THE ECONOMIC PROTEST 221 



spection and certification, assist cooperative associa- 

 tions in carrying on their business, help in installing 

 records, and perform other services for the en- 

 couragement of cooperative marketing associations. 

 It is not surprising that the farm leaders identified 

 with the cooperative marketing movement have 

 opposed vigorously both the Norris-Sinclair and the 

 McNary-Haugen bills. In criticising this legisla- 

 tion, Aaron Sapiro, an authority on the law of the 

 subject, said: "The farmer does not need a crutch. 

 What he needs is a light, and let the government 

 give him a light instead of trying to make him lean 

 on a crutch/ 7 In another connection, he said: "I 

 am against the United States government trying to 

 do any price fixing. I am against the United States 

 government trying to do any fancy thing to dispose 

 of surplus and hurt wheat growers in any other land 

 just so as to make the consumer of America pay an 

 artificial price for any farm product. I am for the 

 farmers running their own business. There is not 

 any more reason why we need a crutch than the 

 steel industry or any other outside industry needs 

 a crutch. They take care of themselves. We can 

 do just as much for ourselves if we will learn proper 

 organization. What the farmer needs is not price- 

 fixing by the government; he needs cooperative 

 marketing organization with the definite encourage- 

 ment of the United States government. Instead of 

 the government giving money and soaking the 

 consumers of America, let the government devote 



