Sioux County pioneer., 1922-02-09
Some Aspects Of the
Farmers Problems
Reprinted from Atlantic Monthly
By BERNARD M. BARUCH

TO take a tolerant an sympathetic
View of the farmers strivings for bet.
ter things is nat to give blanket
( endorsement to any specific plan, and
{ still less to applaud the vagaries Of
some of their leaders and groups,
{ Neither should I'VE, on the other hand,
allow the frotli oe bitter agitation.
false economics. anil mistaken radical.
ism to conceal the facts af the farm
ers' disadvantages, and the prncticabil
ity of eliminating them by well-cor.-
sldered measures. 1t mas be that the
farmers will not show the business
fsagaclty and develop the wise leader.
ship to carry through sound plans but
that possibility does not justify the
obstruction Of their upward efforts.
I'VE, as city people, see in high anl
speculatlvely manipulated prices,
spoilage, waste, scarcity, the results
of defective distribution Of farm prod.
Aats. slRuldl It not occur to US that
we have q common Interest with tile
farmer in his attempts to attain q de-
gree OF efticlene, in distribution COR
responding to his efficiency In produc-
tion? Do not the recent fluctuations
In the May wheat option, apparently
unrelated to normal internction Of
supply and demand offer timely
proof Of the need Of some such stabll-
lzing agency as the grain growers have
in contemplation? sss:>$f 81
It Is contended that, If their pro
posed organizations be perfected and
operated, the farmers will have in
their hands ar ar Instrument that will be
capable Of dangerous ahnse: We are
told that It will be possible to persert
st to arbitrary and oppressive price
fxing from its slegitimate use of order
ing and stabilizing the flow Of farm
products to the mhrket, to the mutual
benefit of producer and consumer. I
have no apprehenslons on this point.
n In the first place, a lQnse 0rgln!izal: q
tion, such as any union at farmers
must be at best, cannot be SO Rrbt.
Rtrarily and promptly controlled MS
kigreat corporation. The one IS a lnm-
berlng democracy and the other an agile
autocracy. In the seconl place, with
sall possible power Of o:g a|z.a4ttion, the
farmers eannbt succeed to any gfeAt
extent, or for any considerable leagth
cot time, In fixing prices, The great
law Of supply and demand works if
various and surprising ways, to the
|eundoing Of the best laid plans that
attempt to foil it. In the third place
their power will avail the farmeri
nothing II 1t be abused. In our time
and country power is Of value to 1T.
possessor only so long as it Is not
abused. 1t is fair to say that ! have
seen no signs in responsible quarters
Of disposition to dictate prices
There seems, on the contrary, to he a
i commonly beneficial purpose to realize
u a Stability that will Civ. an orderly
4 ana :.ati iiH1 liant. flow Of farm. products
II IT, the consumer land aashre reasonable
\ 9ahd dependable retiifns Ito the: pro.
H4fTihhar. ~ =. =. ~; ~ s.; ;st.
IN view Of the supreme importance
to the Ra,ti ion.al M! wel!-beiRg Of a pros
Il peFous and eontented agricultural pop
2 ulation, we should be prepared to &c
ss a long way in assisting the farmers t
get All equitable share Of the wealth
they produce, through the Inaugural
= tion Of reforms that will procure {
\ continuous and increasing stream O
il farm products. They are far frrm get
u ting fair share now. Consilerin,
Il his capital and the long hours Of labo
I put in by the average farmer and Iii
q family, he Is .remuneratcd less thar
any other occupational class, with til.
4 possible exception of teachers rell
gious.and LAY. Though we know tin
{ tiaes present, general distress of ",
farmers Is exceptional and Isl linke
q with the Inevitable economic read jus,
81 ment following the war, II must i
Remembered that although represent
q Ing snne-t third Of the industrial prodlc
iand halfi:the total population OF u,
nntion, THE rural communities ord
'nariay enjoy but a fifth to a quarter q
q the met annual national gain. Notwitl
standing the taste Of prosperity tina
\: the farmers had during the war. tl,ar
/ ~ today a lover standard of llvin
\ iamong the cotton farmers 0f the Soft
Il than In any otherpursultin in the countr.
Y sA In. inclusion, It seems to me TINT ii
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