The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1922-03-09

world was doing. The result Is tina
the agricultural group is almost a
! much, at disadvantage In dealing witt
other economic groups as the jay farm
err Of the funny pages In the hands 0
sleek urban confidence men, who sci
| him acreage In Central Park or thu
| Chicago city hall. The leaders of tn.
farmers thoroughly understand this
and they are intelligently striving t.
integrate their industry so that it vii
be on an equal footing with other bust
nesses.
AS an example OF Indignation, take
the steel industry, in which the mode
is the United States Steel Corporation
with its iron mines, its coal mines, Its
lake and rail transportation, its ocean
vessels, its by-product coke ovens, its
blast furnaces, its open hearth and
Bessemer furnaces, its rolling mills, its
tube mills and other manufa curing
processes that are carried to the high
est degree Of finished production com.
patible with the large trade 1t has
built up. All this is generally conced-
ed to be to the advantage of the con
sumner Nor does the steel corporation
inconsiderately dump its products on
the market On the contrary, it so
acts that it is frequently a stabilizing
influence as is often the case with 9TH
er large organizations 1t is master Of
its distribution as well as Of its pro-
duction If prices are not satisfactory
the products are held back or produc-
ton is reduced or suspended. 1t Is not
compelled to send years work to the
market at one time and take whatever
1t can get under such circumstances.
It has one selling policy and its own
export department Neither are the
grades and qualities OF steel determin-
ed at the caprice Of the buyer, nor does
the latter hold the scales In this sin
gle Indignation Of the steel corporation
steel production Of America The rest
is mostly in the hands Of few large
In ordinary times the
steel corporation, by example, stabilizes
all steel prices. If this is permissible
Git Is even desirable, because stable
and fair prices are essential to solid
and continued prosperity why would
It be wrong for the farmers to utilize
central agencies that would have SINH |
ar effects on agricultural products?
like that is what they are
aiming at
Some farmers favored by regional |
and contiguity, such as the |
itrus- fruit-raisers of California. al |
eady have found way legally to
merge and sell their products nte-
rally and in accordance with seasonal
nd local demand, thus improving
heir position and rendering the con
umer a reliable service of ensured
uality, certain supply, and reasonable
nd relatively steady prices. They
ave not found 1t necessary to resort
0 any special privilege or to claim
ny exemption under the antitrust
sgislation of the state or nation. With
ut removing local control, they have
uilt up a very efficient marketing
gency. The grain. cotton, and to-
acco farmers, and the producers Of
ides and wool, because of their num-
ers and the vastness Of their regions.
nd for other reasons, have found
ltegration more difficult task
Tough there are now some thousands
farmers cooperative elevators,
arehouses, creamerieS, and other en-
rprises Of one sort and another, with
turnover Of billion dollers year.
hey are giving the farmers business
Iperience and training, and, so far
they go, they meet the need of
NEST weighing and fair grading; but !
ey do not meet the requirements Of
tionally adjusted marketing in any ,
rye and fundamental way. !
The next step, which will be a pat
IN for other groups, Is now being !
epared by the grain-raisers through
e establishment Of sales media which
all handle grain separately or col :
lively, as the individual farmer may !
act 1t is this step-the plan OF the
'mmitree of Seventeenth which has !
eated so much opposition and is !
ought by some to be in conflict with 3
e antitrust laws. Though there is
W before congress measure de- =
ned to clear up doubt on this point. :.
! grain-producers are not relying on :,
Y immunity from antitrust legisla- :.
n. They desire, and they are en- !
led, to coordinate their efforts lust =
effectively as the large business in :,
ests Of the country have done In :,
lnection with the selling organize :,
MS the United States Grain Growers :,
Is drafting a scheme of y
incing instrumentalities and auxili !;
agencies which are Indispensable
the successful utilization Of modern =,
inesS methods.
t Is essential that the farmers -
uld proceed gradually with these q,
ms, and aim to avoid the error of -,
apping the existing marketing ma -
1ery, which has been SO laboriously -
It up by long experience, before ~
Y have a tried and proved substi- 80
or supplementary mechanism =,
y must be careful not to become -,
leshed in their own reforms and -,
the perspective Of their place In ~
national system. They must guard ~,
Inst fanatical devotion to new doc -.
es, and should seek articulation ~ ~
the general economic system -,
er than its reckless destruction as
.lates to them. -,
fol
tie