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

"
Now. what Is the farmer asking?
without trying 10 catalogue the re-
medal measures that have been sug-
gested in his behalf, the principal pro-
posals that bear directly on the I'm
provement Of his distributing and mar
keting relations may be summarized as
follows
First: storage warehouses for cot
ton, wool, and tobacco, and elevators
for grain, OF sufficient capacity to meet
the maximum demand on them at the
peak Of the marketing period. The
farmer thinks that either private capt.
tai must furnish these facilities, or the
state must erect and own the eleva-
tors and warehouses.
Second: weighing and grading Of
agricultural products, and certlfication
thereof, to be done by impartial and
disinterested public inspectors (this Is
already accomplished to some extent
By the federal licensing Of weighers
and graders). to eliminate underpay-
Ing, oyercharging, and unfair grading,
and to facilitate the utilization Of the
stored products as the basis Of credit.
Third certainty of credit sufficient
to enable the marketing of products
in an orderly manner.
Fourth: the Department of Agricul
ture should collect, tabulate, summa
rize, and regularly and frequently pub
lish and distribute to the farmers. full
Information from all the markets OF
the world, so that they shall be as well
informed Of their selling position as
buyers now are Of their buying posi-
ton
Fifth: freedom to integrate the bust
ness OF agriculture by means Of con-
solidated selling agencies, co-ordinat-
ing and cooperating in such way as to
put the farmer on an equal footing
with the large buyers of his products,
and with commercial relations In other
Industries.
When business requires specialized
talent, 1t has to buy IT, SO will the
farmers; and perhaps the best way for
them to gst It would be to utilize some
OF the present machinery Of the lars-
vt established agencies deaiinx In
farm products. OF course, IL he wishes.
the farmer may 90 further and engage
In hour-milling and other manufa ctures
Of food products. In my opinion
however. he would be wise to stop
short Of that. Public interest may be
opposed to all great integrations but
In justice. should they be forbidden to
the farmer and permitted to others7
The corporate form Of association can.
not now be wholly adapted to his Oh
Jects and conditions The looser CO.
operative form seems more generally
suitable. Therefore, he wishes to be
free, II he finds 1t desirable and feas.
ible, to resort to cooperation with his
fellows and neighbors. without run.
ming afoul Of the law. To urge that
the farmers should have the same lib.
erty to consolidate and coordinate
their peculiar economic functions
which other industries In their fields
enjoy, Is not, however, to concede that
any business indignation should have
legislative sanction to exercise monon.
olistic power. The American peonje
are as firmly opposed to Industrial a .
to political autocracy, whether ar.
tempted by rural or by urban industry
For lack OF united effort the farmer,
AZ whole are still marketing their |
crops by antiqusted methods or nv M |
methods at all, but they are sarrounded |
by business world that has hsan
modernlzed 10 the last mlngt. and 4.
urelessly striving Tor efficiency This
emciency Is due In large measure 10
big business, 10 united business "a IN.
Lssrstsd business. The farmers now
seek the benefits u such lsrgensss mn.
on snd lotesration. S
The American farmer Is 9 modern q,
he m"derns In the use o. lsbor ssylns
machinery, snd he has made 80,
'trdes 10 recent yesrs la sas.,lsa
lllAss and eficisnf fsrm msnassnsa,
'ut ~ business IN contact ~itb oths,
businesses agriculture II eaas Aoys,
'hsf' W competition siih hlxh no.ss,
automobiles ans Amsncan farmss
~ sfesissl and nost lnlrsasbls y,
ps','aaallssa Walls lnaussflsl NIX
iHfslaa ehe ~ phsses 81 ths h,,s. XXX
Asfe9s' ineaAau'sm ana 10 .Ayrad .e
'sssef'ss hYYf sulculslsa I'D co~sgal
ssssa uisWss - ell ths eay lsnu hi,
iiei fHH NHistisls " l8f6l ..l.
lavlNfss y aA gl,agg IA ="
pase ~ alf aFp fsshlae y NJ tsss
ssasg N lhs 49, Ian N IN 9ls.