The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1922-01-26

We as city people, see in high and
speculatively manipulated : prices.
spoilage, Waste scarcity, the results
NJ defective distribution Of farm prod
ucts. Should ii not occur to US that
We have common interest with the
farmer in his attempts 10 attain de-
gree Of efficiency in distribution cor
responding 70 his efficiency IN produc-
ton? DO not the recent fluctuations
In the Nav wheat option apparently
unrelated 10 normal interaction Of
supply snd demand offer a timely
proof OF the need Of some such stabil-
izing agency as the grain growers have
In contemplation
II Il contended that, II their pro
posed organizations be perfected and
operated he farmers Will have in
their hands an Instrument that will be
capable Of dangerous abuse. We are
| told thar 10 viii be possible to pervert
IL to arbitrary and oppressive price
fixing from IT'S legitimate use OF order
ing and stablizing the flow Of farm
products 10 the market, 10 the mutual
| benefit Of producer and consumer L
| have no apDrehensions on this point.
In the first place. loose organize
ZION, such as any union OF farmers
must be at best, cannot be so arbi-
| trariIy and promptly controlled as Il
great corporation. The one is a lum-
herring democracy and the other an agile
| autocracy. In the second place, with
| all possible power OF org .nization, 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 10 foil IT, In the third place.
| their power will avail the farmers
| nothing II il be abused. In our time
| and country power Is OF value TO Its
| pOssessor only go long as II is not
| abused II is fair 20 say that I have
seen no signs In responsible quarters
| 81 a disposition 10 dictate prices.
| There seems on the contrary. TO be
| commonly beneficial purpose TO realize
a stability that will Hva an orderly
and abundant flow Of farm products
TO The consumer and ensure reasonable
| and dependable returns 10 the pro
| Queer
In view ~ the supreme Importance
to the national well-being OF a pros
| porous and contented agricultural pop
ulatlon, we should be prepared to 60
a long way in assisting the farmers To
get an equitable share of the wealth
they produce, through the Inaugural
ton Of reforms that will procure a
continuous and increasing stream Of
farm products They are far from get
! ting Il 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 Law 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, 1t must be
remembered that. although represent
ing one-third OF the industrial product
and half the total population OF the
nation. the rural communities ordi-
narily enjoy but fifth to a quarter OF
the net annual national gain. Notwith-
standing the taste OF prosperity that
the farmers had during the war. there
IL today a lower standard Of living
among the cotton farmers of the South
than In any other pursuit In the country.
In conclusion II seems TO me that the
farmers are chiefly striving for gen.
orally beneficial Indignation OF their
business of the same kind and charac-
ter that other business enjoys. II II
should be found on 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, II only from our
own enlightened self interest, In OBJ
tanning an abundant and steady flow OF
farm products?
In examining the agricultural situa'
ton with a view to its Improvement,
; we shall be most helpful IL we main
tain n detached and judicial viewpoint,
remembering that existing wrongs may
he chiefly an accident Of unsymmetr1-
cal economic growth instead Of crea-
ZION Of malevolent design and conspira'
cy. We Americans are prone, as FRO
lessor David Friday well says In his
, | admirable book, Profits, Wages and
Prices" to seek a criminal intent be
hind every difficult and undesirable eco.
nomic situation" 1 can positively as
sert from my contact with men o,
large affairs, including bankers, that
as whole. they are endeavoring tt
, fulfill as they see them the obligations
that 90 with their power. Preoccupieo
With the grave problems and heavy
tasks of their own immediate affairs
they have not turned their thoughtful
nersonal attention or their construc
t,va abilities to the deficiencies of agri
cultural business organization Agri
culture. II may be said, suffers frou
, their preoccupation and neglect rathe
u than from any purposeful exploitation
NV them. They ought now to begin Il
, respond to the farmers dincuities
D which they must realize are their own
On the other hand. my contacts wit
The farmers have oiled me with respec