Richmond daily register. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1917-1978, 1922-02-17


we have common interest with the
farmer in his attempts to attain q de-
gree Of efficiency in distribution cnr-
responding to his efficiency in produc-
! ton? Do not the recent fluctuations
In the May wheat option, apparently
unrelated To normal intersection or
supply and demand. offer timely
proof Of the need Of some such stshii-
ling agency as the grain growers have
in contemplation?
IL Is coniended that. II their pro-
posed organizations he perfected and
I operated. the farmers will have in
their hands an instrument that will he
capable of dangerous abuse. We are
told that ii viii he possible to pervert
ii To arbitrary and oppressive price
fixing from its legitimate use Of order
ing and stabiliEing the few of farm
products to the market, to ths mutual
benefit Of producer snd consumer.
have no apprehensioDs on this point.
In the first place, a loose organizs-
ton. such az any union, Of farmers
must be at best, cannot be so srbl-
irarily and promptly controlled as a
great corporation. The one IL 4 lum
herring democracy and the other an agile
lutocracy. In the second place. with
all possible power Of org nization, the
fIrmerS cannot succeed 10 any gres'
extent ar for any considerable length
nf tine. In fixing prices. The srca'
law ~ supply and demand works 10.
various aud surprising wsys 10 ih.
undning 81 the best laid plans thai
attempt I" Foil II. In the thiru place
their power Nill avail the farmer,
nothing II il he abused. In our tim
and country power Is Of value 10 It,
pnSSrSSor only ~ long as II Is not
abused. II Is fair {" say that I have
seen no signs In responsible quarters
II a disposition ts dictate prices
There seems on the contrary. 10 be
commonly beneficial purpose 10 realil'
a stability that will Civ an or,lPrl
and abundant how. OF farm product,
10 the consumer and ensure reaSnuahl.
and dependable returns 10 the pr"
Queer.
Ia view II the supreme importance
To the national welI-beinE Of pros
porous and contented agricultural pop
ulation. We should be prepared Ia g
- ION: way in assisting the farmers I
get an equitable share Of the wealth
hey produce. through the lnaugura
ton ~ reforms that will procure y
continuous and increasing stream o.
farm products They are far frnin get
ting fair share now. Considering
his capital aud rhP long hours 81 labor
mi IN by the average farmer and hi.
faulty. hr Il remunerated less thar
any other occupT tional class. with to
1nSSihle exception ~ teachers. rel
siouS aud lay. Though We knew tha
the prcSeu: general distress NJ IA.
farmcrs is exceptional and ia linke.
with the Inevitable economic reaiiuS'
meni following the war. ii must b
remembered that. slthoHGh represent
ing "ne-third Of the industrial produc
and half the total population ~ th'
nation. the rural communities or,ii
narily enjoy but 4 NTH 10 = quarter ~
the net ANIMAL national gain. N.twiih
standing the taste OF prosperity tina
the farmers had during the war. ihrr.
is today lower standard OF Twin.
among the cotton farmers Of the SOutl
than IN any ,ther pursuit In the country
IN conclusion. II seems to me that tn,
farmers are chiefly striving for a gen
orally benefi III Indignation NJ their
business. W the same kind aud charsc
ter that other business enjoys. II Il
should he found IN examination that
tie attainment ef this end requires
methnds different from those which
other activities hsye followed for the
same purpose. should we not sympa
theiically consider the plea for the
right To cooperate. il only from ON
own enlightened self interest. IN oh
tanning az abundant and stesdy flow Of
farm products:
In examining The agricultural Silua
lion with view to Its Improvement.
Ne shall be mnsi helpful IL We main
tain = detached aud judicial viewpoint
remembering thxt existing wrongs may
he chiefly m accident :Of uBsymmetri-
ral economic growth instead u a .eres-
ton ~ malevolent design and c0nsplra-
~. We Americans are prone. az Pro
feSSnr David Friday we'll says in his
admirable b0ak.l Profits. Wages and
Prizes ta GEEK criminal intent he
hind every difficult and undesirable eco
nnmic situation" can positively as
seT-t from NV contact with men Of
large affairs. including bankers. that,
as Il whole they are endeavoriDg &"
fulfil rs they see them the obligations
that sn with their power. Preoccupled
with the grave problems and heavy
tasks 30 their own immediate affairs.
they have not turned their thoughtful
personal attention or their cOnstruc-
tive abilities tu the deficiencies Of agri-
cultural business organization. Agfi-
culture. II may he said. suffers from
their preoccupation and neglect rather
than from any purposeful exploitation
by them. They ought now To begin tol
respond to the farmers difficulties.
which they must realize are their own.
TN the other hand, my contacts witt
the farmers have filed ME with respect
for them-for their sanity. their pa.
tience. their balance. Within the last
year. and particularly at a meeting
called by the Kansas State Board of
Agriculture and at another called by