The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1922-03-15


allow the froth # bitter agitation
| false economics. and mistaken radical.
ism to conceal the facts Of the farm
ers' disadvantages, and the PRACTICABLE
ity Of eliminating them by well-con
sidered measures It may be that the
farmers will not show the business
sagacity and develop the wise leader.
ship to carry through sound plans but
that possibility does not justify the
obstruction OF their upward efforts
We. us city people. see in high ana
speculatively manipulated prices
spoilage. waste, scarcity, the results
Ut defective distribution Of farm prod.
ucts Should It not occur 10 US that
we have common interest with the
farmer In his attempts to attain a 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 stabil.
izing agency as the grain growers have
In contemplation?
II Is commended 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
II to arbitrary and oppressive price
liking 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. q loose organiza-
tiOn, such as any union Of farmers
must be at best. cannot be so arbi.
trarily and promptly controlled as
great corporation. The one is a lum.
bering democracy and the other an agile
aut0cracy. In the second place, with
all possible power Of org nization. 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
undoing of the best laid plans that
attempt to foil IT, 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 It is fair to say that | have
seen no signs In responsible quarters
OF disposition to dictate prices.
There seems, on the contrary, to be q
commonly beneficial purpose to realize
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 II the supreme Importance
to the national well-being of a 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 Inaugural
tion Of reforms that will procure a
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
put In by the average farmer and his
family he Is remunerated less thar
any other Occupational class. win th
possible exception of teachers. rell
gious and lay Though we know tina,
the present general distress of TN
farmers Is exceptional and Is linkp'
with the Inevitable economic readjusi
menl following the war 1t must be
remembered that. although represent
Ing "ne-third IF the industrial product
and half the total, population of the
nation. the rural communities Ordi
narily enjoy hui n tifth to a quarter of
the net annual natinal gain Ntwith
standing the taste OF prosperity that