Pocahontas star herald., 1924-03-14
Protection Against Protection

The defeat In the United States Sen
ate Of the amendment to the farm re-
lief measure that provided for an ap-
preparation of S5,0O0.O00 TO be used in
financing fertilizer purchases and the
treason therefor, must make 1t appear
as if the measure itself is skating on
thin ice. The objection to the amend
ment that carried majority vote
against it was based on the grounds
that il would entail an unnecessary
intrusion Of the government into a
highly competitive business. Its Op-
ponents insisted that the provision
was nothing else hut state socialism
and bordered ON communism. I'm
doubtedly it would establish bad
precedent because it would furnish
the opportunity for all other interests
of the nation to appeal to the govern
ment to conduct their business when
ever they got into distress.
In so far as the defeated amend
ment was entirely consonant in its
purposes with the measure to which it
was offered, the outlook for the bill
itself cannot appear any too rosy. The
original bill provides for a govern
ment appropriation Of $75,O00,O00 to
finance diversiicatiOn Of crops among
zone crop" farmers. The basic idea of
the measure has possibilities almost
beyond value for the farmers and for
the agricultural development of the
nation. If the end desired might be
achieved by the appropriation asked
there can be no doubt about the in
vestment being a profitable one. But,
on the other hand, government con-
duct of the agricultural business could
be made the first step toward state
socialism If not even worse.
The government can teach, urge and
direct the various interests of the ma
ton in the conduct of their business
along successful lines. 1t can also
forbid and prevent methods that are
contrary TO law. But It cannot force
farmer, any more than 1t can a mer-
chant, TO conduct his business accord
ing to rules of efficiency IL might de-
eide upon. And an appropriation to
that end would of necessity be a
measure of compulsion.
Neither can a government by any
sort of statute permanently enjoin the
natural working of the law Of supply
and demand and the attendant law Of
distribution. For the latter, IL can
prescribe regulations and enforce them.
II can II IL so wills and 80 works pre-
vent the taking of unjust and un-
reasonable prifits by those engaged in
the process of distribution. But II can
not by tariffs or any other enactment
except temporarily by subsidies or pur-
chases, keep up the prices of products
when the supply exceeds the demand.
Anu lHt NesleTH ldImtIS, lOT WuOHl
the relief is intended, are in the posi-
ton where the markets for their pro-
ducts are not sufficient to absorb the
supply.
The western farmer is suffering
chiefly from a protective tariff that
increases the price of the things he
has to demand and does not increase
the demand for the things he has to
sell. Instead of seeking bounties for
the farmer under present conditions,
therefore, the government would ac-
complish much more by removing the
penalties that are imposed upon him
by the tariff on the things he is com
PEELED to have. What the farmer
seems TO need most right now is not
protection against natural laws but
protection against such artificial stat
utes as seek to suspend natural laws.
In short, the farmer most needs pro-
lection against protection.-Commer-
cial Appeal.