or the enactment OF modern
ones II the antitrust laws keep the
farmers from endeavoring scientifically
% integrate their industry while other
Industries find a way 20 meet modern
conditions without violating such stat
utes. then Il would seem reasonable
10 find a way for the farmers 10 meet
them under the same conditions. The
law should operate equally In fact. Re
pairing the economic structure on one
side Is no injustice To the other side,
which Is In good repair.
We have travelled a long way from
the old conception Of government as
merely n defensive and policing agency;
and regulatlve, corrective. or equallz-
Ing legislation. which apparently Is OF
a special nature, Is often Of the most
general beneficial consequences. Even
the First Congress passed a tariff act
that was avowedly for the protection
Of manufacturers; but a protective
tariff always has been defended as a
means Of promoting the general good
through a particular approach; and
the statute books are filed with acts
for the benefit Of shipping. commerce.
and labor.