Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1922-01-13

farmers thoroughly understand this,
and they are intelIigently striving to
integrate their industry so that it will
be on an equal footing with other bust
neSses
As an example of indignation, take
the steel industry. in which the model
is the United States Steel Corporation,
with its iron mines. its coal mines, its
lake and rail transportation, Its ocean
vessels, its by-product coke ovens, its
blast furnaces, its open hearth and
Bessemer furnaces. its 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 to the advantage of the con-
sumner. Nor does the steel corporation
mconsiderately dump its products on
the market On the contrary, it so
acts that ii is frequently Stabilizing
influence, as is often the case with 9TH
er large organizations. 1t is master Of
its distribution as well as OF its 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 years work to the
market at one time and take whatever
ii can get under such circumstances.
1t has one selling policy and its own
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 few large
companies. In ordinary times the
steel corporation, by example, stabiliZes
all steel prices. If this is permissible
Ut is even desirable, because stable
and fair prices are essential to solid
and continued prosperity why would
ii be wrong for the farmers 10 utilize
I central agencies that would have SINH
lar 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-raisers of California, al
ready have found way legally to
merge and sell their products inte-
orally and in accordance with seasonal
and local demand, thus improving
their position and rendering the con
sumer reliable service of ensured
quality. certain supply, and reasonable
and relatively steady prices. They
have not found it necessary to resort
to any special privilege. or to claim
any exemption under the antitrust
legislation of the state OF nation. With
out removing local control, they Lave
built up a very efficient marketing
agency. The grain, cotton, and to-
hacco farmers, and the producers Of
hides and wool. because of their mum.
bers and the Nastness of their regions
and for other reasons, have found
Indignation 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
a turnover of billion dollers 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, 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 ls
now before congress measure de-
signed to clear up doubt on this point,
the grain-producers are not relying on
any immunity from antitrust legisla-
ton. They desire. and they are en-
titled. to coordinate their efforts Just
as effectively as the large business in
terests of the country have done In
connection with the selling organZa
lions the United States Grain Growers
Incorporated Is drafting a scheme OF
financing Observation-Disclosures and auXili-
airy agencies which, are Indispensable
to the successful utilization of modern
business methods
1t Is essential that the farmers
should proceed gradually With these
plans, and aim to avoid the error OF
scrapping the existing marketing ma
chinery, which has been SO laboriously
built up by long experience. before
they have a tried and proved snbsti-
tute or supplementary mechanism
They must be careful not TO become
enaleshed In their own reforms and
lose the perspective of their place in
the national system. They must guard
against fanatica devotion IL new doe
trines, and should seek articulation
with the general economic system
rather than It's reckless destruction as
Il relates to them.