The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1922-02-18
SOME ASPECTS OFfARMERS' PROBLEMS
Aa .n example of lnteKratlon. take
sy BERNARD N. BARucH
tReprinted from Atlantic Monthly,

A. In example OF integration, take
hs steel industry, In which the model
Il the United States Steel Corporation.
with it, 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.
eat degree Of finished production com
patlble with the large trade II has
built up. All this Is generally conced-
ed to be to the advantage Of the con-
sumer. Nor does the steel corporation
inconsiderately dump Its products on
the market. On the contrary. Y SO
acts that II Is frequently a stabIlixing
Influence, as Is often the case with 9TH
er large organizations It Is master Of
Its distribution as well as Of Its pro-
duction. II prices are not satisfactory
the products are held back or prOdilc-
ton Is reduced or suspended. II Is not
compelled to send a years work to the
market at ore time and take whntever
II can get under such circumstances.
Il has one selling policy and Its own
export department Neither are the
grades and qualities LOT 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
10 represented about 10 per cent Of the
steel production Of America. The rest
10 mostly In the hands OF few large
companies. In ordinary times the
steel corporation. by example. stabilizes
all steel prices. II this Is permissible
1T IL 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 siui.
lar effects on agricultural products?
Something like that II what they are
aiming at.
Some farmers favored by regional
coppactness and contiguity. such as the
us-fruit-ralsers Of California. al
ready have found 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
sumner q 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 or nation. With
out removing local control. they have
built up . very ehiclent 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 feGi"ns.
and for other reasons, have found
Indignation more difficult tnsk
though there are now some thousands
Of farmers cooperative elevators.
warehouses, 'creameries, and other en-
terprises Of one sort and another. with
4 turnover Of billion dollers year.
They are giving the farmers business
experience and training. and, so far
as they 20. 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-ralsers through
the establishment Of sales media which
shall handle grain separately or col
Iectively. as the individual farmer may
elect. II Is this atep--the plan Of the
Committee of Seventeen-which has
created so much opposition aud ~
thought by some to be In conflict with
the antitrust laws. Though there Is
now before congress q measure de
signed to clear up doubt on this point.
the graIn-producers are not relying on
any Immunity from antitrust legisla'
tion. 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 organiza'
lions the United States Grain Growers
Incorporated IL drafting q scheme Of
financing instrumentalitics and auxili
airy agencies which are indispensable
to the successful utilization Of modern
business methods.
II IL essential that the farmers
should proceed gradually with these
plans, and aim to avoid the error OF
scrappIng the existing marketing ms
chincry, which has been so laboriOusly
huiit up BY long experience. before
they have a tried and proved substi.
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 fanatlcai devotion to new doe
trines, and should seek articulation
with the general economic system
rather than Its reckless destruction as
1t relates to them.
ra tnbo . tnIornnt nnI svmnnthoti,