QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 257 



12. Q. Is the American Society of Equity a good name? 



A. Yes, considering the power of the farmers when cooper- 

 ating, it is necessary to have a motto that will influence their 

 actions. For instance, the farmers could practice inequity to 

 the disadvantage of all other classes if they wanted to. There- 

 fore, the originator of the plan of the A. S. of E. selected this 

 name as a promise by the farmers that they would do equity 

 and a notice to the world that they would expect equity. 

 Equity means justice, right, honesty, impartiality. It is the 

 basis of moral strength and potent influences. It is the ground 

 swell of fraternity, of good fellowship and the essence of 

 neighborly kindness. It will make the world better to the ex- 

 tent to which it is recognized and practised. No one can hide 

 behind it with a plea of ambiguity, as it is one of the most un- 

 compromising words in the English language, covering not a 

 shade of selfishness, unfairness or one-sidedness. A society 

 founded on equity is founded on the solid rock of fair deal- 

 ing and righteousness. No better foundation word could be 

 found for self-protection or society. 



13. Q. If farmers get profitable prices, will they not over- 

 produce? 



A. Take into consideration the fact that in the last fifty 

 years practically all our great western and northwestern states 

 were brought into cultivation and immense areas in the older 

 states cleared, drained and made productive, yet all the prod- 

 ucts have been consumed. There are no more such areas to 

 open up. Also, farmers need rest, and their farms need rest 

 to recuperate in fertility. Is it not reasonable to suppose, with 

 profitable prices, that the farmers will work less and produce 

 less? 



14. Q. If a surplus should exist any time, what would be 

 done with it? 



A. When farmers control their crops and regulate prices 

 they have done a great thing. There are, however, other un- 

 certainties connected with farming that they can not control. 

 We refer to the weather. Do the best they can, they can not 

 control rainfall, frosts, heat or cold; also, insects and blight 

 are uncertain factors in the production of crops. These factors 

 will make short crops some seasons. If farmers are cooper- 

 ating they can easily hold the surplus of good seasons, should 

 they exist, over to the short years, thus equalizing supplies and 

 prices, and benefiting both producers and consumers. In case 

 of perishable products, fruit, vegetables, etc., they can be pre- 

 served, canned or manufactured to far better advantage than 

 when each farmer is for himself. 



15. Q. How can poor farmers hold their crops to help main- 

 tain the minimum prices? 



