The Topeka state journal., 1922-02-01
OUR UNoR6ANIzED INDUSTRY

In addressing the farm conference
at it's opening in Washington, Presi-
dent Harding said:
at is apparent that the interest
OF the consumer, quite equally with
that of the producer, demands meas
ures to prevent violent fluctuations
which result from unorganized and
haphazard production. Indeed, the
statistics of this entire subject clearly
demonstrate that the consumers con-
Germ for better stabilized conditions is
quite equal to that of the producer.
The farmer does not demand special
consideration to the disadvantage of
any other class; he asks only, for that
which shall place his
vital industry on a parity Of oppor-
tunity with others and enable it to
serve the broadest interest"
It must be apparent that the need
pointed out by the president can not
be met thru legislation. The preven-
ton of violent fluctuations rests
with the farmers themselves. It has
been accomplished by the fruit grow
CTS VI AnAALOA MIA < AASCSo u tAANAA PACA~
ucts to the consumer are maintained
at a fairly uniform figure thruout the
year thru cooperation in the mar
keffng of the crops. When growers
of wheat. corn and cotton adopt sim
liar methods. little complaint will be
heard from the farmers.
The farmer, at present, for one
81.
portionate cost of distribution of his
products. Take, for example, the case
of a crate OF peaches shipped from
Macon, Ga, to New York. The ship
per goes to the expense of preparing
the soil, buying the young trees from
the nursery, cultiyating, pruning and
spraying them during the early period
of their growth. He pays for the
picking Of the peaches, their packing
and Grating. He hauls them to the
nearest railroad and ships them to
New York. The amount of money
received by the grower for all his in
vestment and work, and by the rail-
road for hauling the peaches 1,500
miles, is less than is received by the
commission merchant, trucking COM
pany and retailer who merely per-
form the service of taking the fruit
out of the railroad car on the Jersey
side. ferrying it across the river and
distributing it to the final consumer
in Manhattan.
With the consummation of plans
now under way it is promised the cost
of final distribution will be greatly re-
duced. Capital, it is said, promises to
put millions upon millions into i'm
provements that win simplify the
clumsy methods now in vogue. The
ultimate consumer then will be able
to buy more peaches, more spinach,
more string beans. more of the count
less perishable products of the farm.
and the cost of distribution will be so
greatly reduced that the inevitable re-
suit will be larger actual as well as
proportionate return for the agricul-
tural producer.
This is one of the ways to help the
farmer. 1t is a natural working out
of the economic law We have seen
these developments in other indus
tries-petroleum, for example. The
big oil producing and refining coru-
panies have piled up their millions not
by raising the price of crude oil or re-
fined products, but by cutting the cost
of distribution. These staples today
are selling far below the equivalent
prices of the SOS and 7o's. without
impairing the fortunes OF the produc-
ing companies. The whole commun-
ity has benefited. in fact.
The position of the farmer is not
going to be helped by promises, pana-
eeas or legislation. He must do all
that he can to help himself. Busi-
ness and all departments of industry
should lend their aid.
The department Of commerce has
published a review of the sugar situ-