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

As an example Of Indignation. take
the steel industry, in which the model
is the United States Steel Corporation.
with its Iron mines, fits coal mines, its
lake and rail transportation, its ocean
vessels, its by-prOduct coke ovens, Its
blast furnaces, its open hearth and
Bessemer furnaces. its rolling mills. its
tube mills and other manufacturing
processes that are carried to the high.
est degree OF finished production com
patlble with the large trade 1t has
built up. All this is generally conced.
ed TO be to the advantage of the con
sumer. Nor does the steel corporation
lnconsiderately dump Its products on
the market. On the contrary, it so
acts that II is frequently a stabilizing
influence, as is often the case with 9th
err large organizations. II Is master Of
its distribution as well as Of It's pro-
ductlon. If prices are not satisfactory
the products are held back or produc-
ton Is reduced or suspended. 1t is not
compelled to send years work to the
market at one time and take whatever
1t can get under such circumstances.
1t has one selling policy and its own
export department. Neither are the
grades and qualities of steel determin-
ed at the caprice of the buyer, nor does
the latter hold the scales. In this sin
gle Indignation of the steel corporation
is represented about 40 per cent of the
steel production of America The rest
Is mostly In the hands of few large
companies. In ordinary times the
steel corporation, by example, stabili2es
all steel prices. If this is permissible
(lt is even desirable, because stable
and fair prices are essential to solid
and continued prosperity why would
it be wrong for the farmers to utilize
central agencies that would have SINH
lar effects on agricultural products?
Something like that is what they are
aiming at.
Some farmers favored by regional
| compactness and contiguity, such as the
citruS-fruitraisers of California, al
ready have found way legally to
merge and sell their products inte-
orally and In accordance with seasonal
and local demand. thus improving
their position and rendering the con-
sumner reliable service of ensured
quality, certain supply, and reasonable
and relatively steady prices. They
have not found 1t necessary to resort
to any special privilege, or to claim
any exemption under the antitrust
legislation of the state or nation With
out removing local control, they have
built up a very efficient marketing
agency. The grain, cotton, and to
bacco farmers, and the producers o.
hides and WOOL because OF their nun
bers and the vastness Of their regions
and for other reasons, have foun(
indignation more difficult task
though there are now some thousand
Of farmers cooperative elevators
warehouses, creameries, and other en-
terprises Of one sort and another, will
a turnover of billion dollers a year
> They are giving the farmers bushes
experience and training, and, so fa
as they go, they meet the need o
honest weighing and fair grading bu
they do not meet the requirements o
nationally adjusted marketing in an
large and fundamental way.
The next step, which will be a pal
tern for other groups, is now bein
prepared by the gran-raisers throug
! the establishment Of sales media whic
8 shall handle grain separately or co
/ lectively, as the individual farmer ma
elect. 1t is this step--the plan of tn
Committee of Seyenteen-which ha
created so much opposition and
I thought by some to be in conflict wit
y the antitrust laws. Though there
i now before congress measure dt
signed to clear up doubt on this poin
the grain-producers are not relying o
any immunity from antitrust legisli
I ton They desire. and they are Ell
q titled, to coordinate their efforts iu.
q as effectively as the large business Il
3 terests of the country have done.
n connection with the selling organic,
X lions the United States Grain Grover
y Incorporated Is drafting scheme
n financing Observation-Disclosures and auXil
d airy agencies which are indispensah
u to the successful utilization Of moder
business methods.
1t Is essential that the farmc
4 should proceed gradually with the,
3 plans, and aim to avoid the error
scrapping the existing marketing m
h chlnery, which has been so laborious
built up by long experience, befo
they have a tried and proved suhs
tute or supplementary mechanlsl
They must be careful not to becon
enmeshcd In their own reforms AZ
lose the perspective Of their place
the national system. They must qua
against fanatiCal devotion to new dc
trines, and should seek articulatl,
with the general economic syste
rather than its reckless destruction
1t relates to them.