The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1924-03-18

Thirds of This Sum Is Given to
Distributing Agencies.
Nineteen million persons are traf-
ticking in the products raised by 81
100000 farmers and getting for the
farmers products 50 to every dollar
received by the farmer himself.
Seven and half billion dollars is
about the sum the farmer collects
each year for his products. The con-
sumner pays $22 500000,000 for these
same products. The $15,000,06o,000
difference represents the amount alb
sorbed by the dealers, middlemen,
SPECTATORS and other toll takers.
! These are the figures set forth by
Senator Arthur Capper, of Kansas,
champion of farmers and farming, in
an address at a recent farm meeting
at Springfield, Mass.
A few weeks ago. he said, $50 farm
ers at Imbler, Ore, held banquet
which cost them 10 cents a plate on
the basis of farm prices. The same
meal. prepared in a restaurant at
Portland, Ore, cost $l.55, difference
of $139 a plate.
Farmer Carries Burden.
This tells the story of the con-
sumer's high cost of living and the
farmers inadequate return on his in
vestment, property and labor" said
Senator Capper THE wheat which
went into a barrel of flour in 1923 cost
virtually the same as in 1913, on the
farm. In 1913 the margin between the
cost of the flour and the bread made
from it was $1,000, but in 1928 it was
$3.50.
"The farmer lost money on every
bushel of wheat he raised, But New
York city baking company made
profit of 118 per cent on its 1928 bus
mess.
"At present the farmer stands out
side the counter. He must pay what
an organized market demands of him;
he must accept what an organized
market offers for his wares. Farmers
are the only unorganized group in
! bushes and industry Because they
/ lack organization they get only ~
/ 500,000,000 of the $22, 500, 600, 600 con
sumers pay each year for their prod
uCtS.
Must Control Selling Market.
This is a tragic absurdity. We must
relieve the farmer by restoring the
purchasing power of his dollar to an
equality with other dollars The farm
err must take control of his selling
market. And cooperative marketing
offers the best method of bringing this
about
Farmers cooperative marketing
associations did a $2,000000,000 bust
ness last year in the United States
alone. 1t was divided as follows:
Grain. 1000 organizations, $500 00O-
| 900 volume of business; dairy prod
ucts, 1.841. $500 100000; shipping of
live stock, 1882, $22O,000000; fruits
and vegetables, $50, $280,000000; cot
ton, 78, $1O0,000000; tobacco, IA,
1882, 100000
Such a record shows that cooper
alive selling is no untried method i'll
| the United States. In other countries
lit has been tested more completely
for half a century. 1t has been found
good.
Encouragement OF such marketing
organizations has been the announced
policy of the government of the Unit
ed States The country is committed
to the policy, and both the admins
trative and legislative branches OF the
federal government should lend the
cooperative associations every legitl-
mate and constructive assistance
Industries Organized.
The farmer is entitled to this help.
1t is the part of wisdom to give it to
him. For the problem is distinctly and
vitality national in scope. Prices of
farm products have fallen about half
since the world war Other commodi
ties have not fallen in like proportion.
"Other industries are organized.
They can adjust their production to
probable demand. From time to time,
as conditions require change, they
can fix the prices of their productions
The farmer cannot do this. He cannot
pass on his increased production costs
to the consumers.
The farm producer is entitled to a
greater share of the profits of his toll
and soil. He must get that other sew
en- and half billion dollars coming to
him. Until this is done the return of
the agricultural industry to a sound
and profitable basis will be postpon-
ed"