Evening star., 1933-05-15

Farm strike measures are found by
the public to face obstacles that are
very difficult to overcome In addition
to the failure Of such efforts to accom-
plish permanent results when under
taken several months ago, there is the
national conviction that the Govern
ment has done everything in its power
to improve conditions, while 1t is point
ed out that farmers. on the whole, are
ind1vldualists, and that stopping Of dis
tribution is both difncult to accomplish
and hardship to all persons, includ-
ing the friends of agriculture
Whether one likes it or not" in the
opinion Of the Boise Idaho Statesman,
1T must be admitted that the farmers
have no organization which will enable
them to stop the flow of produce from
farm to market and only a small pro-
portion Of the Nations farmers would
ever join such movement. The pro-
portion which would join, under any
circumstances, would be so small that
it would have no appreciable effect on
general prices. In the second place,
Congress is almost literally breaking
its neck to extend help for the farmer
and agitation and drastic action on
the part Of farm groups are not going
to help" The Lincoln State Journal
POulec OuG tllht tIlc k1OllQdy
Association must have failed to realize
that prosperity is on the way and that
a farm relief bill. designed to cure the
Nations agricultural ills, is offered"
That paper emphasizes the fact that
nothing was accomplished by the last
strike" The Lowell Evening Leader
agrees that "the new administration Is
going to an unprecedented limit in its
efforts to aid agriculture" and the
Milwaukee Sentinel is convinced that
ut is wise to wait until the efficacy of
the plans under way can be deter
mined"
Significance Of such demonstrations,
even though poorly organized, badly di-
rected, and with objectives futile or
superficial" is emphasized by the ST.
Joseph Gazette, with the suggestion
that many powerful social move
ment had a beginning no more auspi-
ctous." The Gazette offers the conclu-
sion as to the prospects Of the enter
prise: 1T Is to raise the price of COM
modities until the cost Of production Is
covered. Obviously, this Is a desirable
objective, but 1t seems hard to believe
it can be attained. Even If farm COM
modities could be withheld from mar
kets in sumciently large quantities to in
nuence prices, which is extremely doubt
full. the effect would not be permanent.
for as soon as the damned up supplies
were released the resultant congestion
again would depress prices. And in the
case Of perishable products, the pro-
ducer would suffer complete loss"
There is little danger" thinks the
Charleston IS. c. Evening Post, "of
a national farm strike. national farm
holiday or any other such device. The
Southern cotton farmer knows only too
well the impossibiHty of getting con-
certed action among farmers on any
course. Most farmers are individualists,
made so by the lives they lead. They
might even subscribe to radical theories
presented to them by glib -tongued po-
litical leaders and still insist on doing
their own business in their own way
on their own farms. A few shouting
men in a quiet countryside make q
great noise, but even in the Middle
West it will be found that the average
farmer gives lip-service only to radical
ism and In his real attitude toward his
individual affairs yields to no Wall
Streeter in conservatism and capital
ism"
'It's free country" advises the
Sioux Falls Daily Argus-Leader, "and q
farmer has the privilege Of refusing to
market his products whenever he so
desires. Likewise farmer has the right
to market when he pleases. These are
fundamental principles that must be
understood and respected. They con-