The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1922-01-27

much al a disadvantage In dealing with
other economic groups as the Jay farm
er Of the funny pages In the hands of
sleek urban confidence men. who sell
him acreage In Central Park or the
Chicago city hall. The leaders OF the
farmers thoroughly understand this.
and they are intelIigently striving to
lntegrate their industry so that II will
be on an equal footing with other busi-
nesses.
AS an example OF indignation, take
the steel industry. in which the model
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 manufacturing
processes that are carried 10 the high
est degree OF finished production com
patible with the large trade 1t has
built up. al this is generally conced
ed to be TO the advantage OF the con
sumer. Nor d es the steel corporation
inconsiderately dump its products on
the market On the contrary. II so
acts that 1t is frequently a stabilizing
Influence. as is often the case with 9th
er large organizations. II 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. II Is not
compelled to send years work TO the
market at one time and take whatever
II can get under such circumstances.
1t 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 sim
gle Indignation of the steel corporation
is represented about 40 per cent of the
steel production Of America. The rest
Is mostly In the hands of a few large
companies. In ordinary times the
steel corporation. by example, stabilizes
all steel prices. If this is permissible
ut is even desirable. because stable
and fair prices are essential to solid
and continued prosperity why would
IL be wrong for the farmers to utilize
lar effects on agricultural products?
Something like that is what they are
aiming at
Some farmers favored by regional
compactness and contiguity. such as the
trus-fruit-raisers OF California, al
ready have found way legally 10
merge and sell their products inte
orally and In accordance with seasonal
and local demand, thus improving
their position and rendering the con
sumer a reliable service of ensured
quality, certain supply, and reasonable
and relatively steady prices. They
have not found II necessary to resort
to any special privilege, or to claim
any exemption under the antitrust
legislation Of the state or nation With
out removing local control, they have
built up very efficient marketing
agency. The grain, cotton. and to-
bacco farmers, and the producers %
hides and wool because of their num-
bers and the vastness of their regions.
and for other reasons, have found
more difficult task (;
though there are now some thousands
of farmers cooperative elevators
creameries. and other en-
terprises Of one sort and another, with |
a turnover of billion dollers year.
They are giving the farmers business
experience and training. and so far |
as they 90, they meet the need Of |
honest weighing and fair grading: but |
they do not meet the requirements OF
nationally adjusted marketing In any |
large and fundamental way.
The next step, which win be a pat
tern for other groups. is now being
by the grain-raisers through !.
the establishment of sales media which {
shall handle grain separately or col
lectively, as the individual farmer may
elect. II is this step-the plan of the
OF Seventeen-which has
created so much opposition and Is
thought by some to be In conflict with
the antitrust laws. Though there Is
now before congress a measure de
signed to clear up doubt on this point.
the graln-producers are not relying on
any immunity from antitrust legisla-
ton. They desire. and they are en-
titled. to coordinate their efforts just
as effectively as the large business In
terests of the country have done. In
with the selling organiza-
lions the United States Grain Growers
Is drafting a scheme Of
financing instrumentalities and auxili
Try agencies which are Indispensable
% the successful utilization Of modern
business methods.
1t is essential that the farmers
should proceed gradually with these
llans. aud aim TO avoid the error Of
,crapping the existing marketing ma
.hinery. which has been so laboriously
,uilt up by long experience. before
hey have a tried and proved substi-
ute or supplementary mechanism.
rhey must be careful not to become
,nmeshed in their own reforms and
ose the perspective OF their place in
he national system They must guard
lgainst fanatlcal devotion to new doc
rInes. and should seek articulation
With the general economic system
ather than its reckless destruction as
: relatas to them