The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1922-01-26
self sufficient and aid not depend upon,

=
world was doing The result Is that
the agricultural group Is almost az
much at 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 intelllgently striving 10
integrate their Industry so that II viii
be on an equal footing with other bust
neSses
As an example OF migration. take
the steel Industry, In which the model
Ia the United States Steel Corporation.
with It's iron mines. It's coal mines, its
lake and rail transportation. its ocean
vessels. its by-product coke ovens, It's
blast furnaces, its open hearth and
Bessemer furnaces, its rolling mills. It's
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 10 be 10 the advantage Of the con
sumer Nor does the steel corporation
AAANtA2-ANNA Jump iAS PAoA0NN" SN+
the market. On the contrary. II so
acts that II Is frequently a stabilizing
influence, as is often the case with 9th
er large organizations II is master OF
It's distribution as well as Of its pro-
duction. IL prices are not satisfactory
the products are held back or produc-
ton is reduced or suspended. 1t Is not
compelled To send years work 10 the
market at one time and take whatever
II can get under such circumstances.
II has one selling policy and It's own
export department. Neither are the
grades and qualities Of steel deternln-
ed al the caprice Of the buyer. nor does
the latter hold the scales. In this sin
gle Indignation Of the steel corporation
Is represented about 10 per cent of the
steel production OF America The rest
IL mostly In the hands Of a few large
companies In ordinary times the
steel corporation. by example. stabilizes
all steel prices. II this is permissible
CT IS even desirable, because stable
and fair prices are essential 10 solid
and continued prosperity why would
II be wrong for the farmers to utilize
central agencies that would have SINH
idT tltt-S on ithttbA a. BiNbANaN'
Something like that is what they are
aiming at
Some farmers favored nv regional
compa ctuess and contiguity. such as the
cltrus-fruit-raisers Of California, al
ready have found a way legally 10
merge and sell their products int
| orally and in accordance with seasonal
/ and local demand, thus improving
| their position and rendering the con-
! sumer reliable service OF ensured
! quality, certain supply, and reasonable
| and relatively steady prices. They
have not found Il necessary 10 resort
| to any special privilege. OF 10 claim
any exemption under the antitrust
| legislation Of the state or nation. With
out removing local control, they have
| built Up q 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 more difficult task
| though there are now some thousands
| Of farmers cooperative elevators
warehouses, creamerles, ard other en-
terprIses Of one sort and another. with
a turnover OF billion dollers a year
They are giving the farmers bushes:
experience and training. and, so fal
as they go. they meet the need OF
honest weighing and fair grading; bu
they do not meet inc requirements o.
nationally adjusted marketing in an!
large and fundamental way.
The next step. which will be pat
tern for other groups, Is now beint
prepared by the grain-raisers through
the establishment OF sales media which
shall handle grain separately or col
lectively. as the individual farmer ma,
elect II is this step-the plan OF th'
Committee of Seventeen-which ha:
created so much opposition and II
thought by some TO be In conflict witt
the antitrust laws. Though there Il
now before congress measure de
signed 70 clear up doubt on this point
the grain-producers are not relying Oh
any immunity from antitrust iegisla
ton. They desire. and they are en-
titled. TO coordinate their efforts JUS
"a effectively as the large business In
,erests Of the country have done. II
connection with the selling organiza
lions the United States Grain Grower
Incorporated IS drafting a scheme o
financing instrumentalities and auxili
airy agencies which are indispensable
20 the successful utilization Of moderi
business methods.
II Is essential that the farmer
should proceed gradually with thes
mans. and aim TO avoid the error o
scrapping the existing marketing ma
chinery. which has been so laboriousl
buiIt up ny long experience. befor
they have tried and proved subst'
. tute or supplementary mechanism
They must he careful not 10 becom
enmeshed> in their own reforms an
lose the perspective of their place j
tho national system. They must guar
against fanatical devotion to new do'
trines. and should seek srticuiauo
: With the general economic syster
rather than its reckless destruction
II relates 10 them.