The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1922-01-27

the AKFlcuiSufui group - dainVSt az
much at d disadvantage In dealing with
other economic groups as the Jay farm
or 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 intelligently striving TO
integrate their industry so that II WIN
be on an equal footing with other busi-
nesses. 4
As nm example Of Indignation. take
the steel industry, In which the model
IL 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, It's rolling mills, It's
tube mills and other manufacturing
processes that are carried to the high.
est degree Of finished production com.
patible with the large trade It has
built up. All this Is generally conced-
ed to be to the advantage Of the com
sumer. Nor does the steel corporation
nconsiderately dump Its products on
the market. On the contrary, II 10
acts that 1t IL frequently establishing
influence, as is often the case with oth-
er large organizations. II IL master Of
It's distribution as well as OF Its pro-
ductfon. II prices are not satisfactory
the products are held back or produc-
tion IL reduced or suspended. 1t Is not
comnelIed to send wears work to the
market nj ono time and take whatever
n can get under such circumstances.
II has one selling policy and It's own
export department. Neither are the
GRADES and qualities of steel determine
ed at the caprice Of the buyer, nor does
the latter hold the scales. In this sin
ole Indignation OF the steel corporation
Is represented about 40 per cent Of the
steel production Of America. The rest
ia mostly In the hands Of a few large
comnanies In ordinary times the
steei cornoratlon nv example, stahiIizes
oil, steel nrices II this is permissible
M is -even desirable. because stable
ond fair nrices are essential to solid
ard continued nrosperltyl why would
r. no wrong for tbe farmers TO utilize
oartraI oyencies tbot would have sInis
la oeocts or agricultural productsp
conatb,ng IKE that is what they are
o,mtng nj
some farmers favored by regional
oomnoctposs and contipuity. such as the
Observation-Disclosures of California. al
raodv have found n wny legally to
marga and sell their products inte-
rralIv and in accordance with seasonal
ana local demand thus Improving
their nosIt,on and rendering the con-
s,,r,ar ! ralIahla service Of ensured
nuaIitv certain supply and reasonable
ana relot,velv steady prices. They
hora not yound II necessary TO resort
e. onv sneclnI nr,viIepe or 70 claim
Nv sxamntion under tbe antitrust
,ag,s,atton ~ the state or nation. With
ont renewing local control. they have
hvi,t nm very efficient marketing
o0ancv The grain cotton and to.
hacco farmers and the producers of
h,dos ana wool because Of their num-
hors ana tho vostness Of their regions.
and for other reasons have found
intagrat,or n more dificuIt task
though there are now some thousands
If farmers cooperative elevators,
warehouses; creameries and other en-.
ternrises of one sort and another, with
a turnover of a billion dollers a year,
They are giving the farmers business
axnarienca and training and. SO far
as thew 90. they meet the need OF
honest weighing and fair grading; but
thew do not meet the requirements OF
nationally adjusted marketing In any
large and fundamental way.
The next stem which will be a pat.
tern for other groups. Ia now being
nrensred nv the graln-raisers through
the establishment of sales media which
shall handle grain separately or col
Iectiyely. as the individual farmer may
elect II is this step-the plan Of the
Committee of Seyenteen-whlch ha.
created 40 much opposition and Il
thought by some to be In conflict witt
the antitrust laws. Though there l;
now before congress measure de
| signed TO clear up doubt on this point
the praIn-producers are not relying or
any immunity from antitrust legisla
ton. They desire, and they are en-