The Filer record. (Filer, Idaho) 1919-1930, 1922-01-26


farmers grievances. and see how fsf
they are real In doing so. We should
remember that. while there have been,
and still are, Instances OF purposeful
abuse. the subject should not be sp
preached with any general lmputatioD
10 existing dlstributiss agencies Of de
libsrately Intentional oppression, Dat
rather with the conception that the
marketing OF farm products has not
been modernized
An ancien, evil. and q persistent
one. IL the undergrading OF farm prod
uets with the result that what the
farmers sell as OF one quality Is ss
sold as OF higher. That this sort OF
chIcanery should persist on any I'm
ness integrity would seem almost 10
credible. but there Ia much evidence
that Il does so persist Even as
write. the newspapers announce the
suspension OF several arms from the
New York Produce Exchange for Ell
porting 10 Germany ss No. wheat o
whole shipload of grossly Inferior whea'
mixed with oats. char and the like.
Another evil 10 that Of Inaccurate
weighing ~ farm products. which. II
10 charged. Is sometimes . matter OF
dishonest intention and sometimes OF
protective policy on the part Of the
local buyer. who fears that he may
weigh out more than he weighs In"
A greater grievance 10 that At pres
ent the neld farmer has little or nc
control over the tlms and conditions
or marketing his products with the
result that he 10 often undsrpaid Tor
his products and usually oyerchsrged
FOR marketing service. The dlfrer
sncs between what the farmer re
ceives and what the consumer pays
often exceeds all possibility Of justi
ncstion To cite q single Illustration
last year. according to figures attest
ed by the railways aud the growers.
Georgia watsrmelon.rsIscrs received
on the average T.o cents for q melon.
the railroads got i2.r cents for carry |
Ing Il Ia baltimore and the consumer
paid enc dollar. leaving 7eS cents for
the service Of marketing and Ito risks.
az against 2o2 cents for growing and
transporting The hard annals Of |
rsrm.life are rsplete with such com
on the cruden~ss " pres
rnt practices.
Nature pr~scrlbes that the farmers
goods must be finished within two
~ three months Of the year. while
and storage limitations gen
rrally compel him 10 sell thstn at the
zane tine. A. a rule. other industries
are in continuous process OF nnish
nx socds Tor the markets: they dis
ribate ~ they produce. and they can
'urtali production without too great
nlurs 10 themselves or the eemmu
,lty; but n the fssmer restricts his
,utput. 4 Is With dlsasirou. eonss
lnences. both 10 himself aud to IN.
The average farmer IL busy With
production for the major part % the
lssr. ant has nethlns 10 sell. rhe
'nlk OF his output COMES ga the mar
lei at once Because Of lack % stos
Igs facilities and % financial support 4
he fsrusf csnnst carry his socsis
hrongh the year and dispose of them
- they are curreniiy needed. In the
reas majority " cases, farmers have
. sntrust stersx~--in warehouses snd
lssators ana the financial carryinS
{ their products ~ others
Farm products srs generally mar
eted at time when there - . eon
sstiea u both transportation and
ears 49, noosy ars
car y The outcome Ia mary Ia
,asSes, i that the farmers net ony
sll under pressure. and therefore a.
disadvantage. bot are compelled e.
axe further reductions IN net rssurtss
> order 10 meet the chxrses Tor ne
srslee u stefias. transporting. ehsae
~. and ultimate marketing ~hich
hsrxes they claim. are ofsea exces
I've. bear heavily On 18th consumer
nj prodaces and are under tae coa
rel 81 these performing tho services
IL true that trey are relieved %
he risks - q changing market bs
n. -