The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-06-29
MIDDLEMEN TO
RECEIVE BLOW
FROM HARDING
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operation, tho willingness to be mu-
tually helpful. the determination TO
give first place to the interests of
the community. you could not have
your west what 1t Is Working CO.
operation on a great scale, practical
In operation and adequate to cope
with our problems, can ever be pos
sible, 1t Is because the west has led so
far In devising such workable pro-
grams.
Developments of the last genera
ton have brought the instrum entail
ties of transportation, of finance, of
corporate organization and the oper-
alton into a close harmony with the
true public interest than ever be-
fore.
Remove Ancient barriers.
Government has sought to make
itself helpful. to point the way, TO
remove ancient barriers of custom
or tradition and to curb the excess
sive demands of privilege. in order
to cheaper for the great public many
of the services which formerly were
dominated by the private interests
and operated with too exclusive a
consideration for private profit. Any
thing tending to break down per-
soHdi initiative, 70 ueSlrOy enterprise
and ambition, must not enter into
any program which can hope for the
approval of the American people.
Ours is an individualistic society, and
We want 1t to remain so. We want
this republic to remain always the
land of opportunity wherein every
mans abilities and usefulness shall
measure his personal advancement
and prosperity. The kind of a pro-
gram to encourage coordination
which l have in mind would not
interfere with the freedom opportu-
nifty. rather it would enhance the
individuals chance to better his in
dividual fortune"
Shorten Bridge.
The need of this time is to shorten
the bridge between producer and
consumer and to reduce the toll that
must be paid for passing over it. We
all know good deal about the vari-
Gus cooperative societies, associa-
tions and corporations which have
undertaken in many cases with nota-
BILE success to improve the position
of the agricultural producers. Such
organizations have been successful
In all parts of this country and in
many parts of the old world. They
have already done great work and
taught us many valuab lessons.
Where there are obstacles, imposed
by unfort&pate statutes or public
policies or in the way of expanding
well be gradually removed through
measures of helpfulness and en-
couragement.
"On the whole, think the agri-
cultural community has been more
alive to the promotion of its inter-
urban community. The farmers have
been where their interests lay and
have been moro prompt and ener-
getic in adopting effective measures
to promote them than the poole of
the city and town have been. There
Is need to have working and prac-
tical cooperative associations of
producers in the country, and at the
same time to have equally effective
corporations among the consuming
communities of the cities and towns;
and, finally. to link these two sets
OF co-operators together in CO.
ordination for mutual advantage to
both. I believe 1t is possible and al
together desirable that systems of
credit and finance should be devel-
oped. under public auspices, to en-
courage both these kinds of CO.
operation; and to draw them togeth-
or into harmonious working
scheme OF widespread distribution at
the lowest possible expense.
Defend. Farm Measures u
we have in recent years given
much attention to developing a sys-
tenn OF agricultural finance, particu-
larly adapted to the needs of Amer
lean farm producers. Some critics
have indeed protester that it was
class legislation. Perhaps It was;
but as 1 suggested in discussing the
problem Of agriculture in Kansas the
other day, 1t was the interest of a
vitality important section of the COM
munity which has heretofore had all
together too little consideration. Not
only have I no apology for what has
been done in the interests of the
agricultural community. not only do
I regard 1t as the monumental
achievement Of the last generation
in developing our country's institu-
tions-but I venture we might with
profit to the whole world consider the