The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1922-02-10
THE MELLETTE COUNTY PIONEER.

farmers will not show the business
sagacity and develop the wise leader,
ship to carry through sound plans but
hat possibility does not justify the
obstructios Of their upward efforts.
We, as city people, see In high and
speculatively manipulated } prices,
spoilage, waste, scarcity, the results
of defective distribution Of farm prod.
ucts. Should II not occur to us that
we have a common interest with the
farmer In his attempts to attain a de-
gree OF efficiency In distribution cor
responding to his efficiency in produc
tionf Do not the recent fluctuations
In the May wheat option. apparently
unrelated to normal in~teraction 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 contended that, II their pro-
posed organizations be perfected and
operated, the farmers will have in
their hands an instrument that will be
Va ohSC u ubuSC. We nv
told that It will be possible to pervert
1t TO arbitrary and oppressive price
liking from Its legitimate use Of order.
ing and stabilizing the flow Of farm
products to the market, TO the mutual
benefit OF producer and consumer.
have no apprehensions on this point.
In Tho first plana N IanCn nrno ptyo
ton, such as any union Of farmers
must, be al best, cannot be so arbl-
trarily 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 lnization, 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 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 so long as II Is not
abused. 1t Is fair 70 say that | have
seen no signs In responsible quarters
OF a disposition to dictate prices
There seems. on the contrary, to be n
commonly beneficial purpose to realize
a 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-belng Of a pros
porous and contented agricultural pop
u~lation. we should be prepared to go
a 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 O
continuous and increasing stream Of
farm products. They are far from get
ting q 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. rell-
gious and lay. Though We know that
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 ordi-
narily enjoy but a fifth to a quarter of
the net annual national gain. Notwith-
standing the taste Of prosperity that
the farmers had during the war, there
Is today q lower standard Of living