Metropolis weekly gazette. (Metropolis, Ill.) 1???-19??, 1922-03-17
III

III
Nov that the farmers are stirring.
thinking, and uniting as never before
10 eradicate these inequalities, they
are subjected to stern economic lee
lures. and are met with the accusation
that they are demanding. and are the
recipients OF. special privileges. Let
rs see what privileges the government
! has conferred on the farmers. Much
has been made OF Section Of the
Clayton Antitrust Act, which pur-
ported to permit them to combine with
Immunity. under certain conditions.
Admitting that, nOainally, this ex.
emption was IN the nature Of . special
privilege. though think It was 80 in
appearance rather than IN act.-wa
tiui chat the courts have nuiitied II
by Judicial tHterprets ton. Why should
noe the farmers be permitted to se-
compIish by cooperative methods VIVA,
other businesses are already doing by
cooperation ia the form OF incorpors-
tlonf X It be proper for men TO form,
by fusion OF existing corporations or
otherwise, corporation that controls
the entire production of a commodity.
or large part OF IL, why Ia It not
propec Tor group OK farmers to unite
FOR the trarketin. OF their common
products, either In one or In several
selling agencies2 Why should 1t be
right Cor hundred thousand corporate
shareholders 10 direct - or 50 or 40
per cent NJ an industry. aud wrong for
hundred thousand cooperative
farmers TO control no larger proper.
tioa OF the wheat crop. or cotton, or
any other product?
The Department % Agriculture Is
often spoken ~ az a special concession
to the farmers. but In its commercial
results. II IL Of as much benefit to the
buyers ard consumers Of agricultural
products "a To the producers, Or even
more. do rot suppose that anyone
opposes the benefits that the farmers
derive from the educational and re-
search work OF the department, or the
help that Il gives them In working out
Improved cultural methods and prae.
tees, Ia developing better yielding va
rleties through breeding and selection.
I'm Introducing new varieties from re-
mote parts % the world and adapting
them to our climate and economic con-
iitlon and in tevising practical meas,
ures for the elimination or control Of
dangerous and destructive animal and
nlant diseases, insect pests, and the
ike. AL these things manifestly tend
I, stimulate and enlarge production.
and their general beneficial effects are
obvious.
II Il complained that. whereas the
law restricts Federal Reserve banks
~ three months time for commercial
aaper. the farmer Il allowed six
months On his notes This i not a
special privilege, but merely such
recognition nf business conditions as
makes e possible for country banks
10 do business with country people.
The crop farmer has only one turn
over year, while the merchant and
manufactures have many. Incidental.
~ note that the Federal Reserve
Board has just authorized the Fed
ersl Reserve banks to discount export
psper e,r a period OF six months, to
conform TO the nature Of the bust,
aess.
Tia farm Loan banks are pointed
20 % an Instance OF special govern
meat favor for farmers. Are they not
rather tie outcome OF laudable efforts
tn elasliza rural and urban condi
tiouss And about all the government
does there Is to help set up an adj
miu.strative organization and lend a
title credit at the start. Eventually
the farmers will provide all the capt
tai aud carry all the liabilities thafn-
bonds are tax exempt; but 50 are
bonds OF municipal light and traction
D,aass, and aew housing Is to be ex.
empe from taxation, In New York, for
ten years
on the other hand. the farmer reads
Of plans for municipal housing prof.
ects that run into the billions, OF hun
deeds ~ millions annually spent on
the merchant marine; he reads that
the railways are being favored with
increased rates and virtual guarantees
81 earnings by the government, with
tho result to him OF an increased toll
or all that he sells and all that he
buys. He hears OF many manifesto
tons ot governmental concern for par
ticniar Industries and interests. Res
cuing the railways from insolvency Is
undoubtedly for the benefit OF the
country as a whole. but what can be
Of more general benefit than encour-
ssement Of ample production OF the
principal necessarles OF life ana their
even dow from eontented producers to
satisfied consumers?
While II may be conceded that
special governmental aid may be nee
essary In the general interest we must
all agree that Il is difficult 10 see why
agriculture and the production and dis
tribution OF farm products are not ac-
corded the same opportunities that are
provided for other businesses espe-
ciaI,y as the enjoyment by the farmer
OF such opportunities would appear to