The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1922-01-26
III

to eradicate these inequalities, they
are subjected to stern economic lee
lures, and are met with the accusation
that they are demanding. and are the
recipients of. special privileges. Let
Us see what privileges the government
has conferred on the farmers Much
has been made OF Section 9 Of the
Clayton Antitrust Act, which pur.
ported TO permit them TO combine with
immunity, under certain conditions
Admitting that. nominally. this ex.
emptlon was in the nature Of a special
privilege.-though I think II was so In
appearance rather than In fact,-we
fnd that the courts have nullified II
by judicial Interpretation. Why should
not the farmers be permitted to &C.
compllsh by cooperative methods what
other businesses are already doing by
cooperation In the form Of lncorpora.
tion1 II II be proper for men to form,
by fusion Of existing corporations or
otherwise, a corporation that controls
the entire production Of q commodity,
or a large part OF II. why Is II not
proper for a group Of farmers to unite
for the marketing Of their common
products, either In one or In several
selling agenciesf Why should II be
right for a hundred thousand corporate
shareholders to direct Is or 30 or 40
per cent Of an Industry. and wrong for
hundred thousand cooperative
farmers TO control a no larger proper
ton OF the wheat crop. or cotton. or
any other product7
The Department Of Agriculture Ii
often spoken Of as a special concession
to the farmers. but In Its commercial
results. II Is Of as much benefit TO the
buyers and consumers Of agricultural
products as 70 the producers. or even
more. do not suppose that anyone
opposes the benefits that the farmers
derive from the educational and re-
search work OF the department, or the
help that II gives them In working out
improved cultural methods and prac.
tees, In developing better yielding va
rietIes through breeding and selection.
In introducing new varieties from re-
mote parts Of the world and adapting
them 10 our climate and economic con
dItion. and In devislng practical meas
ures for the elimination or control OF
dangerous and destructive animal and
plant diseases, insect pests. and the
like. All these things manifestly tend
to stimulate and enlarge production.
and their general beneficial effects are
obvious.
II IL complained that, whereas the
law restricts Federal Reserve banks
TO three months time for commercial
paper. the farmer IL allowed six
months on his notes. This Is not a
special privilege, but merely such
recognition Of business conditions as
makes It possible for country banks
10 do business with country people
The crop farmer has only one turn
over year. while the merchant and
manufacturer have many. Incidental
", note that the Federal Reserve
Board has Just authorized the Fed
eral Reserve banks to discount export
paper for a period Of six months, to
conform to the nature Of the bust.
ness.
The Farm Loan banks are pointed
to as an instance Of special govern
ment favor for farmers. Are they not
rather the outcome Of laudable efforts
70 equallze rural and urban condl-
tionsf And about all the government
does there IL TO help set up an ad-
organization and lend a
little credit at the start. Eventually
the farmers viii provide all the capt.
tai and carry all the liabilities them
selves. II Is true that Farm Loan
bonds are tax exempt; but so are
bonds OF municipal light and traction
plants, and new housing Is to be ex-
empt from taxation. In New York, for
ten years.
On the other hard, the farmer reads
Of plans for municipal housing prof.
ects that run into the billions. Of hun
dreds Of millions annually spent on
the merchant marine; he reads that
the railways are being favored with
Increased rates and virtual guarantees
Of earnings by the government, with |
the result to him of an Increased toll
On all that he sells and oil that he |
buys. He hears Of many manifesto.
ions OF governmental concern for par
ocular industries and interests Res.
'uing the railways from insolvency Is
for the benefit OF the
as a whole. but what can be
" more general benefit than encour-
,gement OF ample production Of the
principal necessaries OF life and their
wen flow from contented producers to
Iatisfied consumers?
While II may be conceded that
peclal governmental aid may be nee.
'ssary In the general interest. we must
IN agree that II Is difficult to see why
agriculture and the production and dis
OF farm products are not &C
orded the same opportunities that are
provided for other businesses espe-
tally as the enjoyment by the farmer
4 such opportunities would appear TO
. even more contributory to the gen.