Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1922-02-10

~ ieiectIVe distribution ~ "a,
ucfs. Should it not ocen, ,a'N 81 81
We nave q common interesf VIII II s. s
farmer IN his attempts to at,. 4 y
gree OF efficiency in d..trJbsti 4
responding to his eaielence '"a 3 u
tlon2 Do not the Feceat ana, N9 M
IN the May wheat opt4n ana a'' S
unrelated to normal lntera1g
supply and demand. offer sc
PROOF Of the need of some sueb n
Nlns agency as The grain grove.s " N
IN contemplation?
It Is contended that, If tbs, @
posed organizations be perfect., NE
operated, the farmers will n,
their hands an Instrument that
capable of dangerous abuse
told that It will be possible to +
1t to arbitrary and oppressive
fixing from its legitimate use Of a
ing aud stabllizing the Aow q, 4
products 10 The market, to the ne
benefit of producer and consuma
have no apprehensions on this od.
In the first place, loose oros,.
ton, such as any union Of fam.
must be at best, cannot be 81 i
trarily and promptly controlled :,
great corporation. The one ls
bering democracy and the other anss
autocracy. In the second place y
all possible power of org .nizatIoD /,
farmers cannot succeed to any M
extent, or for any considerable lpur
Of time. In fixing prices. The g,ss
law of supply and demand work;
various and surprising ways to Il
undoing of the best laid plans lts
attempt to foil it. In the third MAS
their power will avail the farmer
nothing if 1t be abused. In our TIM
and country power is OF value to
possessor only so long as It Is n
abused 1t is fair to say that han
seen no signs In responsible quarta
Of a disposition to dictate prc
There seems, on the contrary, to be
commonly beneficial purpose to resli
stability that will give an ordss
and abundant flow Of farm prods
to the consumer and ensure reason
and dependable returns to the T.
Queer.
In view Of the supreme lmportiN
to the national well-being Of a pfa
porous and contented agricultural W
ulatlon, we should be prepared To-
long way In assisting the farmers
get an equitable share Of the wes
they produce, through the inaugu
ton of reforms that will procure
continuous and increasing stream
farm products. They are far from
ting fair share now. Consider
his capital and the long hours OF Ia
put in by the average farmer and
family, he Is remunerated less
any other occupational class, with
possible exception Of teachers.
gious and Lay. Though we know
the present general distress OF
farmers Is exceptional and Is ia
with the inevitable economic read
ment following the war, II must
remembered that, although repres
Ing one-third of the Industrial prod
and half the total population OF
nation, the rural communities or
narily enjoy but a fifth to quarter
the net annual national gain. Notwl
standing the taste of prosperity {
the farmers had during the war, tn
Is today a lower standard OF llv
among the cotton farmers Of the Sol
than In any other pursuit In the count
In conclusion, 1t seems to me that
farmers are chiefly striving for g
orally beneficial indignation Of tn
business, Of the same kind and char
ter that other business enjoys. II
should be found on examination II
the attainment Of this end reQulI
methods different from those viii
other activities have followed for
same purpose should we not sym,
thetIcally consider the plea for
right to cooperate, II only from 0
own enlightened self interest, In
tanning an abundant and steady how
farm products?
In examining the agricultural stu
ton with view to Its improvement
we shall be most helpful Ii we mall
tain detached and judicial ylewpdn
remembering that existing wrongs ma
be chiefly an accident Of unsymmetH
cal economic growth instead OF crea
lion of malevolent design and conspira
". We Americans are prone, as Pro
lessor David Friday well says in nl
admirable book, Profits, Wages ana
'rices," to seek criminal Intent "
lind every difficult and undesirable eco
ionic situation" I can positiveV ~
ert from my contact with men VI
arge affairs. including bankers, tnas
IS whole, they are endeayorlng y
ulfill as they see them the obllgatloD'
hat go with their power. PreoccupaeS
nth the grave problems and hes"
asks Of their own immediate ans'is
hey hays not turned their thougn'iu'
ersonsl attention or their consffuv
We abilities to the deficiencies OF sSn
lltursl business organization. AZ
llture. It may be said, suffers ~.
lsir preoccuDation and neglect rsIas.