Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1922-02-02


the agricultural group is almost as
much at a disadvantage In dealing with
other economic groups as the Jay farm
er OF the funny pages In the hands of
sleek urban confidence men, who sell
him acreage In Central Park or the
Chicago city hall. The leaders OF the
farmers thoroughly understand this.
and they are lntelligently striving TO
integrate their Industry so that II will
be on an equal footing with other bust
nesses
AS an example OF indignation. take
the steel Industry, In which the model
Is the United States Steel Corporation.
with It's iron mines. Its 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 II has
built up. All this is generally conced-
ed to be TO the advantage Of the con
sumner. Nor does the steel corporation
inconslderately dump Its products on
the market. On the contrary, II so
acts that 1t is frequently a stabIlizlng
influence, as Is often the case with 9TH
er large organizations. 1t Is master of
Its distribution as well as OF Its pro-
duction. II prices are not satisfactory
the products are held back or produc-
tion is reduced or suspended. 1t is not
compelled to send years work TO the
market at one time and take whatever
IL can get under such circumstances.
1t has one selling policy and Its own
export department. Neither are the
grades and qualities Of steel determln-
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, stabllizes
all steel prices II this Is permissible
ut Is even desirable, because stable
and fair prices are essential to solid
and continued prosperity why would
II be wrong for the farmers to utilize
central agencies that would have SINH
lar effects on agricultural productsf
Something like that Is what they ara
aiming at.
Some farmers favored by regional
compactness and contigulty, such as the
s-fruit-raisers of California. al
ready have found a 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-
sumer a 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 very efficient marketing
agency. The grain, cotton, and to-
bacco farmers, and the producers of
hides and wool, because Of their num-
bers and the vastness of their regions.
and for other reasons, have found
Indignation more difficult task
though there are now some thousands
Of farmers cooperative elevators,
creameries, and other en-
terprises of one sort and another, with
a turnover Of billion dollers a year.
They are giving the farmers business
experience and training, and, so far
as they go. they meet the need of
honest weighing and fair grading; but
they do not meet the requirements Of
nationally adjusted marketing In any
arge and fundamental way.
The next step, which will be q pat
Tern for other groups, is now being
by the grain-raisers through
he establishment of sales media which
shall handle grain separately or col
ectlvely, as the individual farmer may
elect. It is this step-the plan Of the
of eventeen-which has
treated so much opposition and is
hought by some to be in conflict with
he antitrust laws. Though there is
low before congress a measure de-
signed to clear up doubt on this point.
he grain-producers are not relying on
my immunity from antitrust legisla-
ion. They desire, and they are en-
titled, to coordinate their efforts lust
Is effectively as the large business In
erests Of the country have done. In
with the selling organiza-
Ions the United States Grain Growers
Incorporated is drafting a scheme of
instrumentalities and auxin-
Try agencies which are indispensable
o the successful utilization Of modern
BUSINESS methods.
II is essential that the farmers
hould proceed gradually with these
'lans, and aim to avoid the error of
the existing marketing ma
hinery, which has been so laboriously /
'uilt up by long experience. before
hey have tried and proved substi-
ute or supplementary mechanism.
they must be careful not to become
In their own reforms and
ose the perspective OF their place in
he national system. They must guard
gainst fanatical devotion to new doc
rines, and should seek articulation