Some Aspects of the
Farmers’ Problems
Ey BERNARD M. BARUCH
(Reprinted from Atlantic Monthly)
Iny to take the on favorable chance,
If the favorable one also is theirs anfl
they cun retain for themselves a part
of the service charges that are uni
form, In good years and bad, with
high prices and low.
While, In the main, the farmer must
sell, rfigardb-ss of market conditions,
at the time of the maturity of crops,
he cannot suspend production in toto.
He must go on producing If he Is to'go
on living, and If the world Is to exist.
The most he can do Is to curtail pro
duction a little or alter Its form, and
that—because he Is In the dark as to
the probable demand for his goods —
may he only to jump from the frying
pan Into the Ore, taking the consumer
with him.
Kven the dairy fanners, whose out
put Is not seasonal, complain that they
Hud themselves at a disadvantage Id
the marketing of their productions,
especially raw milk, because of the
high costs of distribution, which they
must ultimately bear.
HI
Now that the farmers are stirring,
thinking, and uniting as never before
to eradicate these Inequalities, they
are subjected to stern economic lec
tures, and are met with the accusation
ttiut they are demanding, and are the
recipients of, special privileges. Let
us see wlint privileges the government
has conferred on the fanners. Much
tins been made of Section (1 of thp
Clayton Anti-Trust Act, which pur
ported to permit them to combine with
Immunity, under certain conditions.
Admitting that, nominally, this ex
emption was In the nature of a special
privilege,—though 1 think It was so In
appearance rather than In fact, —we
find that the courts have nullified It
by Judicial Interpretation. Why should
not the farmers be permitted to ar
complish by co-operative methods what
other businesses are already doing by
co-operation In the form of Incorpora
tion? If It he proper for men to form,
by fusion of existing corporations or
otherwise, a corporation that controls
the entire production of a commodity,
or a large part of It. why Is It not
proper for a group of farmers to unite
for the marketing of their common
products, either In one or In several
selling agencies? Why should It be
right for a hundred thousand corporate
shareholders to direct 25 or 30 or 40
per cent of an industry, and wrong for
a hundred thousand co-operative
farmers to control a no larger propor
tion of the wheat crop, or cotton, or
any other product?
The Department of Agriculture !»
often spoken of as a special concession
to the furtners, but In its commercial
results, It Is of as much benefit to the
buyers and consumers of agricultural
products as to the producers, or even
more. I do not suppose that anyone
opposes the benefits that the farmers
derive from the educational and re
search work of the department, or the
help that it gives them In working out
Improved cultural methods and prac
tices, In developing better yielding va
rieties through breeding and selection,
In Introducing new varieties from re
mote parts of the world and adapting
them to our climate and economic con
dltlon, and In devising practical meas
ures for the elimination or control of
dangerous and destructive animal and
plaut diseases, Insect pests, and the
like. All these things manifestly tend
to stimulate and eularge production,
and their general beneficial effects are
obvious.
It Is complained that, whereas the
law restricts Federal Reserve banks
to three months’ time for commercial
paper, the farmer Is allowed six
months on Ids notes. This Is not a
special privilege, but merely such a
recognition of business conditions as
makes It possible for country banks
to do business with country people.
The crop farmer has only one turn
over a year, while the merchant anti
manufacturer have many. Incidental
ly, I note that the Federal Reserve
Board has just authorized the Fed
eral Reserve banks to discount export
paper for a period of six months, to
conform to the nature of the bu*l
ness.
The Farm Loan hanks are pointed
to as an Instance of special govern
ment favor for farmers. Are they not
rather the outcome of htudable efforts
to equalize rural and urban condi
tions? And about all the government
does there Is to help set up an ad
ministrative organization and tend a
little credit at the start. Eventually
the farmers will provide all the capi
tal and carry all the liabilities them
selves. It Is true that Farm Loan
bonds are tax exempt; hut so are
bonds of municipal light and traction
plants, and new housing Is to be ex
empt from taxation, In New York, for
ten years.
On the other hand, the farmer reads
of plans for municipal housing proj
eots that run Into the billions, of bun
dreds of millions annually spent on
tbe merchant marine; he reads that
the railways are being favored with
Increased rates and virtual guaranties
of earnings by the government, with
the result to him of an 'ncreased to!’
on all that he sells and all that h<
buys. He hears of many manifesta
turns of governmental concern for par
tlcnlar Industries and Interests. Res
cuing the. xailp-ays.-trom laaglyeacr i#
- undoubtedly for the benefit of '"the
country as a whole., but wlmt can be
of more general benefit than encour
agement of ample production of the
principal necessaries of life and their
even flow from contented producers to
satisfied consumers?
While It may be conceded that
special governmental aid may be nec
essary In Hie general Interest, we must
all agree that it Is difficult to see why
agriculture and the production and dis
trlbution of farm products are not ac
corded the same opportunities that are
provided for other businesses; espe
dally as the enjoyment by the farmer
of such opportunities would appear to
be even more contributory to the gen
era! good than in the case of other
Industries. The spirit of American
democracy Is unalterably opposed,
alike to enacted special privilege and
to the special privilege of unequal op
portunity that arises automatically
from the failure to correct glaring
economic inequalities. I am opposed
to the Injection of government into
business, but 1 do believe that it is an
essential function of democratic gov
ernment to equalize opportunity so
far as it is within its power to do so,
whether by the repeal of archaic
statutes or the enactment of modern
ones. If the anti trust laws keep the
farmers from endeavoring scientifically
to Integrate their Industry while other
industries find a way to meet modern
conditions without violating such stat
utes, then It would seem reasonable
to find a way for the farmers to meet
them under the same conditions. The
law should operate equally In fact. Re
pairing the economic structure on one
side Is no injustice to the other side,
which is In good repair.
We have traveled a long way from
the old conception of government as
merely a defensive and policing agency;
and regulative, corrective, or equaliz
ing legislation, which apparently is of
a special nature, is often of the most
general beneficial consequences. Even
the First Congress passed a tariff act
that was avowedly for the protection
of manufacturers; but a protective
tariff always has been defended as a
means of promoting ttie general good
through a particular approach; and
the statute books are filled with acts
for the benefit of shipping, commerce,
and labor.
IV
Now, what is the farmer asking?
Without trying to catalogue the re
medial measures that have been sug
gested In his behalf, the principal pro
posals that bear directly on the Im
provement of Ills distributing and mar
keting relations may be summarized as
follows:
First: storage warehouses for cot
ton, wool, and tobacco, and elevators
for grain, of sufficient capacity to meet
the maximum demand on them at the
peak of the marketing period. The
farmer thinks that either private capi
tal must furnish these facilities, or tlie
state must erect and own the eleva
tors and warehouses.
Second: weighing and grading of
agricultural products, and certification
thereof, to be done by impartial and
disinterested public inspectors (this is
already accomplished to some extent
by the federal licensing of weighers
and graders), to eliminate underpay
ing, overcharging, and unfair grading,
and to facilitate the utilization of the
stored products as the basis of credit.
Third : a certainty of credit sufficient
to enable the marketing of products
In an orderly manner.
Fourth: the Department of Agricul
ture should collect, tabulate, summa
rize, and regularly and frequently pub
lish and distribute to the farmers, full
information from all the markets of
the world, so that they shall be as well
Informed of their selling position as
buyers now are of their buying posi
tion.
Fifth: freedom to Integrate the busi
ness of agriculture by means of con
solidated selling agencies, co-ordinat
ing and co-operating in such way as to
put the farmer on an equal footing
with the large buyers of his products,
and with commercial relations In other
Industries.
When a business requires specialized
talent. It has to buy it. So will the
farmers; and perhaps the best way for
them to get it would he to utilize some
of the present machinery of the larg
est established agencies dealing in
farm products. Of course, if he wishes,
the farmer may go further and engage
in Hour-milling and other manufactures
of food products. In my opinion,
however, lie would be wise to stop
short of that. Public Interest may be
opposed to all great Integrations: but,
In justice, should they be forbidden to
the farmer and permitted to others?
The corporate form of association can
not now be wholly adapted to his ob
jects and conditions. The looser co
operative form seems more generally
suitable. Therefore, he wishes to be
free, If he finds It desirable and feas
ible, to resort to co-operation with his
fellows and neighbors, without run
ning afoul of the law. To urge that
tbe farmers should have the same lib
erty to consolidate and co-ordinate
their peculiar economic functions,
which other Industries in their fields
enjoy. Is not, however, to concede that
eai business Integration should, have
PEARSON TRIBUNE, PEARSON’. GEORGIA, FEBRUARY 3. 1922
The Passing Night.
There will be a brighter dawning
When the night of war Is o’er.
And, the law of peace, we practice.
And we'll fighting, have no more.
When despairs’ dark clouds have vanished.
And the evil things of life.
We shall see a bright awakening.
When we’ll live above war's strife.
Let us hasten then the dawning
Oi the day when darkness flees.
And the laws of love will rule use,
Hearts of all mankind to please.
.Jealousy and greed will vanish
When. In life, love holds the sway,
Seeing we behold the dawning
Of a glorious, righteous day.
Night, for daylight, must be passing
Storms of life will disappear,
And much brighter be the dawning
When the voice of love, we hear,
< ’ailing us for our awakening
To the brighter days of life.
When, the clouds of war/are passing.
We shall live above their strife.
Martha Shepard Lippincott, (J6B North
Yewdell St., West Philadelphia.
legislative sanction to exercise monop
qlistic power. The American people
are as firmly opposed to industrial as
to political autocracy, whether at
tempted by rural or by urban industry.
For lack of united effort the farmers
as a whole are still marketing their
crops by antiquated methods, or by no
methods at all, but they are surrounded
by a business world that has been
modernized to the last minute and is
tirelessly striving for efficiency. This
efficiency Is due In large measure to
big business, to united business, to in
tegrated business. The farmers now
seek the benefits of such largeness, un
ion and integration.
The American farmer Is a modern of
the moderns In ttie use of labor saving
machinery, arid he has made vast
strides in recent years In scientific
tillage and efficient farm management
but as a business in contact with other
businesses agirculture is a “one horse
shay’’ In competition with high power
automobiles. The American farmer Is
the greatest and most intractable of
Individualists. While industrial pro
duction and all phases of the huge com
mercial mechanism and its myriad ac
cessories have articulated and co-ordi
nated themselves all the way from nat
ural raw materials to retail sales, the
business of agriculture has gone on In
much the one man fashion of the back
woods of the first part of the nine
teenth century, when the farmer was
(To bo continued.)
Furnishing the f cat at a Profit
From the Tlfton Gazette.
Savs the Pearson Tribune:
"T he traffic in goats at Pearson
is reaching some proportions. The
goat people are not only selling
goats but they are buying stock
goats and establishing goat ranch
es. The stock goats are being
bought and shipped in here from
every section of South Georgia, in
deed from wherever they can be
bought. It seems that the nrojee
tors in this industry have a mar
ket for all the kids, from two to six
months old, that they can control
In this way they are doing a neat
business.
For.more Ilian half a century,
llie South has been the National
goat. For a time of equal length.
South Georgia has been the Stall
goat, politically speaking. it is
needless to say that there was no
financial profit from this state.
T'he cycles of time are at last turn
iug in our favor, and South Geor
gia is furnishing goats for the
country at large and getting tbe
cash for it.
Tbe matter of the goat is a joke
no longer, but is a concrete busi
ness fact. For the past three
years, rnanv carloads of goats have
been shipped annually from the
territory east of Tifton, where
plenty of range offers excellent op
port unity for raising goats, or.
rather, for turning the goats loose
and letting them raise themselves.
Given plenty of room, the goat
FARM LOANS
Made without delay at to 7 Fer
Cent. Interest.
Loans on Improved City Property at 6 Per Cent.
Come to see us L. A. HARGREAVES and H. L. LANKFORD,
Pafford Building, Pearson. Georoia
INSURANCE!
Is Your Premises Insured against Fire, Lightning and
Tornado? If not, See
HARGREAVES & TYLER, Pearson, Ga.
They Represent Firstclass Companies. **
Lagal Advertisements.
Mortgage Sale Under Power.
j GEORGlA—Atkinson County.
Under and by virtue of a power of sale con
tained In the mortgage executed by I). W.
Walker to T. H. Simians A Co., on the loth
day of November. 1917. and recorded in the
office of the clerk of the Superior court of
Coffee county. Ga., in book 28 page 217, on the
I4th day of December, 1917. The undersigned
will sell at “public sale, at the court house
door In Atkinson county. Georgia, during
the legal hours for sale, on the first Tuesday
in February. 1922, to the highest bidder for
cash, the following property, to-wlt: Seventy
seven acres, more or less, of lot of land No.
115, in the 7th land district of Atkinson coun
ty, Ga.. same being in the Northwest corner
of said lot No. 115, bound as follows. North by
lands of Tonnie May Sears. Fast by lands of
Ben Davis, South by lands of Dennis Baulk's,
estate. West by lauds of George F. MeCranie,
.Sr. Also one brown mare mule about Q years
old. weight about eight hundred pounds, for
the purposo of paying a certain promissory
note bearing date of November 15th. 1917, and
payable on the Ist da.v of September, 1918.
end executed by the said I>. VV. Walker.
Said note being for Two Hundred and Forty
dollars, principal, interest from date at the
rate of 8 per cent, per annum, the total
amount due on said note being Two Hund
red and Forty dollars, principal. Eighty-Six
and Fifty one hundredths dollars interest.
Thirty-Two dollars Attorney’s fees, together
with the cost of this proceeding aa provided
for in said mortgage.
0 This 10th day of January, 1922.
T. H. SI KM ANS A CO.
J. O. Si KM A NS,
Attorney for T. H. Slrrnans A Co.
Mortgage Sale Under Power.
GE<)RGlA—Atkinson County.
Undei and by virtue of a power of sale con
tained In the mortgage executed by F. Corbitt
to T. H. Sirmans & Co., on the 3l«t day of
January. 1914, and recorded In the office of
the Clerk of the Superior court of <'oflee
county. Georgia, In book 22, page 443, on the
24th day of February, 1914. The undersigned
will Bell at public sale, at the court bouse
door in Atkinson county, Georgia, during the
legal hours of sale, on the first Tuesday in
February, 1922, to the highest bidder for cash,
the following property: One coal black marc
mule. 6 years old, weight 1.100 pounds, nam
ed Nigger. also one black mare mule with
tan belley, 5 years old, weight loot) pounds,
named Tan. For the purpose of paying a
certain promissory note bearing date of Jan
uary 31st, 1914, and payable on thu Ist day of
November, 1914, and executed by the said F.
Corbitt. Said note being lor Five Hundred
and Seventy-Five and no one hundredth
i $575.00) dollars, principal, interest from date
at the rate of 8 per cent, per annum, the total
amount due on said note being Two Hund
red and Sixty-One dollars, principal, Klghty-
Three dollars Interest. Thirty-Three dollars
Attorney’s fees, together with the cost of this
proceeding as provided for in said mortgage.
This 10th day of January. 1922.
T. if. SI KM A NS A CO.
J. O. Sir mans.
Attorney forT. 11. sirmans A Co.
Guardian’s Sale.
GEORGlA—Atkinson County.
Under and by virtue of an order from the
Court of Ordinary of said county, granted at
the January Term. 1922. upon the petition of
Dan Wall, guardian of Emmie Wall, a minor
of Atkinson county. Ga.. will be sold before
the court house door of said county, at Pear
son, Ga.. between the legal hours of sale on
the first Tuesday In February.l922, the follow
ing real estate as the property of said minor
Emmie Wall, for her maintenance nd edu
cation, to-wlt: Twelve acres, more or les*.
situated In the northeast corner of lot of lanu
number Thirty*Eight, In the Seventh land
district of Atkinson county. < ieorgla. Terms,
j ('ash. This the 4th day of January, 1922.
DAN WALL. Guardian
of Emmie Wall.
Libel For Divorce.
GEORGlA—Atkinson ~oui.‘>
Johki’Hink Batten vs j : - Batten.
To Jesse Batten:
You are hereby required to be and appear
at the next Term of Atkinson Superior Court
to be held in and lor said county on the
Third Mouday in February, 1922. to answe r
lhe complaint of Mrs. Josephine Swain Bat
ten. as in default the Court will proceed as to
justice shall appertain.
Witness the Honorable R. G. Dickerson.
Judge of the Superior Court, thtsthe 11th day
’of January, 1922. Wilky M. St mnkk. Clerk.
John P. Knight. Plaintiff's Attorney.
will attend to tbe business of re
production, it is like planting a
tree and gathering (he fruit. The
wonder is, that goat raising ba
llot attracted more attention be
fore this. Xol only is there a
good market for kid, but there
are breeds of goats, the Angora
for instance, that produce a line
article of wool.
ATTENTION
Cross Tie MANUFACTURERS
WE ARE IN THE MARKET FOR HEART AND
SAP PINE CROSS TIES, WRITE US FOR
PRICES AND SPECIFICATIONS.
OUR MOTTO: ‘Fair Inspection, Prompt Returns.’
MUTUAL TIMBER COMPANY
BRUNSWICK, - GEORGIA.
NEW FALL AND WINTER MILLINERY.
We call special attention to our new arrivals in
seasonable Millinery, and cordially invite the lady
readers of the Tribune to call and Examine our
stock.
GARRETT & DOUGLASS.
Next door to N. E. Harrell,
Pearson, - Georgia.
MP-TB-DATE JOB PRINTING!
WE HAVE PLEASED OTHERS,
WE CAN PLEASE YOU.
We Use only the Best Materials.
Our Printers Know the Business.
This Combination Gives Satisfaction.
The Tribune Wants Your Printing.
Addres PEARSON TRIBUNE, Pearson, Ga.
INDUSTRIAL CHEMICAL & FERTILIZE 0
Manufacturers of High Grade Fertilizer
DIRECTORS:
ALBERT FENOIG. Prist
IK. W. BENNETT, Vies Prest.
EDWIN FENDIG, Sec. AIBEST fl f l 6
BRIAN S. BBOWN. Trsas end Geo Mgr. iOS w BEiHETT
i. 8. ABRAMS
B S. BROWN
BRUNSWICK, - - - GEORGIA.
Ah Independent Home; Company. Not allied with any otht t fertilize] t on pany
Your pal I'Oimgr solicitifl. Writ, wire t< i . ,■:
COTTON PLANTING So >
Highest Price Paid for “MEADE” Long
by Savannah Factors—3Bc to 40c the *G
"MEADE" tons staple upland cotton to » new variety ot toner staple cotton
Sea Gland cotton. D may lx successfully grown mu when In he « •nstn:l’iain
variety of cdiniiY. grow under t»dl u.ey tl inbstation 1.. : °* pro 1 a e
<l> It will sell f«>r ab. ui two and one hail times the price oi short cotton.
(2) It will mature* as quickly as short staple cotton.
(3) It will yield a* much under boll weevil conditions as short cotton.
The growing of "Meade” cotton Is not an expet in cut. It lu«s been ir<wn in
widely separated sections off the < otton Hell lor several v» are. In 1921. \\ . W. < rox
ton. T. < L <'hastain and \V. K. Tucker produced 45 bales on SO acres on their St.
Simons Island farm —near Brunswick. <<a. This cotton wax grown from seed fur
nished by the l'. S. Bureau of Plant Industry, under the direct sup*-r\ ivion of its
Cotton Experts and no other variety of cotton was grow n on the Island.
The lengbt off staple ranged from 1 1-2 to 13-4 incite * and graded 'extra choice.'’
A limited quantity of choice seed offered at >:>.<*» per bushel In iol.s of less than ten
Uo> bushels: $4.00 per bushel in lots over ten H»' bushels. Gash with order.
These seed may be secured from J. L. Young«sr Co.. Douglas. Ga., A. M. smith.
Treas. St. Simons island Investment Co.. Brunswick. Ga., or 1*:. I . Peterson. Willa
cooehee, Georgia.
TO THE PUBIIC!
1 beg to announce to the public that I have moved
to the Sutton building, where I have larger lers.
and am better prepared to serve you in Cleaning,
Dyeing, Mending and Pressing your clothes and mak
ing them look as good as new clothes. I endeavor to
give entire satisfaction to my customers.
Yours to serve you promptly,
29-1 m. LEWIS SPEED.
LEGAL BLANKS.
The Tribune has in stock for sale—
State Warrants, Justice Court Summonses,
Justice Court Executions, Bond for Title,
Attachment, Affidavit and Bond,
Justice Court Witness Subpoenas,
Garnishment, Affidavit and Bond,
Garnishment Summonses, Warranty Deeds
Claim Affidavit and Bond, Quit Claim Deeds,
PRICES REASONABLE.
Send orders to Tribune, Pearson, Ga.
