The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1922-01-26

A an example Of in,egratlon, take
the steel industry. IN which the model
il the United States steel Corporation,
with lis iron mines its eoal mines, It's
lake and rail- transportation. its ocean
vessels. Us by-prOduct COX 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.
paflble with the large trade II has
built up. All this Is generally eonced-
ed to be 10 the advantage OF the con-
sumner. Nor does the steel corporation
lneonsiderately dump its products on
the market. On the contrary. II so
acts that II is frequently a stabillzlng
Influence, as Is often the case with 9th
er large organizations II Is master Of
It's distribution as well as OF It's pro-
ducti0n. IL prices are not satisfactory
the products are held back or produc-
ton is reduced or suspended. II 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 its 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 rest
Is 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
Git Is even desirable, because stable
and fair prices are essential to solid
and continued prosperity why would
IT be wrong for the farmers to utilize
central agencies that would have SINH
lar effects on agricultural productsi
Something like that is what they are
aiming at.
Some farmers favored by regional
compactues ana contiguity, such MS the
cltrus-fruit-raisers Of California, al
ready have found a way legally 10
merge and sell. their products inte-
orally and in accordance with seasonal
and local demand, thus improving
their position and rendering the con-
sumer a reliable service of ensured
quality. certain supply, and reasonable
and relatively steady prices They
have not found It necessary to resort
to any special privilege, or 70 claim
any exemption under the antitrust
legislation Of the state Or nation With
out removing local control, they have
built up very efficient marketing
agency. The grain. cotton, aud to-
bacco farmers, and the producers ~
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. 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 far
as they go, they meet the need Of
honest weighing and fair grading: but
they do not meet the requirements OF
nationally adjusted marketing In any
large and fundamental way
The next step. which win be a 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
lectlvely, as the Individual farmer may
elect. II 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 I
now before congress a measure de- .
signed 10 clear up doubt on this point. I
the eraln-producers are not relying on I.
any immunity from antitrust leglsla- 1
ton. They desire. and they are en-. l
titled. 10 coordinate their efforts Just 4
AS effectively as the large business in. 4
terests Of the country have done. In 4
connection with the selling organlza- 4
lions the United States Grain Growers I
Incorporated Is drafting a scheme ~
financing instrumentalities and auxili
ary a=enci9 which are Indispensable