The patriot. (Glenmora, La.) 1918-1955, 1922-03-10

Sidered measures. l. may be that tn,
farmers will not show the bushes.
sagacity and develop the wise leader
ship to carry through sound plans; bu
hat possibility dc IS not justify the
obstruction Of their upward efforts
! We, rs city people, see IN high and
speculatively manipulated prices
spoilage, waste. scarcity, the results
OF defective distribution Of farm prod
ucts. Should it not occur TO lis that
we nave common interest with the
farmer in his attempts to attain a de.
gree OF efficiency in distribution cor
responding to his efficiency In produc-
uoA! DO not the recent fluctuations
IN ire May wheat option, apparently
uhreiated to normal interactfon of
supply and demand. offer a timely
PROOF OF the need Of some such stabil-
iz'ns agency as the grain growers have
IN contemplation?
AZ Is contended that, If 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 1t will be possible to pervert
1t 10 arbitrary and oppressive price
liking from its legitimate use of order
Ing and stabillzing the flow of farm
products to the market, to the mutual
benefit OF producer and consumer. I
nave no apprehensions on this point.
IN the first place, a loose organizs
ton. such us any union Of farmer
must be at best, cannot be so arbi-
trarily and promptly controlled as a
great corporation. The one Is lum-
bering democracy and the other an agile
autocracy. In the second place, with
all possible power Of org IMITATION, the
farmers cannot succeed to 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 It. In the third place,
their power will avail the farmers
nothing II 1t be abused. In our time
and country power Is Of value to Its
posSessor only so long as 1t is not
abused. 1t Is fair to say that I have
seen no signs In responsible quarters
of disposition to dictate prices.
There seems. on the contrary, to be q
commonly beneficial purpose to realize !
stability that will give an orderly !
and abundant flow of farm products |
TO the consumer and ensure reasonable |
and dependable returns to the pro-
Queer.
In view of the supreme Importance
to the national well-being Of a pros
porous and contented agricultural pop
ulation, we should be prepared to 90
a long way In assisting the farmers to
get an equitable share of the wealth
they produce, through the Inaugural
ton Of reforms that will procure a
continuous and increasing stream Of
farm products. They are far from get
ting q fair share now. Considering
his capital and the long hours of labor
put In by the average farmer and his
family. he Is remunerated less than
any other occupational class, with the
possible exception of teachers. reli-
gfous and lay. Though we know that
the present general distress of the
farmers is exceptional and Is linked
with the inevitable economic readjust-
ment following the war, it must be
that, although represent
ng one-third of the Industrial product
and half the total population Of the
nation, the rural communities ordi-
,arily enjoy but fifth to quarter Of
he net annual national gain. Notwith-
standing the taste Of prosperity that
he farmers had during the war, there.
s today a lower standard Of living
lmong the cotton farmers Of the South
han In any other pursuit In the country.
In conclusion, 1t seems to me that the
armers are chiefly striving for q gen.
rally beneficial indignation Of their
of the same kind and cha.ac-
er that other business enjoys. II 1t
hould be found on examination that
he attainment of this end requires
1ethods different from those which
Their activities have followed for the
anne purpose should we not sympa-
consider the plea for the
light TO cooperate, IL only from our
wn enlightened self interest; In OBJ
aiming an abundant and steady flow OF
arm products?
In examining the agricultural situa.
on with view to- its improvement,
e shall be most helpful If we main
In detached and judicial viewpoint,
that existing wrongs may
, chiefly an accident of unsymmetri-
Il economic growth instead Of crca-
on Of malevolent design and conspirA-
:. We Americans are prone, as Pro-
ssor David Friday well says in his
imirable book. profits. Wages and
rices," to seek criminal Intent be-
nd every difficult and undesirable eco
mic situation" l can positively as
1T from my contact with men of
rye affairs, including bankers. that.
! a whole, they are endeavoring to
It'll as they see them the obligations
at go with their power. Preoccupied
til the grave problems and heavy
SKIS Of their. own immediate affairs,
ey have not turned their thoughtful
rsonal attention or their construc-
re abilities to the deficiencies Of agri-
ltural business organization. Agrl-
lture, 1t may be said, suffers from