Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-02-03
FEDERAL CO-OPERATVES
TO AID FARMS, PLANNED
Widespread Interest Shown in Williams
Bill-Scheme Feasible
Fixing Held Impossible.

vantage of the individual producer.
One of the secrets of the successful
cooperative association, he finds
from a wide survey, is that it must
be organized for business only and
composed entirely of producers.
Each member must have something
to sell, thereby establishing a COM
munity of interest. There must be
no politics or no discussions at meet
ings other than their comm ercial
problems.
Price Fixing Held Impossible.
One of the chief contentious of
those who oppose such cooperation
among the farmers is that it would
| enable them to fix the price OF food
products. Bernard NJ. Baruch, who
was head of the war industries board,
declares this to be not only without
foundation in fact or intent, but that
! it is an impossibility
Briefly stated, the Williams bill
creates a board of FIVE members, in
Guiding the Secretary of Agriculture,
to be known as the federal co-opera-
tive marketing board, and provides
; that one member shall be an expert
; in cooperative marketing. one in
finance and accounting, one in trans
portation and one an actual farmer,
thus bringing together the principal
activities involved.
The board is required to divide the
country into districts, not exceeding
five. and to establish central offices in
each Of such districts, to be in charge
of district managers. These man
ayers are to act as agents of the
board in carrying out the objects of
the act.
A method Of registration by CO.
operatives, to enable these associa-
lions to participate in the benefits of
the act. is provided. Under this sys-
tenn the association must agree to
keep such records of its transactions
as the board may require and submit
to examination by the board. In this
the act follows very closely the pro-
visions of the national bank act rela-
tive to examinations by national bank
examiners. The reports and state
ments called for by the board are
required to be published in news
papers the same as national bank
statements. This, it is believed. will
meet with the hearty approval Of
the individual members of the asso-
Citations. as it will give them a check
on the financial status and activities
of their organizations and affiliated
associations.
Data Would Be Assembled.
Another feature requires the board
to assemble all available information,
both here and abroad. as to esti-
mated crop production, together with
stocks on hand and probable con-
sumption, and at the proper seasons
to disseminate such information and
estimates, with the end in view that
the American farmer can better gov
ern production and the diversified
ton of crops.
The board is required to cooperate
to the fullest extent with all state
marketing boards and commissions.
The resources of all governmental
agencies, including the foreign repre-
sentative of the State and Commerce
DEPARTMENTS, are placed at the dis
posal of the board.
Both in and out of Congress" Rep
resentative Williams finds out, "a
general agreement is that the farmer
requires further development of
the cooperative marketing idea to
best serve his interests. The pres
ent bill attempts to encourage and
put upon a stable basis the co-opera-
tive marketing associations of the
country and to provide an easy
method for co-ordinating their ac-
tiyities. 1t reasonably assures the
membership of honest and efficient
management of their associations.
The farmers need help from the fed
eral government in bringing them to-
gether in this necessary and Most adj
vantageous movement for their bene-
fit, because of their vast numbers and
widely scattered locations, and con-
sequent inability to do these things
by themselves.
"At the same time no attempt Is
made to put the government into
business nor to disturb the economic
structure by price-fiXing," Represent
alive Williams emphasizes: THE
farmers are fully competent in every
way to help themselves, If they are
given the opportunity to overcome
the difficulties confronting them and
already noted. That Is what this
measure proposes to accomplish. The
public is fully protected as well under
the terms of the bill"
I'M cD