The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1922-01-27

II to arbitrary and oppressive price
nxing from Its legitimate use Of order.
Ing and stabilizing the now of farm
products to the market, TO the mutual
benefit OF producer and consumer.
have no apprehensions on this point.
In the first place, a loose organiza-
tion. such as any union OF farmers
! must be at best, cannot he 90 arbi-
trsriiy and promptly controlled as a
great corporation. The one Is a lum.
bering democracy and the other an agile
autocracy. In the second place. with
/ all possible power of org Mia ton, the
farmers cannot succeed TO any great
} extent, or for any considerable length
OF time, In fixing prices. The great
law or supply and demand works in
various and surprising ways, TO the
undolng OF the best laid plans that
attempt TO foil II. In the third place.
their power will avail the farmers
nothing II il be abused In our dime
and country power is OF value to lis
possesSor only go long as II IL nor
abused. 1t Is fair TO say that | have
seen no signs In responsible quarters
OF disposition 10 dictate prices.
There seems, on the contrary, TO he
commonly beneficial purpose to realize
stability that will give 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
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
ton OF reforms, that will procure u
continuous and increasing stream 81
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 than
any other Occupa tional class. with the
possible exception OF teachers. reli-
sious and lay. Though We know that
the present general distress OF the
farmers is exceptional and Is linked
with the inevitable economic readiust-
ment following the war. IL must be
remembered that. although represent
ing one-third Of the industrial. product
and half the total population OF the
nation. the rural communities Ordi-
narily enjoy but a fifth TO aquarter of
the net annual national gain, Notwith-
standing the taste OF prosperity that
the farmers had during the war, there
is today a lower standard OF living
among the cotton farmers OF the South
than in any other pursuit in the country.
In conclusion, 1t seems TO me that the
farmers are chiefly striving sfor a gen
orally beneficial integratior OF their
business, of the same kind and charac-
ter that other business enjoys. If il
should be found on examination that
the attainment OF this emu requires
methods different from those which
other activities have followed for the
same purpose should we not sympa-
thetically consider the plea for the
risht 10 cooperate. il only, from our
own enlightened self interest, in OBJ
tanning an abundant and stendy flow Of
farm products?
In examining the agricultural situa
ton with a view To its Improvement,
we shall be most helpful II we main
tain a detached and judicial viewpoint.
remembering that existing wrongs may
be chiefly an accident OF unsymmetri
cal economic growth instead II a crca
ton OF malevOlent design and cOnspira
cy. We Americans are prone, as Pro
fessor David Friday we'll says In his
admirable book, Profits, Wages and
Prices" TO seek criminal intent be-
hind every difficult and undesirable eco
nomic situation" i can positively as
sert from my contact with men OF
large affairs, including bankers, that,
as a whole, they are endeavoring to
fulfill as they see them the obligations
that go with their power. Preoccupled
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. Asrl.
culture. it may be said. suffers from
their pre0ccupatiOn aud neglect rather
than from any purposeful exploitation
nv them. They ought now To begin TO
respond To the farmers difficulties.
which they must realize are their own
TN the other hand. my contacts with
rhe farmers have filed me with respect
FOR thcm-for their sanity, their pa
fence their balance Within the las;
year and particularly at a meeting
called by the Kansas State Board ~
Agriculture and at another called by
the Committee OF Seventeen, have
mel many ~ the leaders of the new
farm movement. and / testify in all
sincerity thai they are endeavoring 10
deal with their problems, not as pro-
uoters of a narrow class interest. not
az cxploiterS 0f the hapleSs consumer.
not "a nerciless monopolists. but as
honest ment bent Oh the improvement
II the comm veal.
We can and must meet such mel
anil such a muse half way. Their
}f,siu.sS IS our husiness-the nations
BUSINESS