The Clay City times. [volume] (Clay City, Ky.) 1901-current, 1922-02-09
Y

To take tolerant and sympathetic
view Of the farmers strlvIngs for bet
ter things Is not to give blanket
endorsement 10 any specific plan, and
still less 10 applaud the vagaries of
some OF their leaders and groups.
Neither should we. on the other hand.
allow the froth Of bitter agitation,
false economies. and mistaken radical
ism to conceal the facts Of the farm
ers' disadvaI ages, and the pra ctlcabil-
ity of eliminating them by we'll con
sidered measures. II may be that the
farmers will not show the business
sagacity and develop the wise leader
ship to carry through sound plans but
that possibility does not Justify the
obstruction Of their upward efforts.
We, as city people, see in high and
speculatlvely manipulated prices
spollage, waste, scarcity, the results
of defective distribution Of farm prod
ucts. Should it not occur to us that
we have a common interest with the
farmer In his attempts to attain a de-
gree OF efficiency in distribution cor
responding to his efficiency in produc-
ton? 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 stabll-
izing agency as the grain growers have
in contemplation?
1t 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 thar II will be possible to pervert
it to arbitrary and oppressive price
fixing from its legitimate use of order
ing and stabilizing 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-
tion, such as any union Of farmers
must be at best, cannot be so arbi-
trarily and promptly controlled as a
great corporation. The one is a lum-
bering democracy and the other an agile
autOcracy. In the second place, with
all possible power Of org nizatiOn, 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
undoing Of the best laid plans that
attempt to foil II. In the third place,
90 nrS
nothing If ii be abused. In our time
and country power Is Of value to its
possessor only so long as ii Is not
abused. II is fair 10 say that | have
seen no signs in responsible quarters
OF disposition TO dictate prices
There seems. on the contrary, to be a
commonly beneficial purpose TO realize
stability that will giv0 an orderly
and abundant flow of farm products
10 the consumer and ensure reasonable
and dependable returns to the pro-
Queer.
In view Of the supreme importance
10 the national well-being of pros
porous and contented agricultural pop
ulation. we should be prepared to go
n 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 n
continuous and increasing stream or
farm products. They are far from get
ting a fair share now. Considering
his capital and the long hours OF labor
nut In by the average farmer and his
family. he Is remunerated less IMAM
any other occupatiOnal class, with the
possible exception Of teachers, rell'
gious and lay. Though we know tla'
the present general distress or tht
farmers is exceptional and is linked
with the inevitable economic readJust
ment following the war, ii must be
remembered that. although represent
ing one-thlrd OF the Industrial product
and half the total population of Inc
nation. the rural communities ordl
narily enjoy but "A fifth To quarter OF
the net annual national gain. N"twith
standing the taste of prosperity ina
the farmers had during the war; ther'
Is today a lower standard Of livlnl
among the cotton farmers Of the Souti
than in any other pursuit In the country
In conclusion, II seems 10 me that TN
farmers are chiefly striving for gen
orally beneficial integration OF ihei
business. OF the same kind and characr
ter that other business enjoys. If J
should be found on examination ina
the attainment OF this end require
methods different from those wllcl
other activities 7haye followed for IN
same purpose should we not sympa
thetically consider the plea for th
right 10 cooperate. II only from op