The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1922-02-10

Ausiness of agriculture has gone on In
much the one man fashion Of the back.
woods Of the first part Of the nine.
teenth century, when the farmer was
self sufficient and did not depend upon,
or care very much, what the great
world was doing. The result Is that
the agricultural group is almost as
much at a disadvantage In dealing with
other economic groups as the jay farm
er Of the funny pages in the hands Of
sleek urban confidence men, who sell
him acreage In Central Park or the
Chicago city hall. The leaders Of the
farmers thoroughly understand this,
and they are in~telllgently striving to
~integrate their Industry SO that 1t will
be on an equal footing with other busi-
nesses.
AS an example of Indignation, take
the steel industry, In which the model
Is the United States Steel Corporation.
with It's iron mines, It's coal mines, It's
lake and rail transportation, Its ocean
vessels, It's b%y-product coke ovens, its
blast furnaces, its open hearth and
BeSsemer furnaces, It's rolling mills, Its
tube mills and other manufacturing
processes that are carried to the high.
est degree Of finished production com
patible with the large trade 1t has
built up. All this is generally conced-
ed TO be 10 the advantage OF the con.
sumner. Nor does the steel corporation
inconsiderately dump It's products on
the market. On the contrary, 1t so
acts that 1t Is frequently a stablllzlng
influence, as Is often the case with 9th
er large organizations. 1t Is master OF
Its distribution as well as OF It's pro
duction. If prices are not satisfactory
the products are held back or produc-
ton is reduced or suspended. 1t Is not
compelled to send a years work TO the
market at one time and take whatever
II can get under such circumstances
1t has one selling policy and Its w
export department. Neither are the
grades and qualities Of steel determin
ed at the caprice Of the buyer, nor does
the latter hold the scales. In this sin
gle Indignation Of the steel corporation
Is represented about 40 per cent OF the
steel production OF America. The rest
Is mostly In the hands Of a few large
companies. In ordinary times the
steel corporation, by example, stabilizes
all steel prices. If this is permissible
cit is even desirable, because stable
and fair prices are essential to solid
and continued prosperity why would
II be wrong for the farmers to utilize
central agencies that would have SINH
tar effects on agricultural products?
Something like that Is what they are
aiming at.
Some farmers favored by regional
compactness and cOntiguity, such as the
citrus-fruit-ralsers OF California, al
ready have found a way legally to
merge and sell their products Int,
orally and In accordance with seasonal
and local demand, thus improving
their position and rendering the con
sumer a reliable service Of ensured
quality, certain supply, and reasonable
and relatively steady prices. They
have not found 1t necessary 10 resort
to any special privilege, or to claim
any exemption under the antitrust
, legislation Of the state or nation. With.
out removing local control, they have
built I'D q very efficient marketing
agency. The grain, cotton, and to-
bacco farmers, and the producers Of
hides and wool, because OF their mum
bers and the vastness OF their regions.
and for other reasons, have found
Indignation a more difficult task
though there are now some thousands
Of farmers cooperative elevators
warehouses, creameries. and other en-
terprises Of one sort and another, with
q turnover Of a billion dollers a year.
They are giving the farmers business
experience and training, and, so far
as they go, they meet the need of
honest weighing and fair grading but
they do not meet the requirements OF
nationally adjusted marketing in any
large and fundamental way.
The next step, which will be a pat
tern for other groups, Is now being
prepared by the grain-raisers through
the establishment Of sales media which
shall handle grain separately or col
lectively, as the individual farmer may
elect. 1t is this step-the plan OF the
Committee Of Seventeen-which has
created so much opposition and Is
thought by some to be In conflict with
the antitrust laws. Though there Is
now before congress a measure de-
signed to clear up doubt on this point
the grain-producers are not relying or
any immunity from antitrust legisla
ton. They desire, and they are en-
titled, 10 coordinate their efforts just
as effectively as the large business In
terests Of the country have done. Ir
connection with the selling organiza
tons the United States Grain Grower:
Incorporated Is drafting a scheme o.
financing instrumentalities and auxili
airy agencies which are indispensable
to the successful utilization Of modern
business methods.
1t Is essential that the farmer!
should proceed gradually with thes'