The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-09-15
Another Circular From the Alliance
Advising Producers to Hold
Their Wheat Crops.
An Assertion That the Grain Will
Possibly Reach Two Dol
lars q Buehol
Az Argument to Prove That Owisg to the
short European Crop Anaprica
Will Sell Its Surplus

to the wheat question, now being sent out
by tho state the alliance organ of this
city. II urges farmers to hold back their
wheat, as better prices awai tthem in the
next few weeks. Tho assertion is made
that wheat will be $1.50 soon, and possibly
$2, review of the European shortage
being made tho basiss of this CLAIM. George
M. Miller, sditor Of the State, in speaking
this new address to the farmers, says: I'VE
still believe large amount Of grain will be
held back, that the rush 10 practically over.
Our advices from thousands Of correspond
ents is to this effect. These carly sales
were by those distressed for money and
those not connected with the alliance"
The circular says: The farmer needs
honest advisers he has now too many of
the other kind. It sharply raps the elevator
men and millors, grain dealers and specu-
lators, and those newspaper men who 90 to
them for their information about the condi-
tion Of the market and lay it as a valua-
bls truth before the public.
"rwo months ago all these advisers pre-
dicted low prices on account Of the enor-
NOUS crops in the United States, and ad-
vised the farmers to sell as soon ns they
had chance. They admit now" says the
circular, shat the question has been thor
oughly ventilated, that an immense short
age exists In Europe which no surplus of
our country can offset, but still they try to
tempt the farmers into sacrificing their
crops by different t,icks. The press for in
stance, is oysrhowing with articles congrat-
ulating the farmers ON the immense crop.
These articles are suspicious. for" says the
circular, I'VE hope few newspaper men are
10 ignorant they don't know large crop is
of itself no ground for congratulation. It
ID the farm value Of the CROP and this does
not depend on it's size. The newspapers
now" ii says, 'enliohten the farmers that
Europe will need alll they have raised and
more but that they cannot buy 1t at exorbl-
tant rates."
The circular states that the figures of the
Vienna congress show that Europs has
raised 25S, ,OOO, 600 bushels of wheat and 49O,
100000 Of rye less than last year. Last year ear
it consumed all it's own wheat and 30, 1000
bushels of reserves, loo. 600, 600 bushels from
America, all that other countries could sup
ply and all itsrye crop. This year it will have
from America 220,O000 coo bushels, if the Ok
trsme figures of our crop are taken. twill
have an aggregate shortage of 798.OOO,OOO
bushels in its own crop, and &c, 200 600 bush
els less to be drawn from the reserve. In
short it will have 220.000,0 600 bushels from
Amcrica to make up the total deficiency OF
798. 900 bushels, and must consequently
eat 67S, 600 bushels less grain, it being
admitted, says the circular. that the short
age in European crops is by far the worst
ever known in history. 1t would be natural
for the Europeans to expect high prices.
The so-called advisers of the American
about the highest Europeans will stand and
that they would rather eat other things
than pay more for wheat.
The circular aays this assertion is ridicu-
lous. The average price for wheat for the
last thirty-two years in England, on gold
sponded with $1.2l in Chicago. During the
eight highest years Of that period the aver
age was $1.77sa, equal to $1.57M in Chicago.
During 1867-'6S the average WAS $l.95, and
prices went as high as 1921. equal to more
than 81 in Chicago. These high prices did
not. SO far as the recollection Of the writer
goes, change the diet of Europeans to any
great extent. The shortage in Europe be-
ing four times rs great as the American
surplus, says the circular, there is no doubt
figure ever known before this year is up,
and will exceed it by far before the new
crops comes in. The talk that 81 for
wheat in Chicago ID high under the present
circumstances is, it says absolutely ridicu-
lous. OF course, if the farmers should in
sist on offering more wheat than there is
money to buy, they could keep prices down
little, but the warning came in good sea :
son to the spring wheat farmers, and they
will hold back better than the speoula-
tors expected. There never was
any good reason for having
wheat price 80 low as it is today. Those
who are forced by absolute necessity to
sell, or who are too idiotic to understand
the situation, are not so numerous that
their action can keep down prices any
length of time, and 30 soon as the fools are
out of the market. the intelligent farmers
will get prices adequate to the circumstan-
oea''