The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1922-02-24
MUTUAL MARKET
PLAN NOW A LAW
President Signs Cooperative Bill
Granting Farmers Equal
Selling Rights.

(By Uric Bell in CONFECTIONERY
Washington, Feb. 1S.-Ceremony
marked the signing by President
Warren G. Harding of the co-opera-
tive marketing bill, latest triumph of
the agricultural bloc in Congress,
hailed by its advocates as "the saliva
ton OF the country"
The act recognizes definitely the
right of farmers to engage in cooper
alive projects and exempts legally
operated marketing associations from
the provisions of the Sherman anti
trust act.
Senator Arthur Capper of Kansas
and Representative Andrew J. Vol
stead of Minnesota. its authors. were
in the White House assemblage, Mr.
volstead taking away the pen used
by the President. Others present
were: Senators Charles McNary OF
Oregon: Irvine l.. Lenroot of Wis
consin and Frank b. Kellogg of Min
nesota ;Charles Barrett. president of
the National Farmers Union and 9TH
er farm leaders.
Passed With one Amendment.
The measure. prior to its recent
passage by the Senate, and subse-
quent acceptance by the House. had
passed through a turbulent period
covering many months. Farm. lead
ers had insisted that Il be pass d in
the form adopted originally by the
House. but the Senate Judiciary Com
mittee. in reporting IL, struck out
most OF its original provisions and
added the so-called Walsh amend
ment. which the farm spokesman de-
clarrd would nullify its effect
However, only one Senator voted
against the bloc when it renewed st.
original programme. The bill went
through with only a slight clarifying
amendment, in which the House con-
Cured quickly, sending the measure
to Mr.. Harding.
The act will be administered by the
OttItltIN VI AEAAtuAAul1s AAAoA'aAA VI
the Federal Trade Commission as was
proposed by the Walsh amendment.
The secretary is charged with certify
ing to the courts for action the re-
cord of any alleged improper prac- |
tees by organizations formed under |
the acts provisions, after due notice !
10 desist in such practices has been |
given. Profits are limited to per
cent, regardless OF how much stock
they may hold.
Means National Stability.
The act, according TO Mr.. Capper, !
"means a newer and stronger nation
al stability resting on a genuine and |
general prosperity, such as We have |
never before enjoyed and in which |
all who labor will participate more |
fairly and equitably than ever be-
fore"
1t is Mr.. Capper's view that a far
mer's monopoly is impossible, be-
cause IF the cooperative marketing
association makes its price too high.
the result is inevitable self-destruc-
tion by overproduction in the follow
ing years" He holds that no other
industry except agriculture has au-
tomato safeguard.
1t is pointed out by the Kansas
Senator that the act authorizes and
validates cooperative associations OF
producers regardless of technical
form, limited only by certain test re-
quirements as to cooperative char
acter;" that "it permits them to de-
velop their activities TO a natural ex-
tent, which involves a tendency to-
wards great commodity organiza-
tions," and that "it safeguards the
public against any possible abuse by
such cooperative associations by APP
peal to and action by the Depart
ment of Agriculture"
u.NnNrEEV Dan DnAn