The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1922-02-10

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 6 Of the
Clayton Antitrust Act, which pur-
ported to permit them to combine with
immunity, under certain conditions.
Admitting that, %nominally, this ex-
emptiOn was In the nature Of a special
privilege,-though think II was so In
appearance rather than in fact,-we
find that the courts have nullifed Il
by judicial Interpretation. Why should
not the farmers be permitted to ac-
compllsh by cooperative methods what
other businesses are already doing by
cooperation in the form Of incorpora.
ton? II ii be proper for men to form,
by fusion Of existing corporations or
otherwise, a corporation that controls
the entire production Of a commodity,
or a large part Of 1t, why Is II not
proper for a group Of farmers to unite
for the marketing Of their common
products, either In one or In several
selling agencies? Why should 1t be
right for a hundred thousand corporate
shareholders to direct % or 80 or 40
per cent of an industry, and wrong for
a hundred thousand cooperative
farmers to control a no larger proper
ton Of the wheat crop, or cotton. or
any other product2
The Department Of Agriculture Is
often spoken Of as a special concession
to the farmers, but In It's commercial
results. II Is OF as 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 ana re-
search work Of the department, or the
helm that II gives them In working out
improved cultural methods and prac-
tees, In developing better yielding va
rieties through breeding and selection.
In introducing new varieties from re-
mote parts Of the world and adapting
them to our climate and economic con.
ditlon. and in devising practical meas.
ures for the elimination or control or
dangerous and destructive animal and
plant diseases, insect pests, and the
like All these things manifestly tend
70 stimulate and enlarge production,
and their general beneficial effects are
obvious.
1t 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 a
special privilege, but merely such a
recognition Of business conditions as
makes it 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
" 7 note that the Federal Reserve
Board has just authorized the Fed
eral Reserve banks to discount export
for a period Of six months, TO
conform to the nature OF the busi'
ness.
The Farm Loan banks are pointed
70 as an instance Of special govern
ment favor for farmers. Are they not
rather the outcome Of laudable efforts
IN eoualize rural and urban condi-
lions And about all the government
does there Is to help set up an ad'
ministratlve organization and lend q
little credit at the start. Eventually
the farmers will provide all the capi'
tai and carry all the Liabilities them
selves It Is true that Farm Loan
bonds are tax exempt; but so are
bonds of municipal light and traction
nlants and new housing Is to be ex
empt from taxation, In New York, FOL
ten years.
On the other hand. the farmer read:
Of plans for municipal housing prof.
ects that run into the billions, OF nun
dreds Of millions annually spent OF
the merchant marine; he reads tina
the railways are being favored witt
Increased rates and virtual guarantee
of earnings by the government, Wit
tho result to him Of an increased tol
On all that he sells and all that n
buvs He hears Of many manifesto
lions OF governmental SOhNSAh " ~
ticular industries and interests. Res
cuing the railways from insolvency
undoubtedly for the benefit OF tn
copntry as a whole, but what can b
of more general benefit than encour
agement OF ample production OF tn
principal n%ecessarles Of life and thei
even flow from contented producers t
satisfied consumersP
While 1t may be conceded tina
snecial governmental aid may be me-
essary in the general interest, We mus
all agree that It Is difficult TO see VIII
agriculture and the production and di:
trlbution of farm products are not a.
corded the same opportunities that al
nrovided for other businesses; esp
cially as the enjoyment by the farmt
OF such opportunities would appear
he eve more c%ontrlbutory to the gel
.ra, good than In the case OF {