The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1926-06-04
A FINANCIER'S /

Interesting indeed are the remarks by Otto H.
Kahn, well known f%inancier, on the present stu
alton of agriculture. We present them without
comment, except to intimate that deeds, not
words, are what count. In the course of an adj
dress delivered before the Chamber of Commerce
at Richmond, Va, recently, Mr.. Kahn said in
part:
"f there is one calling which has a higher
claim than another upon the helpful consideration
of the state, it is that of the farmer. The farmers
problem is part of our problem. The farmers
welfare is an essential part of our welfare.
For many years the farming industry has not
yielded adequate returns. Many farmers are
gravely disconnected and under an intense sense
OF grievance toward the existing order of things.
Adversely, more or less acute, has been the fate
OF a great portion Of the farming community.
while general business has been prosperous and
wages have attained unprecedented levels.
1T is harmful and menacing to the common
wealth that so numerous and so valuable a portion
OF the population should feel dissatisfied and re-
sentful and be without prosperity. = = = Both
justice and self interest demand of the community
at large that every legitimate endeavor be- put
forth to the end that the farmers grievances be
redressed. If that redress can be accomplished
only by methods which, while practicable and
economically warrantable and promising to be
effective, are novel and perhaps unpalatable to
the established ways of business, then the less
important will have to yield to the more i'm
pOrtant-that is, business convenience and Gus
toms to the rehabilitation of the farming industry.
ct is not sufficient to answer the farmers
complaint to refer him sternly to the rigid func-
1 tIOOj0U Of fho low Of C7Trr1Vy oDJ Io-.O-I - 4
the doctrine of the survival of the fittest: be.
cause in reply the farmer will contend that, in
other respects and for reasons which seemed
valid tC congress, we have not scrupled to inter.
fere, through acts of government and otherwise
with the untrammeled workings Of that law anC
that doctrine; and he will and does claim that We
either adhere to them strictly all around or give
him the effective advantage of dispensations
similar to those which have been granted in the
case of other callings.
Gas to the argument that the adoption o.
measures sufficiently thorOugh-going to give rea
relief to the farmer might set a dangerous pre-
cedent, it seems to me that aversion to, or an
prehensiOn of establishing a precedent is never
a valid reason for failure to do that which /.
justly called for. I feel assured that we MAY
rely-and, indeed, under a popular system o.
government we must rely-upon the soundnesr
and watchfulness of public opinion to see to i
that precedents are mot hamfulIy misappIied o.
abused.
Unless well-Eonsidered, sincere and earnest
efforts are promptly put into operation by con
gress, within the limits Of economic soundnesl
and practicability, to accomplish the object il
view, the danger looms ahead that a large section
Of the farming vote may succumb to the speciou,
responsiveness and false promises Of the well
meaning, self-deceived purveyor Of political anc
economic nOstrums and decisions, often disprove,
but ever resurging, or Of the cunning demagogu,
and fOmentOr of class animOsity."