The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1926-12-04

The Farmer Needs Help and the Government:
Must Give Ii
Duluth Heraldl

i
Must Give II
Duluth Herad)
The movement to relieve agriculture from its
present distress has reached stage where it COM
mands recognition and action.
The farmer is not as prosperous he should be-
and as farm prosperity is the first essential of ma
tional prosperity, the nation whole can no
longer overlook the fact that the farmer must be
made prosperous if there is legal practical and
sensible way to do 1t.
The nation as a whole, too. must realize that
when the farmer declares that since government
aid has built up industry there is no reason why
government aid should not build up agriculture
there can be TO sound disagreement
And it is plain that if the nation persistenty de-
MES to agriculture help comparable to that which
it has given industry, the result will be increasing
bitterness that may, under the manipulation OF
demagoeues have its Outcome in legislation far
more disastrous than anything yet proposed.
The tariff helps industry. but it helps agriculture
little because the price Of the surplus output In any
field Of agriculture is fixed in world markets, ana
that price fixes also what the farmer shall get 1or
that part of his product which is consumed at nome.
The tariff has built up industry and the farmer
does not object, though it means that he must
pay higher prices for what he buys, providing he
can be helped to realize profitable return for his
own labor.
But he will not be patient with system that
builds up industry but refuses to encourage agrcu-
tural prosperity.
The movement to help agriculture started out
with government price-fxing, which wouldn't work
and which shouldn't even be attempted.
But that stage is passed The present proposal
is not that the government shall fix prices but that
it shall help the cooperative marketing agencies
while they handle the surplus the cost of selling the
surplus in any field below domestic prices being
sessed against all products in that field.
1t is not necessary to agree with this plan in all
it's details These are still subject to discussion,
and discussion will change some of them. The ques-
ton of the legality Of taxing all producers to help
the cooperatives when many Of the farmers taxed
may not be members Of c,Operatives is a problem
for legal minds. The Herald does not know how
the government would go about it to make Peter
Johnson, his eighty" in Otter Tail county, pay
his share of this assessment but doubt there is
a way.
But some points seem very clear, and among them
are these:
First, that it is as important that the government,
do for agriculture what it legally, reasonably
and practically it is that it encourage industry.
Second that agriculture in wide field is not as
prosperous it should be, and that the mass Of
farmers not getting the returns their service
and their labors entitle them to.
I Third, that cooperative marketing, which is the
only way farmers can save themselves from forced
sales declining market or can help themselve.
to store their products until better prices are avail
able, should have every possible government help
Fourth. that way must be found to handle the
surplus crop in any field that it will not force
the domestic market down to levels that will be un
profitable to the producers
hat :l.n1,, l..
cooperative marketing organizations operating witt
government help and direction, but never with gov
errment price fixing
i The operation is difficult, is not easy to work o
IN all its details. and is susceptible Of dangerou.
uses. But it is not impossible, its details can b.
worked out, and its processes can be safeguardef
against evil and bad results.
This situation calls fer the best thought the coun
try can summon. and that thought must be all tn,
more carefully applied because the hullaballoo o,
demagcgues will attend every step Of the way.
It will be very badly applied if, when the tasl
- done, any farmer think that all he has to d,
is to raise unlimited amount Of any given prod
uct and trust to the government to find him profit
1t will be very badly applied if, when the task il
done, agriculture is found leaning it's whole weigh
on government crutch. Nothing worse than thu
can happen to any industry.
Inc cooperatves must not only market products
put they must regulate production or their market
ing win fail
bat agriculture needs help. the country need, !.
nave helped, and the administration and congress
s0o sne nation 1t large should turn sympathetic
ear TO the danger signals that come from, The %e,
Ing country. and should join In answering the al
wish relief measures that shall be legal that sal
De sound that shall Be workable. and that shall =
.s!s = moEe md thon ham -.