Jackson County sentinel. (Gainesboro, Tenn.) 1914-current, 1922-01-19
Ill

Now that the farmers are stirring,
thinking, and uniting as never before
to 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
us see what privileges the government
has conferred on the farmers. Much
has been made of Section 9 Of the
Clayton Antitrust Act, which pur-
ported to permit them to combine with
immunity, under certain conditions.
Admitting that, noninally, this 'ex-
emption was In the nature Of special
privilege, think 1t was so In
appearance rather than in fact, we
find that the courts have nullifled 1t
by judicial Interpretation. Why should
not the farmers be permitted to &C
complish by cooperative methods what
other businesses are already doing by
cooperation In the form Of incorpora-
tion2 II 1t be proper for men to form,
by fusion Of existing corporations or
otherwise, corporation that controls
the entire production of commodity,
or q large part Of 1t, why is II not
proper for group Of farmers to unite
for the marketing Of their common
products, either in one or In several
selling agencies? Why should I be
right for hundred thousand corporate
shareholders to direct 25 or 80 or 40
per cent of an industry. and wrong for
hundred thousand cooperative
farmers to control no larger proper
ton of the wheat crop, or cotton, or
any other product?
The Department Of Agriculture Is
often spoken Of as a special concession
to the farmers. but In its commercial
results. 1t is of MS much benefit to the
buyers and consumers of agricultural
products as to the producers, or even
more. | do not suppose that anyone
opposes the benefits that the farmers
derive from the educational and re-
search work of the department, or the
help that II gives them In working out
improved cultural methods and prac-
tees. In developing better yielding va
rietles through breeding and selection,
in introducing new varieties from re-
mote parts Of the world and adapting
them to our climate and economic con-
dition, and In devislng practical meas
ures for the elimination or control OF
dangerous and destructive animal and
plant diseases, insect pests. and the
like. All these things manifestly tend
to stimulate ami enlarge production,
and their general beneficial effects are
obvious
II Is complained that, whereas the
law restricts Federal Reserve banks
TO three months time for commercial
naper. the farmer Is allowed six
months on his notes. This Is not q
special privilege, but merely such a
recognition of business conditions as
makes II possible for country banks
70 do business with country people
The crop farmer has only one turn
over a year, while the merchant and
manufacturer have many. Incidental
liz, note that the Federal Reserve
Board has just authorized the Fed
eral Reserve banks TO discount export
paper for period + six months. to
conform to the nature Of the hasi
ness.
The Farm Loan hauks are painted
10 as an instance ~ special govern
ment favor for farmers ARE i.ley n
rather the outcome - laulr''a ,'Tsorts
TO equallze rural aEa T.iiah G. II
tons? And shou; 80 ~ ~ aFaaHl
does there Is TO t.lst -. - IN "a
illustrative r.En' :'i-.. sal itti
little credit At iac So Z s-i''.'l'
the farmers viii y ~ III tie CO.