The vidette. (Iuka, Tishomingo County, Miss.) 1912-1967, 1922-01-19

we have common intereS. WV"
farmer In his attempts to 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 to normal interaction OF
supply and demand offer a timely
proof Of the need Of some such staDi'-
Izing agency as the grain growers nave
In contemplation?
1t Is contended that, II their pro-
posed organizations be perfected ana
operated, the farmers will have in
their hands an instrument that VIII be
capable of dangerous abuse. We are =,
told that II will be possible to pervert
1t TO arbitrary and oppressive price,
fixing from its legitimate use OF order
ing and stabilzlng the flow of farm
products to the market, TO the mutual
benefit Of producer and consumer l
have no apprehensions on this point.
In the first place, II loise orgnnlza-
tion, such as any union OF farmers
must be at best, cannot be so arbi-
trarily and promptly controlled as
great corporation. The ore Is luni-
bering democracy and the other an agile
autocracy. In the seconl place, with
all possible power Of o:g .llization. the
farmers cannot succeed to any great
extent. or for any considerable length
of time, In fixing prices. The great
law of supply and demand works In
various and surprising ways. to the
undolng of the best laid plans that
attempt to foil 1t. In the third place,
their power will avail the farmers
| nothing II II be abused In our time
and country power Is of value to Its
possessor only so long as II Is not
abused. 1t is fair to say that have
seen no signs In responsible quarters
Of disposition to, dictate prices.
| There seems, on the contrary, to he
commonly beneficial purpose to renlize
stability that will Civ an orderly
| and abundant flow OF farm products
| to the consumer and ensure reasonable
and dependable returns to the pro-
| Queer.
In view Of the supreme Importance
| tc the national well-being of 4 pros
| porous and contented agricultural pop
| ulation, we should be prepared to go
long way In assisting the farmers to
get an equitable share of the wealth
| they produce, through the innugura-
| ton OF reforms that will procure
| continuous and increasing stream OF
farm products. They are far from get
| ting fair share now. Considering
| his capital and the long hours OF labor
| put In by the average farmer and his
| family, he is remunerated less than
| any other occupational class, with the
| possible exception of teachers, reii-
| gious and lay. Though we know HAT
the present general distress Of the
| farmers is exceptional and Is linked
| with the inevitable economic readjust-
| ment following the war, 1t must be
remembered that, although represent
Ing one-third of the industrial product
| and half the total population Of the
| nation, the rural communities or,ii-
narily enjoy but fifth to quarter Vt
| the net annual national gain. Nutwith-
standing the taste Of prosperity that
Is today lower standard of living
among the cotton farmers of the South
| than In any other pursuit In the country.
In conclusion, it seems to me that the
| farmers are chiefly striving for gen.
orally beneficial Indignation OF their
business, of the same kind and cblrac-
ter that other business enjoys. II 1t
| should be found OH examination that
the attainment of this end requires
methods different from those which
other activities have followed for the
same purpose should we not sympa-
thetlcally consider the plea for the
right to cooperate, II only from our
own enlightened self interest, in OBJ
tanning an abundant and steady How of
farm products?
In examining the agricultural situa-
ton with a view to its 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 Of crea-
ton of malevolent design and consplra-
cy. We Americans are prone, rs Pro-
lessor David Friday well says in his
admirable book, profits, Wages and
Prices" to seek criminal intent be-
hind every difficult and undesirable eco
nomic situation" l. can positively as
sert from my contact with men of
large affairs, including bankers, that,
as whole, they are endeavorinS 10
fulfill as they see them the obligations
that 60 with their power. Preoccupied
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 to the deficiencies of agri-
cultural business organization. Agri-
culture, 1t may be said, suffers from
their preoccupation and neglect rather
than from any purposeful exploitation
by them. They ought now to begin to.
respond to the farmers difficulties.
which they must realize are their own.
On the other hand, my contacts with
the farmers have filled me with respect
for them--for their sanity, their pa
tience. their balance. Within the last
year, and particularly at a meeting
called by the Kansas State Board OF
Agriculture and at another called BY
the Committee of Seventeen. have
met many OF the lenders of tue new
farm movement, and testify in all
sincerity that they are endeayorlng to
deal with their problems. not as pro-
moters Of narrow class interest. not
AZ exploiters OF the hapless consumer.
not as merciless monopolists. but MS