The Mt. Sterling advocate., 1922-02-09
Ill

must uitlmately Dear.
Ill
Now that the farmers are stirring.
thinking. and uniting as never before
TO eradicate these inequalities, they
ase subjected to stern economic lee
lures. and are met with the accusation
that they are demanding, and are the
recipients Of, special privileges Let
rs see what privileges the government
has conferred on the farmers. Much
has been made Of Section Of the
Clayton Antitrust Act, which pur-
ported to permit them to combine with
immunity, under certain conditions.
Admitting that, nominally, this ex-
emption was In the nature Of q special
privilege, though think II was so In
appearance rather than in fact.-we
nnd that the courts have nullined Il
by judicial Interpretation. Why should
not the farmers be permitted to ac-
compllsh by cooperative methods what
other businesses are already doing by
cooperation In the form Of incorpora-
tonf II It be proper for men to form,
by fusion Of existing corporations or
otherwise, corporation that controls
the entire production Of 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 agencies? Why should It be
right for a hundred thousand corporate
shareholders to direct 25 or 80 or 40
per cent Of an Industry. and wrong for
hundred thousand cooperative
farmers to control no larger proper
ton Of the wheat crop, or cotton. or
any other product?
The Department of Agriculture Is
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 to 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 |
tices, In developing better yielding va
rietles through breeding and selection |
In introducing new varieties from re-
mote parts Of the world and adapting
them to our climate and economic con
dition. and In devising 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 is complained that, whereas the
law restricts Federal Reserve banks
to three months time for commercial
paper. the farmer 10 allowed six
months on HIS notes This Is not
special privilege. but merely such
recognition Of business conditions as
makes It possible for country banks
to do business with country people
The crop farmer has only one turn
over a year, while the merchant and
have many. Incidental
~, l note that the Federal Reserve
Board has Just authorized the Fed
aral Reserve banks to discount export
paper for a period Of SIX months. TO
to the nature Of the bust
ness.
The Farm Loan banks arc pointed
10 a. an Instance Of special govern
ment favor for farmers. Are they not
rather the outcome Of laudable efforts
}. auuaIl1A rrrral ana urhau nonAi.
tionsi And about all the government
ioes there Is to help set up an ad-
organization and lend
lttIe credit at the start Eventually
ne farmers win provide all the capt
al and carry all the liabilities them
selves. II IL true that Farm Loan
ponds are tax exempt; but 80 are
,Onds OF municipal light and traction
,lants, and new housing Is 10 be ex-
'mpt from taxation. In New York. Tor
en- years.
On the other hand. the farmer reads
4 plans for municipal housing prof.
cts that run Into the billions, OF hun
reds Of millions annually spent on
he merchant marine; he reads that
he railways are being favored with
increased rates and virtual guarantees
{ earnings by the government, With
he result TO him OF an Increased toll
q all that he sells aud all that he
uys. He hears Of many manifesto
Ions OF governmental concern for par
'--si>- ,aaHsfr'as @~A 'nterAzfs Ras.