The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1925-12-15
rOIyR THOUSAND FROM
40 STATES HEAR HIM
OF CO-OPERA-
TIVE MARKETING is GIVEN
APPROVAL OF EXECUTIVE.
DEALS PATERNALISM A BLOW
Assails Price Fixing as Unsound.
Would Mean Political Control of
Farm Commodities, and Result in a
Great Harm to Agriculture.


Great Harm to Agriculture,
CHICAGO, Ill.-President Cool
.4ra standing before an audience of
nd5rtp farmers assembled here in con-
,ention, warned them they need not
Iook to Washington for legislation
nmbodying artificial relief for their
Some Some 1000 farmers from 40 states
hoard the presidents address and
whether they agreed with him or not
rbeered him Justify at the end. The
oresident was introduced by O. E.
Rradfute president of the federation,
Who was profuse in his thanks for Mr..
Coolidge's leaving Washington on the
onening day of congress to address
the farmers.
The president was speaking to the
convention of the American Farm Blu
reau Federation, but his remarks were
directed in part to the congress then
assembling in Washington. In effect,
he advised those planning to revive
various farm relief measures that his
administration would not countenace
nrice-hxing legislation, direct or indi-
rect.
Would Imperil Co-Ops.
mo matter how it is disguised the
moment the government engages in
buying and selling farm products by
that act it is fixing prices" the presi-
dent said Moreover, it would appar-
emily destroy cooperative association
and all other machinery, for no one
can compete with the government. Vi
timatelv, it would end the independ-
ence which the farmers of the country
eniov as a result of centuries Of strug-
gle and prevent the exercise OF their
own Judgment and control in cultivat-
ing their land and marketing their
produce
Government control can not be di
vorced from political control. The
Overwhelming interest of the. consum-
er. not the smaller interest of the pro-
Queer, would be sure to dominate in
the end"
The administration program for
aiding agriculture, Coolidge said, will
consist of continuance of the protect
i've tariff, assistance in developing CO.
operative marketing organizations and
expansion of federal credit agencies.
The presidents defense of the tariff
as a protection for the farmer was
warm. Citing official statistics, he I'M
dertook to prove that the free list was
especially constructed to favor the
farmer and that 80 per cent OF our inn
ports either come in free or pay duty
TO protect him.
"Of the 53O,OOOOOO of goods pay
ing imports last year." he pointed
out, "$780,OO0,O00 was upon agricul-
tural products, levied solely to pro-
tect the farmer, including animal and
dairy products, grain, fax, wool, sug-
ar, nuts, citrus fruits and many 9TH
ers."
1t cost $260,O00,O00 in duties to
bring this produce in.
Industry Foots Bill.
The total adverse cost to the farm
er's purchase as a result OF the tariff
is only between 2 and 3 per cent OF
his purchase, the executive declared.
Industry and commerce foot the bill.
Pledging his administration to aid
in building up co-operatives, Coolidge
continued:
While the government ought not
to undertake to control or direct, it
should supplement and assist all ct.
forts in this direction. The leaders OF
the cooperative movement, with the
advice of the department OF agricul,-
ture, have prepared what is believed
to be an adequate bill embodying these
principles, which will be presented to