The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1922-01-27

"
Now. what IS the farmer asking!
Without trying 70 catalogue the re-
medal measures that have been sug-
gested in his behalf. the principal pro
noSals that bear directly on the i'm
D~uvemcmt Of his distributing and mar
keting relations nay be summarized as
f, lows -
First: storage warehouses for cot
ton. wool, and tobacco, and elevators
for grain, of sufficient capacity to meet
the maximum demand on them at the
peak of the marketing period. The
farmer thinks that either private CAPT
tai must furnish these facilities, or the
state must erect and own the eleva-
tors and warehouses.
Second: weighing and grading Of
agricultural products, and certilication
thereof, to be done by impartial and
disinterested public inspectors (thiS IS
already accomplished to some extent
by the federal licensing Of weighers
and graders), to eliminate underpay-
ing, overcharging, and unfair grading,
and TO facilitate the utilization Of the
stored products as the basis Of credit.
Third: certainty Of credit sufficient
to enable the marketing of products
in an orderly manner.
Fourth: the Department Of Agricu!-
tnre should collect, tabulate. summa-
rize and regularly and frequently pub
lish anC distribute to the farmers. full
information frrm all the markets OF
the world. so that they shall be as well
informed of their selling position as
buyers now are Of their buying posi-
ton.
Fifth: freedom to integrate the buSl-
ness of agriculture by means of con-
solidated selling agencies. coordinat-
ing and cooperating in such way as 10
put the farmer on an eqna! footing
with the large buyers of his products,
and with commercial relations in other
industries.
When a business requires specialized
talent. it has 10 huy il. So viii the
farmers: and perhaps the best way for
them to gel it would be to utilize some
Of the present machinery OF the larg-
est established agencies dealing in
farm products. OF course, If he wishes,
the farmer may 90 further and engage
in flour-mi!ling and other manufactures
Of food products. In my opinion.
however he would be wise to stop
short of that. Public interest may 5e
opposed 10 all great integrations: but.
in Justice. should they be forbidden 70
the farmer and permitted to others:
Tie corporate form Of association can
not now be wholly adapted to his OBJ
iects ana conditions. The l00Ser CO.
operative form seems more generally
suitable. Therefore. he wishes to he
free. Il he finds it desirable and feaS-
ible, TO resort to cooperation with his
fellows and neiglbOrs, without run
ming afoul of the law. To urge that
the farmers should have the same lib
ertv to consolidate and coordinate
their peculiar economic functions.
which ether Industries in their fields
enjoy. is not. however, 10 cOncede that
any business integration should have
legislative sanction to exercise mon0p-
olistic power. The American people
are as firmly opposed to industrial as
to political autocracy, whether at
tempted by rural or by urban industry.
For lack Of united effort the farmers
as whole are sill marketing their
crops by antiquated methods. or by no
methods at all. but they are surrounded
by a business world that has been
mo1ernizcd TO the last minute ana is
tirelessly striving for efficiency. This
efficiency is due in large measure to
bio business. to united business, 20 in
tegrated business. The farmers now
seek the benefits o9 such largeneSS, un
ion and integration.
The American farmer IS a modern Of
the mnderns in the use Of labor saving
machinery, and he has made vast
! strides in recent years in scientific
! ,illage and etlicient farm management,
| hut ms a business in contact with other
! businesses agriculture is "one horse
shay" j. competition with high power
automobiles. The American farmer *
! the greatest and noSt intractahie Of
ind;yidualSt<. While industrial pro
ducliom AM ali phases Of the huge com
mprcial mechanism AND It's myriad ac-
| ceSSories have artirGiatcd and r0-nyGi.
n"red themselves all the way from nat