Agricultural relief: Export debenture plan

Export debenture plan (Pt. 5)

Bibliographic data

Multivolume work

Identifikator:: 1831932415

Document type:: Multivolume work

Title:: Agricultural relief

Place of publication:: Washington

Publisher:: Gov. Pr. Off.

Year of publication:: 1928

Collection:: Economics Books

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Volume

Identifikator:: 1831934671

URN:: urn:nbn:de:zbw-retromon-232129

Document type:: Volume

Title:: Export debenture plan

Volume count:: Pt. 5

Place of publication:: Washington

Publisher:: Gov. Pr. Off.

Year of publication:: 1928

Scope:: III S., S. 299 - 427

Digitisation:: 2022

Collection:: Economics Books

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Document type:: Multivolume work

Structure type:: Chapter

Title:: Statement of Jesse Newsom, of Indiana

Collection:: Economics Books

308 - AGRICULTURAL RELIEF “We should center attention on the problem of organizing the producers of major farm commodities.” And again: “It these cooperative organizations would help agriculture and be generally veneticial to the country, their development should be encouraged.” Concluding the same paragraph with— “It is entirely consistent with established American policy to foster a beneficial agricultural movement in its early stages.” The concluding declaration of policy on pages 2 of both H. R. 7940 and 8S. 1176, reads: . “And to further the organization of producers of such commodities into cocperative assoc’ations.” Surely none but a practical and substantial aid is contemplated. Yet sec- tion 5 makes no provision for appropriations for loans to “further organiza- tion.” In its experience and development the Federal Farm Board will be most concerned in, and desirous for, an ab lity to render financial aid for organization in such cases as it deems worthy and necessary. Legislative price regulation is not all the farmer is interested in, as sug- gested by some advocates of the debenture plan, because legislation is erratic and changeable. The farmer wants bargaining power, class independence on a par with industry so as to make his advantages permanent: which can only come by extensive organization. In any act proposed it should be remembered throughout that the fundamental objective in the long run of agricultural rel ef is to build and maintain strong, self-sustaining, and effective cooperatives with bargaining power. Such organization ‘s a tremendous undertaking. Farm papers, the public press, official agricultural reports, for years have pointed and stressed bargaining power for the farmer. Is it possible legislative action will underrate the expense and d ficulties of organization? Any farm relief bill should provide “building machinery” at the farmer end of the cperation by provision for loans when the board deems it necessary. The term * cooperative marketing” is synonymous with “organized markat- ing” and pctures the two primary functions of such an organization. The “marketing” element has many established methdos and channels already with us and available, even though unsatisfactory; but organization” of approximately a million wheat farmers has not yet been demonstrated. Such organization will not just come about. nor result automatically from the nperation of the act. Organ’zation work varies in the number, character, and intensity of its difficulties in different commodities, llocalities, and times. As to localities, mark the rapid organization of wheat in Canada, and the comparative fa'lure to organize wheat in some of the States. As to times, some of the tobacco groups easily signed up 65 per cent of ther territory a few years ago, but now desire this assistance. As to commodit'es, fruit, vegetables, and dairy products are more easily organized because their production is more localized, ete. So we can not predict the results of organ’zation effort in one locality by hat happened in another. We must know the local atmosphere and con- ions. There is precedent for Government loans for organization. Government money was loaned for organization purposes in Canada for the Canadian Wheat Pool Campaign. (See Bulletin 63, Bureau of Agricultural Economics, p. 62.) The United States Government sold stock and bought stock and bu’lded the Federal reserve system for banking, an activity wh'ch was no more in behalf of all the people than the production of their food. Government gave as a gift. 129.000.000 acres of land, to encourage railroad construction. The central and northwest wheat States have labored five years with this organization problem without getting enough volume to become a potent factor in the market. Some of the difficulties encountered should be borne in mind in order to get a perspective of the requirements for relief and the reason why the I ory mind is kent so deceived and muddled that he will not organize A localized effort like a farmers’ elevator at one point draws little fire from opposition to farmer organization. But the attempt to organize a whole com- modity. covering several States, draws fire, with volumes of malicious propa- Sma Competing interests have repeatedly misrepresented the prices paid by The or waodiom, Stories are circulated that officers are dishonest Aistoaraging Fail . cial organ in Chicago recently carried a series of articles |eonrs ‘ rs from joining the Wheat Growers Association and pub-

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