The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1923-09-27
FARMER TO SOLVE
OWN PROBLEMS
Lenroot Says Organization
Not Legislation, is Pan
acea for Ills.
POINTS OUT THE WAY
tBy Associated Press Leased wire)

! (By Associated Press Leased Wire)
Sturgeon Bay, Wis-The salvation of
the farmer 'Fdoes not lie in the direc-
tion of governmental activity, but
rather through business organization
with his FELLOWSHIP. S. Senator Irvine
l.. Lenroot, advised his audience OF
fruit growers in talk here tonight on
lt'Farmers' Cooperative Association"
"The farmer is just beginning to
learn the value of organization along
economic lines" Senator Lenroot said
There have been many farm organi-
cations in the past and there are
many now, but most of them soon
after their organization are controlled
by politicians, who lead the members
to believe that all their ills can be
cured by political action, and instead
of functioning as business organiza-
tions should function, they soon be-
come the tail to somebody's political
kite.
Il am glad to say that the American
Farm Bureau and National Grange are
notable exceptions. While there are
many evils affecting the farmer that
are properly the subject of political
concern, his salvation does not lie in
governmental action.
''The farmer must find some method
of organization that will harmonic
with the character of his business, and
this the cooperative farm organiza-
ton does. When they are formed ac-
cording to commodities produced,
there is no reason why the producer
should not have very important
voice in the price he shall receive for
his product, while now he has none.
Through organization only can order
ly marketing be secured, and the sup
ply for the market be measured by the
demand for the product.
Congress Has Acted.
Congress has already done all it
can do to facilitate the organization of
farmers cooperative organizations. A
few years ago, the Fruit Growers AS
Isociations of California were threatened
by the government with indictment as
being in violation of the Sherman Anti
Trust law. Then the request came to
Congress to relieve all farmers CO..
operative organizations from the re-
strictions and penalties of the Sher-
man law. The matter was between the
two houses for over year, through in
ability to agree on measure.
"The Farm Bloc had given up the
matter as hopeless, when Senator Kel-
logg, Minnesota, and 1, neither belong
ing to the Farm Bloc, took up the mat
ter, secured meetings of all parties
interested, and finally obtained an
agreement to put the measure through.
Some of US favoring the measure were
charged with extending a special priv
ilege to the farmer. But we pointed
out the difference in the character of
the business.
"The bill passed, is upon the statute
books today and so far as the federal
government is concerned, farmers are
free to form cooperative organiza-
tions and develop them to great useful
ness without having hang over them
the menace of prosecution under the
Sherman law.
No Magic in Legislation.
Il would emphasize the fact that
there is no magic of legislation, no
Ilegerdemain flaw that can cure the
farmers ills. About all that Congress
can do is to keep open the road of
opportunity for farmers to work out
their own problems"
Senator Lenroot quoted President
Samuel Gompers of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor, who also pointed out
what he said was the futility of legis-
lation to remedy farmers ills. The
Senator said that resident Gompers al
so opposed all antitrust laws.
'Thatl the Sherman law has not sue
ceeded in destroying trusts and COM
binations is true, but I do not agree
with Mr.. Gompers that there should
be no laws to control monopoly" SEN
ator Lenroot added. ''There must be
some way to prevent the people from
being robbed by such monopolies as
the anthracite coal trust and others.
But the law should be employed to
reach evils and not hamper legitimate
associations, and the last Congress in
the legislation l have been discussing
has freed the farmer, and opened the
road for the full development of CO.
operative associations"