Yerington times. [volume] (Yerington, Nev.) 1907-1932, 1922-02-15

-, an example OF integration, la.
the steel industry, In which tile mode
Is the United States Steel Corporation
with Its iron mines, its coal mines. It's
lake and rail transportation, It's ocean
vessels, Its by-product coke ovens. It's
blast furnaces, its open hearth and
Bessemer furnaces, its rolling mills. its
tube mills and other manufacturing
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
suner. Nor does the steel corporation
inconsiderately dump its products OF
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 it's pro
duction. If prices are not satisfactory
the products are held back or produc
ton Is reduced or suspended. 1t is mol
compelled to send years work to the
market at one time and take whateve,
it can get under such circumstances.
1t has one selling policy and It's 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
is represented about 40 per cent Of the
steel production Of America. The res,
Is mostly in the hands Of few large
companies. In ordinary times the
steel corporation, by example, stabilizes
all steel prices. II this is permissible
lit is even desirable, because stable
and fair prices are essential to solid
and continued prosperity why would
II be wrong for the farmers to utilize
central agencies that would have SINH
lar effects on agricultural products!
Something like that is what they are
aiming at.
Some farmers favored by regional
cumpactness and contiguity. such as the
citrus fruit-raisers of California. al
ready have found q way legally to
merge and sell their products inte-
orally and in accordance with seasonal
and local demand, thus improvin:
their position and rendering the con
sufner reliable service OF ensured
quality, certain supply, aad reasonable
and relatively steady prices. They
have not found 1t 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 a very efficient marketing
agency. The grain, cotton. and to-
bacco farmers, and the producers Of
hides and wool, because Of their mum,
bers and the vastness OF their regions
and for other reasons. have found
indignation 4 more difficult task :
though there are now some thousands
Of farmers cooperative elevators
warehouses, creameries. and other en-
terprises of one sort and another, with
a turnover Of a billion dollers a year
They are giving the farmers business
experience and training, and, so fai
as they so, they meet the need Of
honest Weighing and fair grading; hut
they do not meet the requirements Of
nationally adjusted marketing in any
large and fundamental way.
The next step, which will be pat
tern for other groups, Is now being
prepared by the grain-raisers through
the establishment of sales media which
shall handle grain separately or col
lectively, as the individual farmer may
elect. 1t is this step-the plan Of the
Committee of 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 measure de
signed to clear up doubt on this point,
the grain-producers are not relying Oh
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. lr
connection with the selling organiza
tions the United States Grain Grower.
Incorporated Is drafting scheme OF
financing instrumentalities and auxili
airy agencies which are Indispensable
to the successful utilization of modern
business methods.
1t is essential that the farmer.
should proceed gradually with thes.
pIans, and aim to avoid the error o:
scrapping the existing marketing ma
chinery. which has been so laborlousl,
built up by long experience. 5efor.
they have a tried and proved substi
tute or supplementary mechanism
They must be careful not to bccoms
enmeshed in their own reforms and
lose the perspective Of their place In
the national system. They must guar,
against fanatical devotion to new doe
trines, and should seek Authorization,
with the general economic system,
rather than it's reckless destruction us
II relates to them.
v
To take q tolerant and sympathet!
view of the farmers strivnss FOR be-