Tombstone epitaph. (Tombstone, Ariz.) 1887-current, 1922-01-22

speculstiyely manipulated prieea.
spoiiage. waste. scarcity. the results
VI defective distribution of farm prod
ucts. Should Il not occur to US that
~e have common interest with the
farmer In his attempts to attain q de-
gree u efficiency In distribution cor
responding to his efficiency In produc-
fiont Do not the recent fluctuations
In the May wheat option. apparently
unrelated 10 normal interaction OF
supply and demand. offer a timely
proof Of the need Of some such stabil-
izing agency as the grain growers have
In contemplation?
II Is contended that. II 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 'dat IL will be possible to pervert
II t,~Arbitrary and oppressive price
fixing from Its legitimate use Of order
ing and stabiliziny the how Of farm
products TO the market. TO the mutual
benefit Of producer and consumer. I
nave no apprehenslons on this point
In the first place. a loose organiza-
tion. such as>any union Of farmers
must be at best. cannot be 50 arbi-
trariiy and promptly controlled as q
great corporation The one Is a lum-
hering democracy and the other an agile
autocracy. In the second place. with
all possible power Of org .nizaiion, the
farmers cannot succeed to any great
extent. or for any considerable length
OF time. In fixing prices. The great
law ~ supply AMI demand works in
various and surprising ways. 10 the
gndoing of the best laid plans that
attempt u foil it. In the third place,
their power will avail the farmers
nothing II IL be abused In our tim.
and country power Is OF value 10 its
possesS"r only 50 long "a IL IL not
abused. II l. fair - say that have
seen II" signs in responsible quarters
OF - disposition 10 dictate prices.
There -eems. on the contrary, TO be a
commonly beneficial purpose to realize
stability that will Civ an orderly
and abundant flow " farm products
10 The consumer and ensure reasonable
and dependable returns to the pro-
Queer
In view IL 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
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 furmer and his
family. he Is remuners;ed less than
any other occupational class, with the
possible exception of teachers. reii-
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, II must be
remembered that. although represent
Ing One-third OF the industrial product
and half the total population Of the
nation. the rural communities ord-
narily enjoy but fifth 10 qudrter OF
the net annual national gain N1twith.
standing the taste OF prosperity tina;
the farmers had during the war. thers
Is today lower standard Of living
among the cotton farmers If rha South
than in any other pursuit In he country
In conclusion. it seems 10 me ;iat the
farmers are chiefly striving Tor a gen.
orally beneficial Indignation OF thelr
business. OF the same kind and charac-
ter that other business enjoys. II il
should be found On examination tina,
the attainment 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 10 cooperate. II only from our
own enlightened self interest. in OBJ
tanning an abundant and steady dow Of
farm products?
In examining the agricultural situa.
ton with view TO its Improvement.
we shall be most helpful II we main
tain a detached and judicial viewpoint,
that existing wrongs may
be chiefly an accident OF unsymmetri-
cal economic growth instead Of crea.
tion OF malevolent design and conspira-
cy. We Americans are prone. as Pro
fessor David Friday well says In his
book, profits. Wages and
Prices" to seek a criminal intent be
hind every dificult and undesirable eco
nomic situation" can positively as
sert from my contact with men OF
large affairs. including bankers. that.
as whole. they are endeayoring 10
fulfill as they SEE them the obligations
that go with their power. PreoccupIed
with the grave problems and heavy
tasks OF their own immediate affairs,
they have not turned their thoughtful
personal attention or their construc-
tive abilities to the deficiencies OF agri-
cultural business organization. Agri-
culture, II may be said. suffers from
their preoccupation and neglect rather
than from any purposefui exploitation
by them hey ought now 10 begin to
respond To the farmers difficulties.
which they must realize are their own.
TN the other hand. my contacts with
The farmers have filed me with respect