Abilene weekly reflector., 1922-02-02

To take a tolerant and sympathetic
view of the farmers strivings for bet
tor things 10 not to give blanket
endorsement to any specific plan, and
stil, less to applaud the vagaries Of
some Of their leaders and groups.
Neither should we, on the other hand,
allow tho froth Of bitter agitation.
false economics, and mistaken radical
i:sra1 10 conceal the facts Of the farm
ara disadvantages. and the practicable.
ity Of eliminating Asm By ya!l-cQp-
farmers will not show the business
ssaacity and develop the wise leader
.hip to carry through sound plans; but
that possibility does not justify the
obstruction Of their upward efforts.
We, as city people, see in high and
speculatively manipulated prices,
spollage, waste, scarcity. the results
Of defective distribution Of farm prod.
ucts. Should 1t not occur to US that
we have q common interest with the
farmer In his attempts to attain de-
gree of efficiency In distribution COR
responding to his efficiency In produc-
tion7 Do not the recent fluctuations
in the May wheat option. apparently
unrelated to normal interaction OF
supply and demand, offer a timely
proof Of the need Of some such stabil-
lzing 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 1t will be possible to pervert
1t to arbitrary and oppressive price
fixing from its legitimate use Of order
ing and stabilizlng the flow Of farm
products to the market, to the mutual
benefit of producer and consumer.
have no apprehensions on this point.
In the first place, loose organiza-
tion, such as any union OF farmers
must be at best, cannot be 30 arbi'
trarily and promptly controlled as
great corporation. The one Is lum-
bering democracy and the other an agile
autocracy. In the second place, with
all possible power Of org lnization, the
farmers cannot succeed to any great
extent, or for any considerable length
Of time, In h1ing prices. The great
law Of supply and demand works In
various and surprising ways, to the
undoing Of the best laid plans that
attempt to foil II. In the third place.
their power will avail the farmers
nothing II It be abused. In our time
and country power is Of value to Its
possessor only 80 long as 1t is not
abused. II is fair to say that have
seen no signs in responsible quarters
Of q disposition to dictate prices
There seems, on the contrary, to be q
commonly beneficial purpose TO realize
q stability that will givs an orderly
and abundant flow Of farm products
to the consumer and ensure reasonable
and dependable returns to the pro
ducer.
In view Of the supreme Importance
to the national well-being Of a pros
porous and contented agricultural pop
ulation, we should be prepared to 90
a long way In assisting the farmers T.
get an equitable share Of the wealth
they produce, through the inaugura'
ton Of reforms that win procure
continuous and increasing stream OF
farm products. They are far from get
ting a fair share now. Considering
his capital and the long hours Of labor
nut in BY the average farmer and MS
family, be Is remunerated less than
any other occupational class. with the
possible exception Of teade ers, reii-
eious and lay. Though We know that
the present general distress OF tne
farmers ID exceptional and is linked
With the inevitable economic readjust-
nent following the var, Il must Be