The Raymer enterprise., 1922-02-02
III

NOW tnAt inc nfm0fa are opltrlnS,
thinking. and uniting a. never before
to eradicate these inequalities, they
are subjected to stern economic lee.
lures. and are met with the accusation
that they are demAndins, and are the
recipients Of, special privileges. Let
u see what priviiegessthe 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, nominally, this ex-
empti0n was In the nature Of q special
privilege,-though think It was 80 In
appearance rather than In fact,-we
6nd that the courts have nullihed II
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 lncorpora.
tioni II II be proper for men to form,
BY fusion Of existing corporations Or
otherwise, q corporation that controls
the entire production Of Z commodity.
or a large part Of 1t, why ID 1t not
proper for q group Of farmers to unite
for the marketing Of their common
products, either In one or In several
selling agenciesi Why should It be
right for 4 hundred thousand corporate
shareholders to direct Is Or 80 or 10
per cent Of an industry. and wrong for
hundred thousand cooperative
farmers to control q no larger proper.
tion Of the wheat crop, or cotton, Or
any other product
The Department Of Agriculture b
often spoken Of q q special concession
to the farmers, but In its commercial
results, 1t ID Of - much bens6t to the
buyers and consumers Of agricultural
products ~ to the producers. or even
more. I do not suppose that anyone
opposes the benefits that the farmers
derive from the educational and ~
search work Of the department. Or the
help that It gives them In working sut
improved cultural methods and psae.
tees, in developing better yielding N.
rieties through breeding and sslscfiea,
In introducing new varieties from ~
mote parts Of the world and adapting
them to our climate and economic con-
dition, and In devisins 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
- stimulate and enlarge production,
ah1 their general beneficial effects are
pbyious
Il IL complained that, whereas the
law restricts Federal Reserve banks
to three months time for commercial
paper, the farmer 10 allowed six
months on his notes. This is not 4
special privilege, but merely such .
recognition Of business conditions ~
makes 1t possible for country banks
to do business with country people.
The crop farmer has only one turn.
over a year. while the merchant and
manufacturer have many. incidental
ly, note that the Federal Reserve
Board has Just authorized the ~
eral Reserve banks to discount expest
paper for period OF six months, y
conform to the nature Of the b1A-
ness.
The Farm Loan banks are polAted
10 as an instance Of special govern
ment favor for tanners. Are they not
rather the outcome Of laudable efforts
to equallze rural and urban condi-
tions? And about all the government
does there Is to help set up an ad.
ministratlye organization and lend q
little credit At the start. Eventually
the farmers will provide all the CAPT.
tai and carry all the liabilities them.
selves. 1t is true that Farm iAan
bonds are tax exempt; but 30 are
bonds OF municipal light and traction
plants. and new housing IL to be ex.
empt 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.
dreds Of millions annually spent on
the merchant marine; he reads that
the railways are being favored with
increased rates and virtual guarantees
Of earnings BY the government, with
the result to him Of an increased toll
on all that he sells and all that he
buys. He hears Of many manifesto.
tions Of governmental concern for par.
tlcular industries and interests. Res
cujng the railways from insolvency q
undoubtedly for the benent Of the
country az q whole, but what can BE-
Of more general bsne6t than sncour.
agement Of ample production Of the
principal necessaries Of life and their
even fiow from contented producers 10
satisfied consumersi
While 1t may DO conceded that
special governmental aid may b. nee.
essary In the general interest, ~ must
all agree that II is difacult to ~ why
agriculture and the production and dis
tribution of farm products are not &C.
corded the same opportunities that are
provided for other businesses; ssps.
clally as the enjoyment BY the farmer
Of such opportunities would appear y
be even more contributory to The go
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