The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1928-01-27
(Continued from page One)

which, apparently, is now well thought
of by those in control and which "be-
cause of its compulsory membership
Equalization Fee plan) "is the bull
wark of the Federal Reserve system
according to the statement of the
Federal Legislative Committee of the
American Bankers Association in con-
ventio at Houston, Texas, October "a,
1927.
Different in Canada
You frequently refer to the bene
fits of the Canadian Wheat Pool and
suggest that plan as a solution to the
present farm problem. The Canadian
situation is entirely different to that
of the United States. Canada, as we
all know, with no tariff in mind, is
pooling to get the best price through
cooperative marketing in the worlds
markets for the greater part of its
crop and as a member of this pool
contend that with only 52%S of the
producers members of the pool the
percentage of efficiency falls far
short of what it would be with an
1000 membership. AS a member
receive about 500 of the market price
at the time of marketing, a further
payment in the course of three or
four months and the balance within
a year, less the cost Greatly an Equal
ization fee) whereas my neighbor, one
of the 1870, not a member of the
pool, receives 1000 of the market
price at the time of marketing, thus
receiving every benefit for which he
pays nothing. 1t should be an easy
matter to make the Canadian wheat
pool 1000 efficient in every way and
it is merely justice to compel every
beneficiary to pay his share, no more
no less, for beside the regular tax
provided for various purposes in Can
ada we find such taxes as the surtaX,
the wild land tax, hail tax on raw
land, the latter equivalent to paying
fire insurance on a vacant lot to pro-
tect the neighbors' building; thus
legislation making every bushel pay
its way should find little opposition
and so, as you can readily see, could
be made 1000 workable. All govern
ment is forced cooperation.
Again, $3.50 of the Canadian wheat,
all hard wheat, produced in the three
prairie provinces is seeded, harvested
and marketed at the same time and
easier to pool, whereas here in the
United States we raise wheat from
Texas to the Canadian border,-win-
ter wheat, spring wheat and macaroni
wheat,-planted, harvested and mar
keted at different times and under en-
tirely different conditions, and are
endeavOring to get an American price
by making the tariff effective on what
is consumed at home by making the
beneficiary pay an Equalization fee
on every bushel marketed.
A Traders and Bankers Measure
The sO-called Debenture Plan sug
gested is in reality a subsidy paid GU
of the United States treasury and is
in effect a traders and bankers meas
ure and not producers measure, tC
control the marketing of and take out
of the hands of the producer the in
alienable right to handle his own
business through recognized legiti-
mate channels, and it would open the
way for spectators to gamble in not
only the scrip but the entire produc-
ton with little or no benefit to the
farmer who does not want the gov
eminent nor the so-called "big bust
ness" to take charge of his affairs
under any circumstances. The De-
benture Plan further is not a stabiliz-
er or regulator and presumably con-
templates protection on the surplu.
only OF the various expOrtable pro
ducts. About so is surplus and the
Debenture Plan would be of little O,
no benefit to the 9296 consumed al
nome. The same would be quite true
of the other plans and the lOaning OF
money to various cooperative con.
Germs, really putting the government
into business, with no protection tt
the government whatsoever and moi
workable until all were forced into
one cooperative body. The farmel
demands the McNary-Haugen Bill
Each commodity to pay its share il
the cost of it's sterilization and pro
lection on all of the products named
in the measure.
The Equalization Fee, as YOU ar,
aware, really becomes a bounty tai
payable to the exporter who finds ;
market for the surplus wheat or nro
ducts, very simple process. Act
ually, Mr.. Jardine, if you and own
ed and controlled all of the wheat i
the United States we would co-oper
ate and would need no legislation /
get the benefit of the tariff on wha
is consumed at home. If this is tru
of wheat it likewise is true of tn
other five basic commodities mention
ed in the McNary-H augen Bill an
would also be true of all non-perish
able commodities that are relative t
those mentioned in this measur,
which takes in practically everything
Certainly no hair lines should
drawn questioning the constitution
atty of the bill. Even the perishabl
commodities should be benefited an
the Equalization Fee being paid b
the beneficiary of the commoditie
named in the measure only, no on
would be harmed by this method {
organization and cooperation. There
fore, practically all producers of an
commodity would be benefited. tn
tariff on the statute books is thel
presumably to benefit the producer
and the McNary- Haugen Bill accom-
plishes what you and / would do
make the tariff fully effective, {
what any small group who could cas-
ly cooperate would do, without que
ton, in the marketing of not only II
surplus but all of any product. Or
can but question the sincerity of pu
pose of those opposed to a plan thu
will make cooperation 1000 in eff
cheney. The one thing with which v
are all in accord. The EqualizatiC
fee will work automatically and
really stabilizer of the necessiti'