San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-08-29
1T MIGHT BE WORSE

l kOnc or the FIRST problems taken up
by Mr.. Coolidge as President. was the
I plight of the farmers. He has been
! quietly discussing the situation with vari-
/, oiis people more or less informed as
| to conditions in the agricultural districts
| OF the country. What plans he has
formulated il any, are not known. They
may not mature until Congress convenes
by which time we opine, conditions on
the farm will be much better than they
are now. That usually is the case when
1.-THE farmer asks for relief-he doesn't
get it until he has no particular need
|, for help. Necessity compels him to solve
! his own problems.
(. That there is widespread distress in
some localities especially among those
Z farmers guilty of growing wheat exclu-
sNely can not be denied. But to say
that there is distress among all OF the
farmers is an exaggeration. Some OF
the people who pretend to champion the
farmers cause would create the impress
SION by their public utterances that the
agricultural industry as whole is on
the rocks and about to go to pieces.
Spch is not the case. Perhaps it would
be fair TO say that fifty per cent or one
half of the farmers difficulties are mag
mary, purely psychological. The other
fifty per cent are very real. Unfortu-
nately political remedies can not aid
them to any great extent.
st is possible that the government may
i fad means of creating better financial
conditions for the farmer than the pres
ent banking methods provide. The in
liability to get loans from one crop period
! to another, is one of the hardships in
I Enhancing farm operations. By far the
most serious problem however, is the
marketing system in this country and
! it, is the opinion of many experienced
men both in the marketing centers and
ion the farms that this can best be rcmc-
!: died by the farmers through Corpora
ltiye organizations, warehouses and other
/; facilities.
I sAs matter of fact, farming condi-
& tibns are by no means as desperate as
they are pictured by demagogues who
,seek farmers votes. The farmer always
has many uncertainties to contend with
.;not usually found in other industries.
s; He is compelled TO gamble every year
Il on weather conditions which in most
Edistricts is an uncertain procedure. When
+ in addition, he must go into the selling
market and gamble for his prices. he
has a combination that he can not beat
The farmers problem in this country
never was in greater need of calm. set
tied, sane and judicious consideration
than now yet there is 4 disposition in
seme quarters to seek an organized farm.
efs' vote and to inject politics into the
situation.
POLITICALLY. the farmer might proti
Somewhat in negative sort of way BY
using his numerical strength at the poll
to elect men to office who will enac
legislation to curtail other industrie
that overcharge the farmer for what h
must buy for agricultural purposes an,
4 others who prey on him in the markets
( But it is doubtful if such Legislation
( ws1l be profitable in the long run. Tn
( farmer has within his own hands, tn
( ppwcr TO curtail such conditions by CO
4 Operative selling and buying. He is tn
4 biggest consumer in the land of certain
/ cemmodities and it is his own fault
he fails to buy in large lots and elm
jnate unnecessary handling charges.
Much OF the sympathy wasted on tn