The Keota news., 1922-02-03
Some Aspects of the
Farmers Problems
BY BERNARD NJ BARUCH
" BERNARD M. BARUCH
Rsprin,ed from Atlantic Monthiy)

The Farm Loan banks af~ poihtru
10 as an instance Of special govern
msnr favor for farmers Arc they not
-a,h~, the outcome ef iandabie Efforts
20 eanallz- rural and urban eohdi'
sisn.f And about all the government
doe. there 10 TO help set up an aa'
ninis,rutiye organization and lend
i,stie errsii. at the start. Eventually
the farmers will provide all the eapi-
tai and carry all tho liabilities Them
selves, II 10 true that Farm Loan
hsnsls are tax exempt; but ~ are
bonds Of municipal light and traction
pianr. and n-s housing 10 Ia be c1r
~t.ap. from taxation. 10 Nes York. for
,rh years
On the other hand. the farmer r~aas
ss plans for municipal housing prof.
s-cts that run into the billions. Of hun
8rris Of million. annually spent on
.hr merchant marine he reads That
the railways arc being favored with
inerras~s rates and virtual guarantees
Of earnings by thr government with
rhs r~sti. to him 6t an 'ncscasrd toll
m ali that he sells and ali that he
.fS.as of governmental conecsn tor PAT
tisSitar industries and ihtcrrsss isrsr
sains tho railways from Insolvency IL
ans,subtcs,ly fog tho benefit gf .he
country az a whole. but What can bS
of moro general b~nrt,t Than rnesur-
uert,~ns Of ample production of The
principal S~erssari~s of life and thrif
sr~n DO. from eeascnt~a producers to
satisfied eonsnsn~rst
While II may b~ eone~e.ca that
.b~cssi governmental aid may be nee
es.asy IN the general Interest. - mus,
all agree that II is aiEtscais to .r~ Why
agriculture and thc production and dis
.sshution Of farm products arc not &C.
corded the eAtnc opportunities that are
provided for other businesses: ~sp~a
cisrly ss the enjoyment by the farmer
oe such opportunities would appear to
- s~vn maee eonsrihu.ery 10 the srn.
sral good than IN tho case os other
Industries. The SPIRIT of American
democracy i. unaitcrasiy opposed.
alike Ia enacted special privilege and
10 the special psiviIeoe es unequal ep.
parsvnity that arises automatically
from the failure 10 eorress orarino
economic inequalities I ann opposes.
to the Injection Of government into
business. but do believe that IL is an
essential function ef democratic gov.
eminent to cauaIIse opportunity so
far a. 4. IL within its power to do ...
whether by the repeal Of archaic
"a
ones. II the antitrust laws keep the
farmers from ent!cavorins scientifically
to intrrrate their industry while other
Industries And a war to meet modern
conditions without violating such stat.
utrs. then II would sccrn rca asanahle
to and way for the farmers to meet
them under the same conditions The
law should operate equally In fact. Re.
pairing the economic structure on one
side IL no Injustice to the other side,
~hich IL In good repair.
We have Travelled q long way from
the old conception of government az
merely a defensive and policing agency
and feeulatlve. corrective or crualls.
ing legislation, which apparently IL oi
special nature. IL often OF the most
general beneficial consequences. Even
the First Congress passed . tariff act
that ~ss sroweily for the protection
Of manufacturers; hut a protective
tariff always has been defended as 4
means of promoting the general good
through particular approach: and
the statute books are filled with acts
for the benef't Of shipping. commerce.
aud labor.