Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1922-01-19

n
speculatively manipulated pr,cs'
spoilage, waste, scarcity, the resu,,.
of defective distribution OF farm mr.
ucts. Should 1t not occur to ms ~.
We have a common interest with n.
farmer In his attempts to attain a A.
gree OF efficiency In distribution -.
responding to his eficienSy "a prodn.
ton! Do not the recent nuctuatior.
In the May wheat option. aposrsnt,.
unrelated to normal ,nternction y
supply and demand, offer 4 TINA.
proof Of the need of some such st.hT
izing agency as the grain growers hs,.
In contemplation?
1t Is contended that, II their M.
posed organizations be perfected "a
operated, the farmers will hsvs 4.
their hands an instrument that will \.
capable Of dangerous abuse. We a..
told that 1t will be possible to perv.,,
1t to arbitrary and oppressive pr,e.
fixing from Its legitimate use OF ord,
Ing and stabilizIng the flow of fam
products to the market, to the mutp.,
benefit Of producer and consumer
have no apprehensions on this point
In the first place, loose organic.
ton, such as any union of farmer
must be at best, cannot be so srsl.
trarily and promptly controlled m
great corporation. The one is a linn.
bering democracy and the other an All.
autocracy. In the second place. Win
all possible power Of org snizatiop. m.
farmers cannot succeed to any great
extent, or for any considerable lenrth
Of time, In fixing prices. The gree,
law Of supply and demand works /,
various and surprising ways. to IN,
undoing Of the best laid. plans that
attempt to foil 1t. In the third plaza
their power will avail the farmer
nothing II 1t be abused. In our tina
and country power is Of value to n.
possessor only so long as 1t IL not
abused. 1t is fair to say that hav.
seen no signs In responsible quarter
of a disposition to dictate pricea
There seems, on the contrary, to be
commonly beneficial purpose to realise
a stability that will give an ORDERLY
and abundant flow Of farm producer
to the consumer and ensure reasonsbl,
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 DOB
ulation, we should be prepared to 70
a long way In assisting the farmers to
get an equitable share Of the wealth
they produce, through the inaugurs.
lion Of reforms that will procure 4
and increasing stream u
farm products. They are far from get.
ing fair share now. Considering
his capital and the long hours of labor
)ut In by the average farmer and Me
'amily he Is remunerated less than
my other occupational class, with the
possible exception of teachers, relt
'ious and lay. Though we know that
he present general distress Of the
armers Is exceptional and Is linked
With the Inevitable economic readjust
nent following the war, 1t must b.
that, although represent
ng one-third of the industrial produd
nd half the total population Of The
alton, the rural communities ord
ar1Iy enjoy but fifth to quarter o.
he net annual national gain. Notwith.
landing The taste Of prosperity that
he farmers had during the war, then
today lower standard of living
mong the cotton farmers Of the South
ian in any other pursuit In the country.
In conclusion, II seems to me that tht
irmers are chiefly striving for gen.
rally beneficial Indignation Of thef
Of the same kind and charac
n that other business enjoys. II
lOuld be found on examination that
lie attainment Of this end requires
ethods) different from those which
her activities have followed for the
Ime purpose should we not sympa
etically consider the plea for The
ght to cooperate, IL only from oar
yn enlightened self interest, In %
lining an abundant and steady nov Of
rm products?
In examining the agricultural sifuf
On with view to its improvement
: shall be most helpful II we main
In a detached and judicial viewpdN
that existing wrongs may
chiefly an accident Of unsymmetn
| economic growth instead Of cre
m Of malevolent design and conspln'
We Americans are prone, as Pfe
ssor David Friday well says In n,
m1rabIe book, profits, Wages sh
ices" to seek criminal intent Dc
I'd every difficult and undesirable ecc
mic situation" I can positively ~
t from my contact with men q
ge affairs, including bankers, tnil
a whole, they are endeavoring
fill as they see them the Obligation,
It go with their power. Preoccupe
ii the grave problems and hesV
ks of their own Immediate anas
" have not turned their thousnrp
'sonal attention or their construr
e abilities to the deficiencies OF ayr
tural business organization. Asr