The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1922-01-20
in contemplation?

| IN contemplation?
1t Is commended that, If their pro-
posed organizations be perfected and
! operated, the farmers will have in
their hands an instrument that will be
capable of dangerous abuse We are
told that it will be possible to pervert
1t to arbitrary and oppressive price
fixing from its legitimate use of order
ing and stabilizing the flow of farm
products to the market, to the mutual
benefit of producer and consumer l
have no apprehensions on this point.
In the first place, loose organiza-
ton, such as any union of farmers
must be at best, cannot be so arbi-
trarily and promptly controlled as a
great corporation. The one is a lum-
bering democracy and the other an agile
autocracy. In the second place, with
all possible power Of org nization, the
farmers cannot succeed to any great
extent, or for any considerable length
of time, ip fixing prices. The great
law of supply and demand works in
various and surprising ways. to the
undong Of the best laid plans that
attempt to foil 1t. In the third place.
their power will avail the farmers
nothing If it be abused In our time
and country power is of value to it's
possessor only so long as it is not
abused. 1t is fair to say that l have
seen no signs In responsible quarters
of a disposition to dictate prices
There seems, on the contrary, to be a
commonly beneficial purpose to realize
stability that will givn an orderly
and abundant flow of farm products
to the consumer and ensure reasonable
and dependable returns to the pro-
Queer.
In view of the supreme Importance
to the national well-being of a pros
porous and contented agricultural pop
ulation, we should be prepared to go
a long way In assisting the farmers to
get an equitable share of the wealth
they produce, through the Inaugural
ton of reforms that will procure a
continuous and increasing stream of
farm products. They are far from get
ting fair share now Considering
his capital and the long hours of labor
put in by the average farmer and his
family. he Is remunerated less than
any other occupational class, with the
possible exception of teachers, reli-
gious and lay. Though we know that
the present general distress of the
farmers is exceptional and is linked
with the inevitable economic readjust-
ment following the war, it must be
remembered that, although represent
ing one-third of the industrial product
nation, the rural communities ordi-
narily enjoy but a fifth to a quarter of
the net annual national gain. Notwith-
standing the taste of prosperity that
the farmers had during the war, there
is today a lower standard of living
among the cotton farmers of the South
than in any other pursuit in the country.
In conclusion, it seems to me that the
farmers are chiefly striving for gen.
orally beneficial Indignation Of their
business, of the same kind and charac-
ter that other business enjoys. If it
should be found on examination that
the alignment of this end requires
methods different from those which
other activities have followed for the
same purpose should we not sympa-
thetically consider the plea for the
right to cooperate, If only from our
own enlightened self interest. in OBJ
tanning an abundant and steady flow of
farm products?
In examining the agricultural sltua
ton with a view to its Improvement,
we shall be most helpful If we main
.o,-, dots rhad and indicial viewpoint.