The Ontario Argus. (Ontario, Or.) 1???-1947, 1922-03-23

spOllagc, waste, scarcity, the results
Of defective distribution OF farm prod
ucts. Should It not occur to us that
we have n common interest with the
farmer In his attempts to attain de-
gree OF efficiency In distribution cor
responding TO his efficiency in produc-
tlon7 DO not the recent fluctuations
in the May wheat option, apparently
unrelated to normal interaction OF
supply and demand, offer timely
proof OF the need Of some such stabil-
lzlng agency as the grain growers have
In contemplation
II ls contended that, II their pro-
posed organizations be perfected and
operated. the farmers will have In
their hands an instrument that will be
capable OF dangerous abuse. We are
told that II will be possible TO pervert
II to arbitrary and oppressive price
fixing from It's legitimate use of order
ing and stablllzIng the flow Of farm
products to the market, TO the mutual
benefit OF producer and consumer.
have no apprehensions on this point.
In the first place, a loose organiza.
tlon, such as any union Of farmers
must be at best, cannot be so arbi.
trarily and promptly controlled as a
great corporation. The one ls lum.
bering democracy and the other an agile
autocracy. In the second place, with
all possible power OF org inization, the
farmers cannot succeed 10 any great
extent. or for any considerable length
Of time, In fixing prices. The great
law OF supply and demand works In
various and surprising ways, TO the
undolng Of the best laid plans that
attempt TO foil II. In the third place,
their power will avail the farmers
nothing n Il be abused. In our tim,
and country power Is Of value TO lts
possessor only 20 long ns II is not
abused. II Is fair 10 say that have
seen no signs In responsible quarters
OF disposition 70 dlctnte prices
There seems, on the contrary, TO be .
commonly beneficial purpose to realize
a stability that will give an orderly
and abundant now OF farm products
to the consumer and ensure reasonable
and dependable returns TO the pro.
ducer.
In view q the supreme Importance
10 the national well.belng OF a pros
porous and contented agricultural pop
ulntlon, we should be prepared TO &c
a long way In assisting the farmers te
get an equitable share OF the wealth
they produce, through the inaugura
ton OF reforms that will procure
continuous and increasing stream OF
farm products. They are far from get
ting fair share now. Considering
his capital and the long hours OF labor
nut In by the average farmer and his
family, he IL remunerated less than
any other occupatlonal class, with tho
possible exception OF teachers, rell
gious and lay. Though we know that
the present general distress OF IN,
farmers Ia exceptional and is linked
with the inevitable economic readjust
ment following the war. II must be
remembered that. although represent
Ing one third OF the Industrial product
and half the total population OF the
nation, the rural communities ordi
narlly enjoy hut n iifth 10 quarter Of
the net annual national gain. Notwith
standing the taste ~ prosperity that
the farmers had during the war. there
ls today Il lower standard OF living
among the cotton farmers OF the South
than In any other pursuit In the country
In conclusion, II seems 10 me that the
farmers are chiefly striving for gen
ernlly beneficial lntegratlon OF theii
business OF the same kind and charac
ter that other business enjoys. II II
should be found on examination that
the attainment OF this end requires
methods different from those which
other activities have followed for the
same purpose should we not sympf
thetically consider the plea for the
right 10 cooperate, II only from OuI
own enlightened self Interest, In ob
tanning an abundant and steady dow Of
farm productsf
In examining the agricultural sltua
ton with a view TO its Improvement
we shall be most helpful II We main
tain a detached and judicial viewpoint
remembering that existing wrongs may
he chiefly an accident OF unsymmetri
cal economic growth instead OF crea'
ton OF maleyolent design and conspira
cy We Americans are prone. as Pro
fessOr David Friday well says In HE
admirable book, PROFITS, Wages and
Prices" TO seek "criminal intent be
hind every difticult and undesirable eco
nomic situation" l can positively as
sert from my contact with men Of
large affairs, including bankers, that
as a whole, they are endeavorins TO
fulfn as they see them the obligations
that 20 with their power. Preoceupied
with the grave problems and heavy
tasks Of their own immediate affairs,
they have not turned their thoughtful
personal attention or their eonstrue-
tive abilities TO the deficiencies OF agrl'
cultural business organization. Agri'
culture. Il may be said. suffers from
their preoccupation and neglect rather
than from any purposeful exploitation
by them. They ought now TO begin TO
respond 10 the farmers dlniculties.
which they must realise are their own.