Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1922-01-26
III


Now that the farmers are stirring, |
thinking, and uniting as never before |
to eradicate these inequalities, they |
are subjected to stern economic lee
lures, and are met with the accusation |
that they are demanding, and are the
recipients Of, special privileges. Let
us see what privileges the government
has conferred on the farmers. Much
has been made of Section Of the
Clayton Antitrust Act, which pur
ported to permit them to combine with
immunity, under certain conditions.
Admitting that, nominally, this ex-
emption was In the nature of special
privilege,-though think 1t was so In
appearance rather than In fact,-we
find that the courts have nulliffed II
by judicial Interpretation. Why should
not the farmers be permitted to &C
c0mplish by cooperative methods what
other businesses are already doing by
cooperation in the form of incorpora
ton? II 1t be proper for men to form,
by fusion of existing corporations Or
otherwise, a corporation that controls
the entire production of commodity
or a large part Of 1t, why Is II not
proper for a group Of farmers to unite
for the marketing Of their common
products, either In one or In several
selling agencies2 Why should 1t be
right for a hundred thousand corporate
shareholders to direct 25 or 30 or 40
per cent of an industry, and wrong for
d hundred thousand cooperative
farmers to control no larger proper,
ton of the wheat crop, or cotton, or
any other productf
The Department of Agriculture Is
often spoken of as special concession
to the farmers, but In its commercial
results, 1t is of as much benefit to the
| buyers and consumers of agricultural
/ products as to the producers, or even
/ more / do not suppose that anyone
opposes the benefits that the farmers
derive from the educational and re
search work Of the department, or the
/ help that IL gives them In working out
improved cultural methods and prac-
tees, in developing better yielding va
rieties through breeding and selection,
In introducing new varieties from re-
/ nI0IG DdTBS III InS WIN O&A1 NA10RSAAA6
them to our climate and economic con-
dition. and in devising practical meas
ures for the elimination or control OF
dangerous and destructive animal and
plant diseases, insect pests, and the
like. All these things manifestly tend
to stimulate and enlarge production
and their general beneficial effects are
obvious.
1t is complained that, whereas the
law restricts Federal Reserve banks
to three months time for commercial
paper. the farmer Is allowed si1
months on his notes. This Is not I
special privilege, but merely such I
recognition OF business conditions al
makes 1t possible for country bank:
to do business with country people
The crop farmer has only one turn
over a year, while the merchant AMI
manufacturer have many. Incidental
ly. | note that the Federal Reserv'
, Board has just authorized the Fed
eral Reserve banks to discount expOr
paper for . period of six months. t
: conform to the nature of the bust
ness.
The Farm Loan banks are pointel
TO as an instance Of special govern
ment favor for farmers. Are they no
rather the outcome of laudable effort
to edualize rural and urban condl
!. tions7 And about all the government
does there is to help set up an ad
ministratiye organization and lend
little credit at the start. Eventual
the farmers will provide all the cap
! tai and carry all the liabilities then
! selves. II is true that Farm Loa
! bonds are tax exempt; but SO ar
2 bonds of municipal light and tractio
plants. and new housing Is to be q
= empt from taxation, In New York, fo
= ten years.
= On the other hand, the farmer read
) Of plans for municipal housing pro
= ects that run into the billions, OF hun
fireds Of millions annually spent 0
the merchant marine; he reads tbs
!. the railways are being favored wit
= Increased rates and virtual guarantee
y of earnings by the government, wit
: the result to him Of an increased to
s on all that he sells and all that /
y buys. He hears of many manifesto
= lions of governmental concern for pa
ticular industries and interests Re
: cuing the railways from insolvency
= undoubtedly for the benefit of q
y country rs a whole, but what can |
$ of more general benefit than encou
= agement OF ample production Of Il
y principal necessaries Of life and the
y even flow from contented producers
- satisfied consumers7
= While 1t may be conceded tn
: special governmental aid may be ne
:, essary in the general interest. we mu
= all agree that 1t Is difficult to see WI
- agriculture and the production and d
: trIbution OF farm products are not q
= corded the same opportunities that a
? provided for other businesses; esu
y cially as the enjoyment by the farm
~ of such opportunities would appear
IL .sws..~ v.NAme onv4%p5SxV4k.vv, A. A. =.