Metropolis weekly gazette. (Metropolis, Ill.) 1???-19??, 1922-04-28

we have common interest with the
farmer in his attempts 10 attain de-
gree of efficiency in distribution cor
responding to his efficiency in produc-
ton? Do not the recent fluctuations
in the May wheat option. apparently
unrelated 10 normal interaction Of
supply and demand, offer timely
proof of the need of some such siabil-
izing agency as the grain growers have
In contemplation?
1t Is contended that, II their pro-
posed organizations be perfected and
operated. the farmers will have in
their hands an instrument that will be
capable of dangerous abuse We are
told that II will be possible to pervert
IL 10 arbitrary. and oppressive price
fixing from Its legitimate use OF order
ing and stabliiZing the flow Of farm
products TO the market, 20 the mutual
benefit Of producer and consumer.
have no approximations on this point
In Inc first place. a Iovse organiza-
ton. snea as any union OF farmers
must be nj hest, cannot be so arbi-
irariiy and promptly controlled as a
great corporation The one is a lum-
herring democracy and The other IN agile
autocraey. In the second place, with
all possible power Of org nlzation, the
farmers cannot succeed To any great
extent. or for any considerable length
If time, In fixing prices The great
law of supply and demand works in
various and surprising ways, TO the
undoing Of the best laid plans that
attempt 10 foil II. In the third place,
their power viii avail the farmers
nothing II IL be abused. In our time
and country power Is ~ value To its
possessor only 50 long as IL Is. not
abused. /; is fair 10 say that ! have
seen no signs In responsible quarters
of disposition 10 dictate prices.
There seems. on the contrary. TO be a
commonly beneficial purpose 10 realize
a stability that wiz girr an orderly
and abundant flow az farm products
TO the consumer and ensure reasonable
and dependable returns 10 the pro-
Queer.
In view q The supreme, importance
70 the national well-bcing of a pros
porous and conienicd agricultural pop
uiaiion. we should be prepared 10 60
long way In assisting the farmers to
get al equitable share Of the wealth
they produce. through the inaugura.
ton Of reforms tia, will procure
continuous and Increasing stream ~
farm products. They are far from get
ting fair share now. Considering
his capital and the long hours 81 labor
pni In by the average farmer and his
family. be is remuneraied less than
any other occuraiional class, with the
possible exception az teachers. reli-
glous and lay. Though we know that
the present general distress Of the
farmers Is exceptional aud Is linked
with the inevitable economic rcadiust-
ment following tie war. II must be
remembered that. although represent
ing one.fhird q the Industrial product
and half the total population Of the
nation. the rural communities orHi.
Marty enjoy bur nth to n quarter Of
the net annual national gain. Notwlth-
standing the taste Of prosperity that
the farmers had during the war. there
IL today lower standard Of living
among the cotton farmers ~ the South
than in any other pursuit IN the country.
IN conclusion. II seems 10 me that the
farmers are chiefly striving Tor a gen
orally beneficial Indignation Of their
business Of the same Kind and charac.
Ter that other business enjoys II II
should he FOUND on examination that
the atiainment 81 this end requires
methods different from those which
other activities have followed for the
same purpose should we not symna-
ihefiealiy consider the plea for the
right TO cooperate. II only from our
own enlightened self interest. in oh
tanning an abundant and steady dow Of
farm produetsl
In examining the agricultural. siiua
ilon with n view 10 It's Improvement,
we shall .be most helpful II We main
tain detached and judicial viewpoint,
remembering that existing wrongs may
be chiefly an accident OF unsymmetri-
cal economic growth instead II cres-
fiBO OF llHltNtifHi NfNl-U anu ftlNlfifn-
cy. We Americans are prone, as Pro-
fessor David Friday well says In his
admirable hook, Profits. Wages and
Prices" TO seek criminal Intent be-
hind every difficult and undesirable eco
monte situation" | can positively as
sert from my contact with men OF
large affairs, including bankers, that,
as a whole. they are endeavoring 10
fulfill as they see them the obligations
that 90 with their power. Preoccnpled
with the grave problems and heavy
tasks Of their own Immediate affairs.
they have not turned their thoughtful
personal attention or their construc-
tive abilities 10 the deficiencies OF agri-
cultural business organization. Agri-
culture. II may be said, suffers from
their preoccupation and neglect rather
than from any purposeful exploitation
by them. They ought now 10 begin to
respond to the farmers difficulties.
which they must realize are their own.
IN the other hand nv contacts with