The Ontario Argus. (Ontario, Or.) 1???-1947, 1922-03-23
LcontInued from page 8(

the agricultural group is almost as
much at a 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 It VIII
be on an equal footing with other busi-
nesses.
As an example Of integratlon, take
the steel Industry, In which the model
IL the United states Steel Corporation,
with Its iron mines, Its coal mines, It's
lake and rail transportation, It's ocean
vessels, Its by.product coke ovens, It's
blast furnaces. It's open hearth ana
Bessemer furnaces, Its rolling mills, It's
tube mills and other manufacturing
processes that are carried to the high
est degree Of finished production com
patlble with the large trade II has
built up. All this Is generally conced-
ed 90 be 10 the advantage Of the con-
sumer. Nor does the steel corporation
inconslderately dump Its products on
the market. On the contrary, II so
acts that Il In frequently stnbllizlng
influence, as In often the case with 9TH
er large organizations II Is master OF
Its distribution as well as Of It's pro-
duction. II prices are not satisfactory
the products are held back or produc'
tion is reduced or suspended, II Is not
compelled 10 send years work to the
market nj one time and take whatever
II can get under such circumstances.
II has one selling policy and Its own
export department. Neither are the
grades and qualities OF steel determn'
cd at the caprice Of the buyer, nor does
the latter hold the scales. In this SIN
gle intcgrntion Of the steel corporation
is represented about 40 per cent of the
steel production Of America. The rest
II mostly In the hands OF few large
companies. In ordinary times tho
steel corporation, by example, stnbilizes
all steel prices. II this Is permissible
tit Ia even desirable, because stable
and fair prices are essential to solid
and continued prosperity why would
II be wrong for the farmers 10 utilize
central agencies that would have slml'
lar effects on agricultural productsf
Something like that IL what they are
aiming at.
Some farmers favored by regional
compactness and contigulty, such as the
citrus.fruit-raiscrs 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 stePdy prices. They
have not found Il necessary TO resort
20 any special privilege, or 20 claim
any exemption under the antitrust
legislation " the state or nation. With
out removing local control, they have
built up very efficient marketing
agency. The grain, cotton, and to-
bacco farmers. and the producers ~
hides and wool, because Of their num-
bers and the vastness OF their regions,
and for other reasons, have found
indignation more dlflicult task
though there are now some thousands
Of farmers cooperative elevators
warehouses, creamerles, and other en-
terprlses OF one sort and another, with
A turnover OF billion dollers n year,
They are giving the farmers business
experience and training, and, " 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 viii be a pat
tern for other groups, II now being
prepared by 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--w which has
created so much opposition and Is
thought by some a. be IN conflict with
the antitrust laws Though there Is
now before congri IS a measure de-
signed 20 clear up doubt on this point.
the erain-producers are not relying on
any immunity from antitrust leglsla-
ton. They desire, and they are en-
titled, tas6aprdinate their efforts just
as effec[tk1 as tho large business In
terests OF the country have done. In
connection with the selling organiza'
tions the United States Grain Growers
Incorporated Is drafting scheme OF
bnanclng lnstrumentalltles and auXlll'
airy agencies which are indispensable
10 the successful utilization Of modern
business methods.
Il Is essential that the farmers
should proceed gradually with these
plans, ana aim 20 avoid the error of
scrapplng the existing marketing ma
ehinery, which has been so laborlously
built up by Ions experience, before
they have a tried and proved substl-
tute or supplementary mechanism,
They must be careful not TO become
enmeshed In their own reforms and
lose the perspective Of their place In
the national system. They must guard
against fanatical devotion to new doe
trlnas, and should seek articulation
with the general economic system