The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1922-02-22

v
To take q tolerant and sympathetic
view of the farmers strivings for bet.
ter things Is not to give blanket
endorsement to any specific plan. and
still less to applaud the vagarles of
some Of their leaders and groups
Neither should we, on the other hand
allow the froth Of bitter agitation.
false economics. and mistaken radical
ism to conceal the facts of the farm.
ers' disadvantages, and the practicable.
ity Of eliminating them by well-con
sidered measures. 1t may be that the
farmers will not show the business
sagatity and develop the wise leader
ship to carry through sound plans; but
that possibility does not justify the
obstruction Of their upward efforts.
We. as city people. see In high and
speculatively manipulated )prices,
spoilage. waste, scarcity, the results
Of defective distribution Of farm prod.
ucts. Should 1t not occur 10 us that
we have common interest with the
farmer In his attempts to attain de-
gree of efficiency in distribution cor
responding to his efficiency In produc-
ton? Do not the recent fluctuations
In the May wheat option, apparently
unrelated to normal interaction Of
supply and demand, offer timely
PROOF Of the need of some such stabil.
izihg agency rs the grain growers have
In contemplation?
1t Is contendcsl that, II their pro-
posed organizations be perfected and
operated. the farmers will have In
their hands an instrument thar will be
capable Of dangerous abuse. We. are
told that 1t will be possible to pervert
II to arbitrary and oppressive price
liking from Its legitimate use Of order
ing ard stablizng the flow Of farm
products to the market, to the mutual
benefit OF producer and consumer
nave no apprehenslons on this point
In tine first place. a loose organlza-
ton, such as any union Of farmers
must be at best. cannot be so arbl-
trarily and promptly controlled as
great corporation. The one Is a um.
berng 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 TO foil II. In the third place.
their power will avail the farmers
nothing II it be abused. In our time
and country power IL Of value to its
possessor only so long as It Is not
abused. 1t Is fair to say that have
seen no signs In responsible quarters
OF disposition to dictate prices.
There seems. on the contrary, to be a
commonly beneficial purpose to realize
stability that will Civ, an orderly
and abundant flow of farm products
to the consumer and ensure reasonable
and dependable returns to the pro-
Queer.
In view Of the supreme Importance
TO the national well-being of a. pros.
porous and contented agricultural pop.
ulation, we should be prepared to 60
long way In assisting the farmers to
get an equitable share Of the wealth
they produce. through the Inaugural
tion OF reforms thar will procure a |
continuous and increasing stream of |
farm products They are far from get !
ring u 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, rell- |
gious and lay. Though We know that |
the present general distress of the !
farmers Is exceptional and Is linked |
with the inevitable economic readjusi.
ment following the war, it 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 quarter of |
the net annual national gain Notwith,
the taste OF prosperity that |
- - -