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About The Gate city journal. (Nyssa, Or.) 1910-1937 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 10, 1922)
« f Sonie Aspects of the Farmers’ Problems By BERNARD M. BARUCH (Reprinted from Atlantic Monthly) ' ' sell, regardless o f innrket conditions, at the time of the maturity of crops, he ennn.it suspend production in toto. He must go on producing It he Is to go on living, und If the world Is to exist. The most he can do is to curtail pro duction ti little or alter Its form, und that—because he Is In the dark as to the prohahle demand for Jiis goods— may tie only to Jump from the frying pun Into the fire, taking the consumer with him. Even the dairy farmers, whose out put is not seasonal, complain that they find themselves at u disadvantage In (he marketing o f their productions, especially raw milk, because of the high costs of distribution, which they nm«t ultimately Pear. eral good than In the case o f other Industries. The spirit o f American democracy Is unutterably 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 o f government Into business, but I do believe tbat It Is an essential function o f democratic gov ernment to equalize opportunity so > far as It la within Its power te do so, whether by the repeal o f archaic statutes or the enactment o f modern ones If the anti-trust laws keep the farmers from endeavoring scientifically to Integrute their Industry while other industries find a way to meet modern •■«editions without violating such stat ute« then It would reem 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 oa one side Is no Injustice to the other side, which Is In good repair. We have traveled a long way frem the old conception o f government as ! merely a defensive and policing agency ; and regulative, corrective, or equallz lng legislation, which apparently Is of a special nature. Is often of the must general beneficial consequences. Ever the l-’ lrst Congress passed a tariff act that was avowedly for the protection o f manufacturer- b it a protective fa .I fV -I ,.,» ,,- I, - , ttrlfr always nus hcon • i fe dra us n mea" s ,,f P™*" ting the c e r a i good through a particular ; •proueh; and I f the statute hooks are fi led with acts for the benefit of shipping, commerce, and lab r. yr 'It.! iervlce of marketing and Its risks, a.s againd 202 cents for growing and transporting. The hard annals of | Ill farm-life are replete ith sueh cotn- Now that the farmers are stirring. inentarles on the crudeness o f pros thinking, and uniting as never before ent practices. Nature prescribes that the farmer's I to eradicate these Inequalities, they "goods" must he finished within two ' ire subjected to stern economic lec tures, nnd are met with the accusation or three months " f the year, vvbllo I that they are demanding, and are the financial and storage limitations gen entity compel him to sell thorn at the rei Iplenta of, special privilege*. Let is see what privileges the government saiac time. As a rule, other Industrlec- iiis eoiifeire.l on the fanners. Much are in a continuous process -*f finish Inis liet-u niude of Section 8 of the Ing g o o d s for the markets; they ills tribute as they produce, and they run t'l.i.vton Anti-Trust Act, which pur curtail production without- too great ported to permit them to combine with I amiinlty, under certain conditions Injury to themselves or the commit n lty ; hut If the farmer restric ts h|s Admitting that, nominally, this ex rmptl n was In the nature of a special output, It Is with disastrous const- was I I I I U K It li W H H so In III cjuenees; both to himself nnd to the privilege.— though n I I think ippearanee ra community. ' o , ' L . W o The average farmer is husy with limI that the courts.have nullified It production fur the major part o f the l-y Judicial Interpretation. AVhy should year, and hits nothing to sell. The not the farmers he permitted to ac eonipllsh by co-operative methods what hulk tif Ids output comes on the mar other businesses are already doing by ket ot once. lh ouse of lack of • tor age facilities anil ■>: financial support, co-operation In the form o f Incorpora FA R M I'OIN IT R 8 the fnrmet cannot carry Ids goods I lion'.' If it he proper for m«n to form, through the year and dispose o f them by fusion of existing corporations or I Early potatoes may be had on as they are currently needed. In the otherwise, a enrp ration that controls f e a t majority o f cases, fnnners*htm ( the entire production of a commodity, many cry tanne if the whole pota to entrust storage—In warehouses anil o r a large part of It, why Is It not toes are planted as early as tbo elevators—and the financial currying proper for a group - f fanners to unite ground can be worked. Earllgpt I for i he marketing of their common .1 0, a„ an(, E a l, Oh(o d of their products to others. Farm products are generally mar j products, pitlier in one or in .several varieties for the first planting. sailing ncem les? Why sbonld It he keted nt u time when there Is a -s Spring wheat, cats, o r barley tor) dost Ion of both transportation nnd rluht f o r a hundred thousand corporate hould be planted finance- -when ears and money arc- — ■ i ; • * - * I • * - i - lers to direct 25 or 30 >r in Eastern Oregon scarce. The outcome, In many In- per cent o f nn Industry, and wrong for shallow and early oa the firm thousand co-» • ratlvi seed stances, Is that the farmers not on! i 11 hundred bed. The form aldehyde farmers to control a r.o lar; {Ci prepor sell under pressure, and therefore at treitm ent Is good. Seed should a disadvantage, but are compelled to lion of the wheat crop, or cotton, or he dipped and then planted as soon take further reductions In net returns, any other product? The Department of Agriculture Is afterw ard as It w ill run through In order to meet the charges for the service o f storing, transporting, financ often spoken o f as n special concession the drtlL to the farmers, hut iu its commercial The barley average o f eastern ing, nnd ultimate marketing- w hich charges they claim, a n ............ exces results. It Is of as much benefit to the Oregon has decreased m aterially buyers and consumers of agricultural in the last 10 years. sive, hear heavily on both ’ consume The dc products as to the producers, or even and producer, and ure under the cline am ounts to nearly 40,000 more. I do not suppose that anyone trnl o f those performing the- ■ >rvh-< Many o f the light lands, opposes the benefits that the farmers acres. It Is true that they are relieved n the risks o f n claim lug market h.\ derive from the educational and re however, would produce spring bar- searrh work of the department, or the ley l etter than spring cheat. Han-1 .oiling nt o n ce ; hut they are quite will help that It gives them In working out nchen, lla ricu t and W hite Smyrna Ing to take the unfavorable chance aro ,,pring vaieties. If the favorable one also Is theirs and Improved cultural methods and prat .... . . .. . they can retain for themselves a part tlcos in dovoliipinc: hotter yielding v.- rlulles .hr- unit branding and selection . ‘'h« ”«* varlf ' ’ o t of the service charges that are urn In introducing tJcw varieties from re wheat for dry land conditions arc form, in good years and hud, with motp parts of tbe world and adapting hard Federation and early Baart. high prices and low. F or irrigated conditions F cdeiatolon While, In the main, the fanner must them to our cIlQBrfte nnd economic con dltlon, and ir. devising practical ineas and Marquis are preferable. Baart. > ♦ «»»♦ ♦ »» ? > »♦ H I - ■>♦ ; . •-♦Av-SOOC urc; for the elimination • r control of hoing a large reeded vaiety, should dangerous and destructive anlsial and be seeted at least 20 per cent, plant diseases, Insect pest., and the like. All these t'blngs manifestly tend heavier than the others to Insure to stimulate npd enlarge production, a good stand. nnd their general beneficial effects arc The sixty day oata put out by obvious. the M oro Experim ent station Is the It Is complained that, whereas the best dry land variety for esat of laxv restricts Federal Reserve hankr the mountains'. to three months' time for commercial For early spring seeding o f any paper, the farmer la allowed six months on hls ootcji Thl* Is no* a seeds shallow planting la necessary special privilege, hut merely such a Seed planted too deeoly in cold recognition o f business conditions a soil usually germ inates slow ly, re NYBSA The Rexall Store Nyal Agency OREGON makes It possible for country banks sulting In a po r stand. Sprlns to do business with country people. seed l-cds are often so loose and The crop fnrmer has only one turn mellow that It ia easy to get th ■ over a year, while the merchant and cod planted lo o deep. manufacturer have many. Incidental »«♦♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦♦ ♦ ♦ •i .««»•**$> The potato planter should be ly, I note that the Federal Reserve Bounl has Junt author!zod the Fed c g o re ov*r to rep!ace broken eral Reserve hanks to discount expor' ci!-« o r sprockets, and broken, j paper fur a period f six months, to corroded, o r bent picking flnsers. conform to the naturo o f the bus! W. L. HAZKLTINÈ if the planter ia o f the picking nest. LacA o f repair w-111 mean Tb* Farm Lean banks are pointed type. poor stands and low yields. No to as an Instance of special govern Prompt Work On Mai! Orders inrnt favor for farmers. Arc they not dairyman expfiets a big cream check rather the outcome of laudable effort« if his stalls are empty, and no po ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ • »»♦ ♦ ♦ »♦ ♦ ■ a »». to equalize rural and urban condl tato grow er may expect a big yield ¿j --------------- - - ■. . J . " ■- T ■« tinns? Sad ah-nit all the government if his rows are full o f empty spaces Ines there Is to help set up an ail 4 + + + + **+ + + + + *^ ♦ »' -X -jv. - . M M IH p t h I W atch out fo r tba pruncr who nlnlstratlve organization and lead a \ little credit at the start. Eventualli heads back young trees by gather 810CK N 8 DEPENDS ON SERVICE— SERVICE IS O I R MID the farmer« will provide all the capi ing two or three s h o o t, together lal and carry all the liabilities them uid clipping them o ff with on# cut. DLE NAME. selxe-* It Is true that Farm Laau Such even heading gives each ! imnds are tax exem pt; hut so an Have your cow s tested free Mid tied nit If tLcy are profit- t,omls of iimnlcty.nl light and traction branch an equal chance to develop upwards, resulting In weak erotehes. plants, und new housing Is to he ex ab|c prod m ors » r boarder.. mhpt from taxation. In New Y->rk, for W here tw o branches are making a growth nearly equal, cutting the ten years CASH PA ID Ft IS Oltt \M On the other hand, the farmer read« one shorter w ill subndinate It nnd o f plans for municipal housing proj cause It lo becom e a strong ride ects that run Into the hilllon f hun branch o f the leader. tlreds of million« annually spi nt m Exam ination o f new fa ll' seeded the merchant marine; he rend« ffca; the railways srp being favored wit’ - clover ie'ds should b# made to de Increased rate, nnd virtual guarani term ine the extent o f freezing ln- o f earnings by the government, wltn tury and the necessity fo r Kjbr-iarv the result t • him of nn ncreased toll reseeding. Plant reed with the on sll that he sells and nil that he NYSSA. OREGON east possible b uckhom , r.a It be buy*. H ” hears of many manifests rim in g a serious weed pest. Seed Rons o f governmental concern for pat tests n ay b « bad free at tha Ore Reular liidustih-s and Interests. Re cuing the railways from Insolvency I- gon Experiment station. undoubtedly fe the benefit o f the Through fanning o r cleaning o* country a ; a wh Ir, hut w*lmt cso h- « i lug ■ :« n fo* early planting will o f more gone "I hettefl' than nieour- -move manv light, week, and V n h - naataent of ample production >*f tb- principal aece «nrles of lif. .. -1 the';- c n k ern el-. leaving e»ed that jrfll not rot eo quickly tn qt^rl voll i veu k » fr.-in co. tented prodj. t rs t satisfied «s-.nsumers? G ood stands mean h ellyr crons. While II nay be conceded ths «pedal gax et omental sld may h re U- paired at CLANTON & CLANTON esssry In the goners! hitere«--. we mu- all agree that It Is dlllh ill -o see i, agriculture and the production and di- The A trlbutlon o f farm products r e n t a Hi«h îio 'U . rs conlod the same opportunities that a-t | provided for ■ thor businesses; os;«- We offer you a r.x 't M a. i dally n the enjoyment by the fern«- reriewee In enwdweting publie au* of such opportunities would spp. ar t. JEWELRY STORE one of ell klnde. We sett Anjep be e'-en m -re cent-thut o • gr h‘ng; W » go AnyvAjre. II Let ua, then, consider some of the fanner'» grievances, and see liow far they are real. In doing so, we should, remember thut, while there have been, and still are, Instances of purposeful abuse, the subject should not be ap proached with any general Imputation to existing distributive agencies of do llherately Intentional oppression, but rather with the conception that the marketing o f farm products has n a been modernized. An ancient evil, and a persistent one, Is the undergrnillng o f farm prod ucts, with the result that what the farmers sell as of one quality is re sold as of a higher. Thut this sort ot chicanery should persist on any Im portant scale In these days o f busi ness Integrity would seem almost In credible, but there Is much evidence that It does so persist. Bven ns I write, the newspapers announce the suspension o f several firms front the New York Produce Exchange for ex twirling to (lermun.v as No. - wheal a whole shipload o f grossly Inferior w lien' mixed with oats, chaff and the like. Another evil Is tbat of Inaccurate weighing of farm products, which. It Is charged. Is sometimes a matter of dishonest Intention and sometln -s of protective policy on the part of the local buyer, who fears thut ho nm.v "weigh out" more than he “ weighs In." A greater grievance Is that at pres ent the Held fanner has little or no control over the time and conditions o f marketing his products, with the result that he Is often underpaid for hls products and usually overcharged for marketing service. The differ ence between what the fanner re ceives and what the consumer pays often exceeds all possibility of just! flcutlon. To cite u single Illustration. Last year, according to figures attest ed by the railways and the growers Georgia watermelon-raisers received on the average 7.5 cents for a melon, the railroads got 12.7 cents for carry ing It to Baltimore and the consumer paid one dollar, leaving 70S cents for 1 I! Try the Drug Store First Lax Pharmacy Watchmaker & Jeweler See McFall and See Better We OrtLd Dr. J A. McFall Our Own Eyesight Speeialist Ontario :: Oregon Lenses Phone 118W Service and Quality is Our Motto the whole year through Phone No. 10 F 2 Nyssa Meat Market Nyssa, Oiegon Service Garage] Ford Touring Starter and Demoni .¡able Wheels -$575.00 Fordson Traciors $486.00 FOB Hure PHONE NO.43 Service Garage EDDIE POWELL, Prop. NYSSA. FIRST CLASS MECHANICS Electrically Baked The Home of MADE RITE BAKED RITO % Electric JIaked ■»wife ’ A i j f BREAD P i* . T ' «£ * - "T Phone 55F3 • PhoneOrders Giren Special Attention C. .s. E. Faust, I Give satisfaction Ontario For Quick Service Oregon Call the Nyssa Transfer PRUNE 70 F 2 For data-. Pfmne er W r’«b— J. W. Clanton, b b o n - M2 Payette. Idaho, P. O. itox Sfr- 0. W. Clanton. Nampa. Idaho. Pfitona 5 J2 Prop. a crid * -Éjtevrì Nyssa Grain & Seed Co. Xysrn. Oregon. will buy your wheat now. Have your s^ed wheat re-cleaned now and avoid the spring rush. We also have on hand Poultry Supplier NYSSA GRAIN & SEED CO. McDowell INC. Successor* to McDowell Company. Mutual Creamer / Co W ATCHES ORE tors L ic ttifc d in Oregon. Idaho, B e a u t i'i l Homelike F u n e r a l F V cb -r» I A D Y A > s ,S T A N r H O S P IT A L A M B U L A N C E S S K N o ri «te rtre t po fu r. ,W I i ÏG E K \ H H < )© . represent os ai N.vsba ( a,i " ''»on Bros day or nitfht or call us direct at ONTARIO OREGON. Office Phone Res. Phone . 227 227 or 178