Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1890-08-28
The Corn Question.

The subjoined article from the
Globe Democrat states very clearly
the situation Of the corn problem,
which for year has been a great one
In the southwest, and also tells some
homely truths about trying to regulate
the markets by legislation
The latest estimates with respect TO
the corn crop in the seven western
states that supply most Of the surplus
put the yield at from 80 TO 90 per cent.
as compared with that Of last year.
In round numbers, the total shrink
age aggregates about 650,0O0,O00 bush
els, or over 20 per cent. The amount
required for home consum ption Is O.
000,0 900 bushels, and the total crop
this year Is not likely TO exceed ,000,-
100000. II will thus be seen that in
stead Of an overproduction as in 1889,
the prospect is for a considerable de-
ficiency even in the supply for domes-
tic uses. A single year has served, in
other words, TO reverse the situation
Of the farmers in the matter of the
market for their corn. They will have
no trouble to dispose OF 1t this year
at satisfactory prices. There will be
no corn used for fuel the coming win
ter, nor will the value Of the product
be regulated regardless Of the produc.
ers interest. The farmer who sells a
bushel of corn from this time on for
less than soc will be doing a very fool
ish thing, and corn that brings Soc
means larger profit than is realized
in any other business. To be sure the
number Of bushels is materially small
er than II was last year, but each
bushcl has remunerative value, and
as whole the crop is worth considera-
bly, more than was obtained for the
preceding larger one.
The significant change might well
serve as text for some suggestions to
the farmers concerning the various
projects that have been brought for
ward for their relief. No. one of
those schemes has profted them
cent. They have been eagerly seek
ing assistance through political chan.
nels, and influences beyond their con
troll have done more for them than all |
their organizing and agitating. The (
tariff remains just as it was when corn /
was selling at l0c and l2c bushel, and |
the increase in the currency has. not |
yet had any practical effect upon pric-
es. In short, the facts go to show |
that agriculture, like every other in
dustry, is largely governed by forces
that legislation cannot reach. The I
men who propose TO regulate the mar
kets by acts OF congress are only dema-
gogues, angling for votes. That mat
ter is subject for the most part to the
law of supply and demand, which OPP
crates uniformly and irresistibly.
When the farmers have more to sell
than the world wants to buy they are
obliged to take what they can get for
it; anI when the world wants more
than they have to sell they can prac-
tically fix the prices. That is sim
pie way Of stating the whole. There
is no mystery about it, and no depths
Of abstruse philosophy tina. need to be
laboriously sounded. We cannot de-
wise statutes that will insure good
prices for any product, regardless of
intervening circumstances. There is
no political panacea for natural ills,
and no artificial method Of making an
article sell for more than somebody is
willing to pay.