The evening times., 1898-06-15
SENATOR ROACH REPLIES.
He Answers Mr.. JOhnsOn's State
mcnts About Wheat.


A few days ago. Hon. NJ. n. johnson,
representative from North Dakota, in
an interview, drew rosy picture Of the
condition of affairs In his State, and talk
ed of high prices for wheat and general
prosperity among the American far
mers. z
The accuracy Of Mr.. Johnson's picture
is denied by Senator Roach of that State
who is himself a farmer and a wheat
grower. After having his attention cali
ed to the interview Of The Times repre-
sentative. the senator proceeded to show
the fallacy of some of Mr.. Johnson's
arguments.
1.-The trouble about saying anything In
regard to such utterances," said the SEN
a:or, lis that you do not know what the
person talking or writing is driving at,
or really means. Now, Mr.. Johnson
talke or writes Il really do not know
which, about prosperity in our State.
and cites numerous instances, presuma-
bly, 30 substantiate the proposition. l
confess to some mystification over his
attempt to apply the so-calied object
lessons.
Now, in regard to the wheat PROPOSE
ton, l don't know that anyone needs n
telegraph news this morning, announcing
the collapse of the Letter deal.
Mark the Quotings of September
wheat, if you please; it fell to GO -. Do
you know what price that means in my
State-50 cents or less, for mind you, We
farmers pay the freight on every bushel
of wheat we sell. all the way to Liverpool.
No matter If the wheat Is ground into
flour at Minneapolis or Detroit. on every
bushel of whea; We market in our State
the freight to Europe is deducted in fixing
the prices allowed US. Now, il. as as
serted, the present Administration and
the Dingley law brought about the happy
conditions alleged by Mr.. johnson, in our
State, what is the reason they are not
continued? The high price Of whea: is a
blessing, or would be at the right time,
for us farmers in North Dakota. The Ad-
ministration and the Dingley law are in
the hey-day Of their supposed usefulness.
Why, then, should wheat drop, with this
dull, sickening thud, and those potent in
fluences quoted by Mr. johnson apparent
ly unable to arrest the fall. And If t',ese
influences SO full of alleged promise, can
not prevent the disastrous fall In prices.
how can II be successfully asserted or
who will believe when the assertion is
made. that because of certain Admins
tration and a certain law prices have ad-
vanced?
81 should think most people would be
tired of such rot, and 1t is astonishing
to find statesmen at this late day making
such assertions.
1.-The fact is nobody has any wheat to sell
in my State at the time referred to, with
the exception of possible few, who are in
such a comfortable financial condition as
to be able TO hold over a crop If they so |
desire. But the few, very few, whose fl !
nancial condition enables them to do that, |
are not the ones most in need of the bene- |
lts flowing from high price. The people |
In my State who would be most benefited. |
and who need it most, for the general good |
and welfare. are just the very ones who |
ion't get such advantage. They are those, |
md they comprise four-fifths of the farm |
ars, who are compelled to market their |
wheat as soon as it is garnered, and You |
will find almost invariably the lowest |
prices prevailing just about that time
Dur crop is generally ready for the mar
1et in September. Watch the market at |
hat time. You have pointer in the drop
or that month quoted this morning
now unforeseen may happen to
lrive up the price again. would like to
zee some such good luck for my own sake
IS well as that of others know of In the
State, but If anyone Is so guileless as to
'e relying on the Administration and the
)ingley law-although both have been
'edShy ic-euAoECeu ny tne SO-calleQ war |
evenue bill, the one with four hundred
Millions of bonds and the other with one
hundred millions interest-bearing certifi-
ates to supply the deficiency IN the
evenues collected under ito bring about
themselves, higher prices. is doomed to
The one or two cases cited by Mr..
ohnson of individuals who were fortun-
tie enough to have five and ten thou
and bushels of wheat to sell at the
eiter prices were all right for the indi-
iduals, but I am at loss to see how
Q connects these most fortunate fndi-
iduals with the general prosperity of the
tate, or as tending to show an advance
long the whole line. AS to the case of
is neighbor who sold chicken feed for |
ood wheat, at the top notch price-well. |
those of us who have had dealings
18th the wheat buyer in North Dakota. |
1ch statement is calculated to sug-
est considerable romance in its make
p. II there Is anything a wheat buyer |
particular about, and especially when |
e Is paying high price, 1t is the grade |
the wheat when presented for sale.
is calculated to make the average farm
. smile to think that anybody could
aim OF load Of chicken feed and get |
o. l hard price for It from any wheat |
1yer In the State. OF course, / am de-
GIFTED II anybody in the State, be thew
70 or dozen, was able to get the bene- ,
Of the increased price Of the Letter !
,mbtne, but am at q loss to under !,
hnv <hA 60 0pvvaa 1