Evening star., 1924-03-16
Proposes to Aid the Farmers
By ''Tapering.Off" Process

American people who must purchase
them or starve. Yet there is no legal
WHY to drive commission merchants,
wholesalers and retailers out of busi-
/ ness. u anybody wishes to do busi-
ness with any OF them. 10 is his right.
Tho railroads Of this country, not
withstanding statements to the con-
| trary, have shown rather conclusively
In compelled to pay for the .ranspor-
| tation OF his crops to the market is
but small proportion Of the cost
TO tho ultimate consumer. I have yet
to have brought to my attentton a
workable hypothesis by which a re-
duotion In transportation charges
would inure to the benefit OF the
farmer. l know OF no one who has
| agreed to execute an indemnity bond
conditioned that IL the railroad rates
on farm products were cut in two, the
| saving would pass into the pockets
OF the farmers and not into the pock-
cts OF the middlemen and consumers,
benefit. 0 ' 1' ~
Manifestly. the one important thing
| for the farmer just now is q market
for his surplus products Whenever
there shall come a demand for the en-
tire agricultural product of this coun-
try. when men shall bid for it, know
ing there will be no surplus. but that
al will be required for immediate con-
sumption. then prices received by
the farmer for his products will be
| enhanced. The European situation re-
| veals q demand for the surplus farm
| products of America IL there. were
some way in which their sale could be
/ financed. AS a permanent policy.
| would be opposed to the govern
menf aQsi9finV nd n -
intoxicants to any industry. either
! for the purpose OF making II feel
good for time, or with a view to
restoration to health. But the ancient
doctrine of tapering off might proper
ly be applied in the case of agricul-
ture.
Why not listen to the modest re-
quest Of the agriculturists Of Ameri-
ca! Why may not the government ad-
| vance the money for a farmers ex-
port financing commission to sell our
surplus farm products upon credit in
European markets where they are
sorely needed? The farmer with his
modesty and high sense of patriotism
| Is not asking that the government
shall give to him any sum of money.
He is willing. if the money shall be
advanced to finance the expectation
OF his surplus crops. that all losses
which may be sustained shall be made
good to the government by benefi-
ciaries of the exporting plan. Per-
sons who are wise enough economi-
cally usually to know what they are
talking about say that this plan
would bring increased values to farm
products and would measurably re-
store agricultural classes to q sound
financial basis.
|, 1t is what l would call a tapering-
of process. Experimentation for two
or three years would disclose either
that the plan was falacious or suffi-
GENTLY beneficial that the farmers
themselves should take charge and
dismiss the government from further
activity. Although opposed to the
whole system OF government aid to
business, / feel that justice demands
that our government which has done
much for other industries should DO
this much for agriculture. The indus
try must be restored to normal con-
dition. Farmers must be returned to
a conteuted state OF mind.
Copyright, 1924. by Twenty first Century
Ptess.)