Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1925-07-09


Agriculture have constantly urged larger produc'
ton. They have assumed, and naturally think,
that the more wheat and corn we raise the fewer
hungry mouths there will be and that the more
cotton we produce the fewer people viii be Obliged
to 60 naked or but half clothed For whatever
economists may say as TO surplus we know that
there really has never been too much Of food or
too much OF clothing for needy world. And Of
course It follows that the larger the production
per unit the cheaper will the product he. But
when large production Is used to drive prices down
to make large production less profitable than
small production large production will not con-
tlnue. and the world viii therefore have to pay
for the necessares OF life. This therefore Is
the consumers problem as we'll as the producers.
II has been shown again and again that compe-
titon when It goes to the extent OF forcing prices
below the cost of production, in the end Ia as dis
astrous to the consumer as 70 the producer him
self The decentralization Of an industry which In
evitably follows results In an Increased cost OF
production which the consumers finally must meet
Organization IL a most powerful factor in hu.
man progress. The economist as long ago as Adam
Smith found In organization the key to industrial
growth. Organization the difference be
tween the mob and a highly organised progressive
society
In the modern world the farmer alone has been
the last to realize the value Of organization for les
own sake And therefore II happens that when the
pose they soon hnd that there are other benefits
derived IN addition to the one that was their spe
cial aim. finer community life, widening Of
sympathies with their neighbors and associates, o
broadening Of their outlook upon the world, new
sense Of the dignity and worth Of their calling an
elevation of the ablesf and worthiest among them
to places of leadership. are among the by-pr0d-
ucts OF farmers organisations. ~
Agriculture has emerged from it's primitive
state. II must therefore conform TO those sprac-
tices which have been found necessary 10 the
success Of other great industries. In sill other
nelds Of commerce unrestricted, free and open
competition IN the marketing OF products has been
gradually disappearing
Arriculture. therefore, finds Itself with its mil.
Hons OF members freely competing among them
selves while II is obliged 10 sell its products In
highly organized Industrial and commercial world |
Now. II the farmers are to put themselves upon |
terms OF equalityswth the great industries Of the
country they. too. must organize. II IL not desir-
able that they should initiate the great industries
don't the corporate form Of organization and op-
crate their farms through corporate management
II would weaken our whole social structure II
our millions Of farmers surrender their In
dviduaism in this way. Nor is II necessary. While
much improved efficiency IN production Is still pos
sible. the farmers have made and are making con
slant progress In this respect The problems which
nrees hardest upon him today are concerned With
he marketing Of his products at a price which
win enable him TO live and to go on producing. He
must find some way 10 restore the proper relation
thin between the prices he receives for his prod
,cts and the prices he pays for other commodI-
les.
Those who oppose the principle seem TO think
hat in some sort OF way the cooperative associa-
IONS are seeking to avoid the operation Of the law
= unpply and demand. Quite the reverse Is true.
rhose who advocate this form Of marketing are
eeking only 90 create conditions by which that
aw win operate fully as between the seller and
he buyer Of farm products AZ present II does
ot.
Farmers cooperative marketing associations
osVe4er, are making real progress Some have
aiIed Doubtless others stnl WIN fail The NOR
atty among Them however has been no greater
nan among new business ORGANIZATIONS Of any
sler kind Of which knew " e have been GATH
ring large fund OF experience which win enable
OF only thoee already organized, but new ones yet
be- TO avoid largely the errors Of the past. They
70 destined one day to occupy the entire 6eld for
,ere Is no other way ont Just when that happy
az shall come 40 man can tell II depends large
uuun che farmers themselves.
This Is NOT the problem Of agriculture alone. II
the problem OF all Because there can be no en-
ming prosperity unless all the principal indus-
les which SO 20 make up the commercIsl world,
.epfng step with one another. shall march
Ireasf-