Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-10-17

the producers of that commodity.
Suppose that when 1t ascertained
this fact it should authorize such
producers to form a corporation Tor
taking care of the surplus, either
storing it to meet a possible future
domestic need or exporting 1T upon
the best terms available, the expens-
es and losses incurred for storage OF
in export to be borne proportionateiy
by all the producers of that particu-
lar commodity.
"such board could function sue
cessfully, in my opinion, only If 1t
operated through and in hearty SYM
pathy with cooperative commodity
associations. 1t could expect to pre-
vent ruinous over production only IN
cooperation with such associations.
1t is vital to any plan, therefore, that
it should be so framed as 10
strengthen and not to weaken the
cooperative movement. For in tnat
movement lies the best hope for the
future of American agriculture.
II throw this out by way or sug-
gestion. I am aware of the practical
difficulties in the way of any plan,
but practical difficulties can always
be overcome where there is VIII
and where the principle is sound.
"If there Is a better way let us
find it. But let us not confess our
selves impotent in the presence OF
what many Americans deem to be
the greatest menace to the future or
our Civilizations decaying agricul-
ture.
Recently, according to the press,
a party of American coffee importers
visited Brazil to see if they could not
secure a reduction in prices from the
Brazil Coffee Institute, the organlzd-
ton that handles these coffee ex-
ports. They did not secure the re-
duction, but were reported returning
to New York, convinced that present
prices yielded little more than pro-
duction costs and reasonable profits
for the producers The American
farmer is a large consumer of coffee.
He knows that he is paying double
or more the price which he paid. a
few years ago, due to the .valoriza-
ton plan. He pays for his coffee
with the proceeds of his wheat or
his pork or his cotton, which he Is
told must be sold at world prices I'M
der the operation of the law of sup
ply and demand. He becomes sore
ly puzzled.
Britain and Rubber
"a few years ago the rubber plant
ers in the eastern colonies Of Great
Britain were we'll nigh bankrupt be-
cause of the low prices they were re-
ceiving for their rubber. They sue
ceeded in interesting the British
Government in their troubles. The
Colonial Office of that government
worked out what was known as the
Stevenson plan. Under, that plan,
~ adnnfn6
the aim was the same, namely to
adjust the supply of rubber in the
markets of the world to the actual
demands of commerce. All the world
knows the result. The price of raw
rubber has greatly increased and
these far-off colonies are among the
most prosperous portions of the Brit
ish Empire. In the case OF rubber,
it is probable they have gone too far,
and in any plan which we might
adopt we would be wise to avoid the
excuses to which the British Gov
eminent seems to. have gone
II am not advocating either the
valorization plan of Brazil or the
Stevenson plan of Great Britain. L
do think, however, that just as Bra
I'll has found way by which her
coffee surplus is no longer a menace
and England method by Whlch her
rubber surplus no longer paralyzes
the rubber growing industry, so we
in America may, if we will, find II
means of taking from the back of
the American farmer the burden of
his surplus.
Leaders in the British petroleum
industry, l am told, are already pro-
claiming that when America shall
have exhausted her supplies of oil,
Great Britain will, by some similar
method, lay the American people I'M
der tribute for it's future oil sup
plies"