The Bismarck tribune., 1923-03-30
4 PERSONAL PRO OBLEM

bank OIL tnlS ulSlTlCl was ohS VI -
serlcs of such meetings, The obJecl
of which is to bring together III
the closest possible contact the
farmers Of the northwest WIN
those engaged in various otler
lines Of business, to the end that
light NAV be shed more directly on
the economic problems which are
pressing for solution The Grand
Forks meeting may be cons dereh
typical, and it is quite clear that
the meetings will be beneficial IN
focusing attention on pressing
problems in bringing about an IN
telligent understanding OF them
and in pointing the way to me.h-
ods which may aid in their Solu-
ton.
Perhaps one Of the most useful
results to flow from these meet
ings may be staged negatively, IN
tie discussions it is brought out
with the greatest clearneSs mat
there is no patent solution for the
present troubles of the farmer, no
quick and easy cure Tor The Ills
which he suffers. Stated affirma-
lively we have the fact that what
ever may be reached ultimately in
tie way of the REIMBURSEMENT Of the
farmers situation the problem or
bcttermcnt in the immediate fu-
ture is an individual problem
which each man must solve for
himself f'
The prices of farm products in
general compare unfavOrably with
the prices of most Of the COmmOdl- :
ties which the farmer must buy.
1t is not true that farming is neccS-
sarily conducted at Il loss, for even
under the conditions Of today there
are farmers who are making
money. But il is more difficult
than usual for the average farmer
to make Il living, and the methods
which in the past have yielded a
profit result now. in very many
cases, in a loss. These things need
only to be stated to be. recognized.
Argument in support of them is
needless.
The condition of the farmer can
he improved by increasing the
! price of his own product, or by de-
crclsng the price of what he has
to buy. What is the prospect III
either direction?
First, consider the matter Of
general commodity prices. How
are they to be lowered in time to
afford material relief, and what
can the individual do to hasten
that result? There has been sc
much insistence on government aid
in every conceivable activity that
many people turn instinct vely tc
| the government for relief from
high prices. Just so long as effort
is put forth in that direction, sc
long will attention be diverte,
| from the only real means fer rcGu
hating prices, and 80 long viii
those who are interested in forcing
prices up to an artificial level be
able to do so.
The government has no authority J
to regulate prices. and any attempt
! on the part of its representatives
to do so would Immediately bt
thwarted by appeal to the courts
except where it could be showl
that criminal consipracy>cX:ste. tie.
to operate a monopoly in unrcas)n
able restraint of trade. Daring
the war we had certain Legislation
which conferred on the admins
trative department authority t.
regulate certain prices within Ger
tain limits. That was wartime
legislation, and all of it has long
since been repealed. Criminal con
/ spiracy is easy to discuss on the
street corner, but the record shows
that it is not an easy thing tt
prove There is not the slightes,
ground for hope Of early result:
from government intervention il
the fixing Of commodity prices
Neither is there prospect of lowe
prices at any early date through
cooperative huying or any Of tho
other methods which are often sug
Scstcd. Even If these methCd:
! may, possibly bring the desired re
suits in the long run. the machin
cry for putting them into operation
is not in existence, and it woult
take years to create it and set i
going
Our people in this section al,
concerned chiefly with the price
of wheat. What can be done t
increase that so that the increas'
will be effective for this year!
crop? Orderly marketing ought tt
help. Reduction of acreage ma.
sumption at home would help
That is about all that is possible
in a large way for this year, TO
government price fixing, whateve
it; possibilities. may be dismisse,
as out of the question for the tim
being, congress having adjourned
and there being no prospects OF al
extra session and no reason to be
lieve that price fixing would b
given serious consideration in an
event.
There remains the attitude of th
individual farmer in the handlin
of his own farm. That is the great
est factor in the whole equation
and it is immensely more import
ant than any other because il ca
be made Immediately effective
, The farmer who has restricte
himself to single crop cannot /
. a single season put into effect
complete system of diversificatio
and rotation. But he can ut lea
make a start in that direction. II
can grow more of his own foo'
He can be more attentive to curl