Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1922-01-19

nlgn costs OF distribution. which they
must ultimately bear.
- Now that the farmers are stirring
thinking, and uniting as never before
to eradicate these inequalities, they
are subjected to stern economic lee
tuFes, and are met with the accusation
that they are demanding, and are the
recipients Of, special privileges. Let
"a see what privileges the government
has conferred on the farmers. Much
has been made Of Section 6 Of the
C1ayton Antitrust Act, which pur-
popted 70 permit them to combine with
Immunity, under certain conditions.
Admitting that nominally, this ex-
eMpttsn was in the nature Of special
pssvtlege,-though l think 1t was so In
appearance rather than In fact,-we
find that the courts have nullified 1t
BY judicial Interpretation. Why should
not the farmers be permitted to &C.
eoanphsh by cooperative methods what
other businesses are already doing by
cooperation In the form Of incorpora-
ton? II It be proper for men to form,
BY fusion Of existing corporations or
otherwise, corporation that controls
the entire production Of a commodity,
o. . large part Of 1t, why Is 1t not
proper for q group Of farmers to unite
for tbs marketing Of their common
produces, either In one or In several
selling agenciesf Why should 1t be
right for a hundred thousand corporate
Shareholders to direct rs or 30 OF 40
per cent Of an industry, and wrong for
hundred thousand cooperative
tnrpers to control q no larger proper
uou Of the wheat crop, or cotton, or
any other product?
The Department Of Agriculture Is
ostsa spoken Of as a special concession
10 the farmers, but In Its commercial
results, II Is Of a. much benefit to the
bnyen and consumers Of agricultural
eSodusss a. to the producers, or even
more do not suppose that anyone
.aDposss the benefits that the farmers
Srsvs fsen the educational and re-
ssarcn voTt Of the department, or the
hAap that * gives them In working out
Apes~s1 cultural methods and prac-
49, b developing better Yielding va
ssseiAs through breeding and selection,
b insse6ecing new varieties from re-
nsSs pats Of the world and adapting
nAn b cor climate and economic con-
dsAA snd 10 devislng practical meas
tpss ~ ~ elimination Or control Of
aAnSsseas and destructive animal and
plant diseased insect pests, and the
IRE. Al these things manifestly tend
70 stimulate and enlarge production,
and their general beneficial effects are
ohvaesaa
Il Il complained that, whereas the
Isw restricts Federal Reserve banks
TO three ynonthS time for commercial
paper, the farmer Is allowed six
months on his notes. This Is not
special privilege, but merely such
recognition Of business conditions as
makes II possible for country banks
to do business with country people.
TIE crop farmer has only one turn
over . ycas, while the merchant and
manufacturer have many. Incidental
", ! note that the Federal Reserve
Board hos Just authorized the Fed
erel Heee1ve banks to discount export
paper fos Z period Of six months, to
conform 70 the nature Of the busi.
Dssa
The Fenm Loan banks are pointed
TO as ON instance Of special govern
nent favor for farmers. Are they DOT
rather the outcome Of laudable efforts
10 eQusiias rural and urban eondi.
nons4 And about all ths government
does there Is TO help set up an ad-
pinistrativs organization and lend a
little credit at the start Eventually
the farmers will provide all the capt.
tai and carry all the liabilities them
selves. II Is true that Farm Loan
bonds are tax exempt; but 80 are
bonds OF municipal light and traction
plants, and new housing Is to be ex.
empt from taxation, In New York, for
ten years. fsa'5.s.' -.' "'".:
On the other hand, the farmer reads
Of plans for municipal housing prof.
ects that run into the billions, of hun
dreds Of millions annually spent on
The merchant marine; he reads that
he railways are being favored with
Increased rates and virtual guarantees
Of earnings by the government with
the result to him Of an Increased toll
On oil that be sells and all that he
buya He hears Of many manifesto
tons Of governmental concern for par
nculsr industries and interests Res
s,ainx Tia railways from insaivennv 1.
unocucseus1 rr ma oene1r Of the
country as q whole but what can be
Of more general benefit than encour.
agement Of ample production Of the
principal necessaries Of life and their
even flow from contented producers to
satisfied consumers9
While It may be conceded that
special governmental aid may be nee
essary In the general Interest, we must
all agree that 1t Is difficult to see why
agriculture and the production and dis.
trsartlas u tnr7, NJ - 20 ~ a.