Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1922-01-19

10 s.A0$As WuuS tuC kICN
world was doing. The result Is tina
the agricultural group is almost
much at disadvantage in dealing witt
other economic groups as the jay farm
er OF the funny pages In the hands
sleek urban confidence men, who sci
him acreage In Central Park or til.
Chicago city hall. The leaders Of til.
farm ers thoroughly understand this
and'they are intelligently striving t,
integrate their industry so that it vii
be on an equal footing with other bust
nesses.
AS an example Of Indignation, tax,
the steel industry, In which the mode
Is the United States Steel Corporation
with Its iron mines, its coal mines, it,
lake and rail transportation, its ocea1
vessels, Its. by-product coke ovens, it.
blast furnaces. its open hearth ant
Bessemer furnaces. its rolling mills, 1t.
tube mills and other manufacturing
processes that are carried to the high
est degree Of finished production com
patible with the large trade 1t ha!
built up. All this Is generally conced
ed to be to the advantage of the con
sumer. Nor does the steel corporation
inconsiderately dump It's products OF
the market. On the contrary, 1t 81
acts that it is frequently stabilizinl
Influence, as Is often the case with 9th
er large organizations. 1t is master Of
Its distribution as well as Of its pro
duction. If prices are not satisfactor,
the products are held back or produc
ton Is reduced or suspended. 1t Is no,
compelled to send years work to the
market at one time and take whatever
1t can get under such circumstances
1t has one selling policy and its OWE
export department. Neither are the
grades and qualities of steel determif,
ed at the caprice of the buyer, nor doe.
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 res,
Is mostly In the hands Of few large
companies. In ordinary times the
steel corporation, by example, stabilize.
all steel prices. II this is permissible
lit Is even desirable, because stable
and fair prices are essential to solid
and continued prosperity why would
1t be wrong for the farmers to utilize
central agencies that would have SINH.
lar effects on agricultural productsi
Something like that is what they are
aiming at.
Some farmers favored by regional
compactness and contiguity, such as the
cltrus-fruit-raisers Of California. a.
ready have found 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.
sumner 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 a very efficient marketing
agency. The grain, cotton, and to-.
bacco farmers, and the producers Of
hides and wool, because Of their num-
bers andAthe vastness Of their regions
and for other reasons, have found
indignation q more difficult task:
though there are now Some thousands.
OF farmers cooperative elevators,
warehouses, creameries, and other en-.
terprises Of one sort and another, with
a turnover of a 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
large and fundamental way, s
The next step, which Will be a nat.
tern for other groups, is now being
prepared by the grain;raisers through
the establishment Of sales media which
sfla!l handle grain separately or col
lectively, as the individual farmer may
elect. 1t Is this step-the plan of the
Committee Of Seventeen-which has
created so much opposition and Is
thought by some to be In conflict with
the antitrust laws. Though there is
now before congress q measure de-
signed to clear up doubt on this point.
the grain-producers are not relying on
any immunity from antitrust legisla.
ton. They desire. and they are en-.
titled, to coordinate their efforts just
as effectively as the large business in.
terests Of the country have done. In
connection with the selling orranlza.
tions the United States Grain Growers
Incorporated Is drafting scheme Of
financing instrumentalities and auxill.
airy agencies which are Indispensable
to the successful utilization Of modern
business methods.
1t Is essential that the farmers
should proceed gradually with. these
plans, and aim to avoid the error of
the existing marketing ma
which has been SO laborIously
built up by long experience. before
they have a tried and proved substl-
tute or supplementary mechanism.
They must .be careful not to become
In their own reforms and
ose the perspective OF their place ii,
he national system. They must guard
against fanatical devotion to new doe