Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1922-01-13
HI

fj eradicate tneSe iheqdalltleH' '"OS
are subjected to stern economic lee
turas and are met with the accusation
fbat they are demanding, and are the
rerpients of. special privileges. Let
nc see what privileges fife government
has conferred gon the farmers Much
has been made of Section 6 OF the
CLAYTON Antitrust Act, which pur-
,,rted TO permit them to combine with
Immunity. under certain conditions.
admitting that. nOminally, this ex-
amntion was in the nature of special
,rtyilege,-though | think 1t was so In
anuparance rather than in fact,-we
fpd that the courts have nullitied it
Inv judicial Interpretation. Why should
not the farmers be permitted to ac-
cnmplish by cooperative methods what
ether businesses are already doing by
r,.oneratiOn In the form of incOrpora-
ton? II it be proper for men to form,
nv fusion of existing corporations or
Otherwise, corporation that controls
the entire production of a commodity,
or large part of it, why is 1t not
nroper for a group of farmers to unite
far the marketing of their common
PRODUCTS, either in one or in several
selling agencies? Why should 1t be
right for hundred thousand corporate
shareholders to direct % or 80 or 40
ner cent of an industry, and wrong for
= hundred thousand cooperative
farmers to control a no larger proper
ton of the wheat crop, or cotton, or
any other product?
The Department Of Agriculture Is
often spoken of as a special concession
10 the farmers, but in its commercial
results it is of as much benefit TO the
tn,ers and consumers of agricultural
nroducts as to the producers, or even
more. | do not suppose that anyone
,up0ses the benefits that the farmers
derive from the educational anu re-
search work of the department, or the
helm that it gives them in working out
improved cultural methods and prac-
tices In developing better yielding va
rfeties through breeding and selection,
In introducing new varieties from re-
mote parts Of the world and adapting
them to our climate and economic CON
dttion. and in devising practical meas
ures for the elimination or control or
dangerous and destructive animal and
plant diseases, insect pests, and the
like All these things manifestly tend
10 stimulate and enlarge production,
and their general beneficial effects are
obvious
It Is complained that. whereas the
law restricts Federal Reserve banks
to three months time for commercial
naDer the farmer is allowed six
months on his notes This is not
special privilege, but merely such n
recognition Of business conditions as
makes II possible for country banks
TO do business with country people.
The crop farmer has only one turn
over a year while the merchant and
manufacturer have many. Incidental
". | note that the Federal Reserve
Board has just authorized the Fed
eral Reserve banks to discount export
paper for a period Of six months, to
conform to the nature Of the busl-
ness.
The Farm Loan banks are pointed
to as an instance of special govern
ment favor for farmers. Are they not
rather the outcome Of laudable efforts
TO euualize rural and urban condi-
tiOns? And about all the government
does there is to help set. up an adj
mlnistratiye organization and lend a
little credit at the start. Eventually
the farmers will provide all the capt.
tai and carry all the liabilities them
selves. 1t Is true that Farm Loan
bonds are tax exempt; but so are
bonds of municipal light and traction
plants, and new housing IS to be ex-
empt from taxation, In New York, for
ten years.
On the other hand, the farmer reads
Of plans for municipal housing prof.
ects that run into the billions, of hun
dreds Of millions annually spent on
the merchant marine; he reads that
the railways are being favored with
increased rates and virtual guarantees
Of earnings by the government, with
the result to him of an increased toll
on all that he sells and all that he
buys. He hears of many manifesto
tions of governmental concern for par
ticuar industries and interests Res
cuing the railways from Insolvency IS
undoubtedly for the benefit Of the
country as whole, but what can be
of more general benefit than eneour-
agement of ample production q the
principal neceSsaries of life and their
even flow from contented producers to
satisfied consumers?
While it may be conceded that
special governmental aid may be nee
essary in the general interest, we must
all agree that 1t is difficult to see why
agriculture and the production and dis
tribution Of farm products are not ac-
corded the same opportunities that are
provided for other businesses; espe-
cially as the enjoyment by the farmer
OF such opportunities would appear to
, be even more contributors to the gen
eral good than in the case Of other
Industries. The spirit of American
democracy is unalterably opposed,
alike to enacted special privilege and
TO the special privilege of unequal OPP
portunlty that arises automatically
from the failure to correct garlna
economic inequalities. | am opposed
TO the injection of government into