The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1922-01-20
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spoHage, waste, scarcity. the resuIrs
OF defective distribution of farm nrod-
ucts. Should it not occur to ms that
we have common interest with the
larmer in his attempts to attain a de-
gree of efficiency in distribution cor
responding to his efficiency fnaproduc-
lloh! do not the recent fluctuations
IN the May wheat option, apparently
unrelated to normal interaction Of
supply and demand, offer a timely
proof of the need of some such stabiI-
lzing agency as the grain growers have
in contemplation?
1t Is contended that. If their nro-
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 he 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. 1
have no apprehenslons on this point.
In the first place, a loose OrganiZa-
ton, such as any union of farmers
must be at best, cannot be so arbi-
trarily and promptly controlled as n
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, in fixing prices. The great
law of supply and demand works in
various and surprising ways. to the
undoing of the best laid plans that
attempt to foil It, 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 its
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 giva an orderly
and abundant flow of farm products
~ tiC consumer anu ClIShIC
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 n
continuous and increasing stream of
farm products. They are far from get
ting a 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 thu
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
and half the total population of the
nation, the rural communities Ordi-
narily enjoy but fifth to quarter of
the net annual national gain. Notwith-
standing the taste of prosperity that
the farmers had during the war; there
is today 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 a 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 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 to cooperate, il only from our
own enlightened self interest, in OBJ
tanning an abundant and steady flow of
farm products?
In examining the agricultural situa
ton with a view to its Improvement,
we shall be most helpful II we maln-
tain a detached and judicial viewpoint.
remembering that existing wrongs may
he chiefly an accident of unsymmetri-
cal economic growth instead of Il crea-
tion Of malevolent design and conspira-
cy. We Americans are prone, az Pro-
lessor David Friday we'll says in his
admirable book, profits. Wages and
Prices" to seek criminal intent be-
hind every difficult and undesirable eco
monte situation" l can positively as
sert from my contact with men OF
large affairs, including bankers. that.
as 81 whole. they are endeavormg to
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
nersonal attention or their conStruc'
five abilities to the deficiencies of a%rt-
cultural business organization. Agri-
ruIture il may he said, suffers from
their preoccupaticn and neglect rather
than from any purp0seful exploitation
Inv them. They ought now to begin I"
resnond to the farmers difficulties,
which they must realize are their own.
ON the other hand, my contacts with