Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1906-11-20

The Price Oh w
The export shippers CT grain at Chi
cago declare that the trunk line rail-
roads refuse to ACCEPT grain for ship
ment from Buffalo to New York, Bos-
ton and Philadelphia, or contract 1or
its future transportation. The rallroads
claim they have not ears enough 10
move grain. but the shippers declare 1t
is all scheme to hold back grain at
Chicago and other western points until
navigation on the lakes is closed Tor
the winter. Then the railroads can
take their time in transporting IL ut
the advanced freight rates which IN
variably go into effect after navigation
closes.
This is bad news for the wheat grow
err. for il will probably force down the
price of wheat, which Is ALREADY 700
lo.y for profit. 1t may also lead 10 the
loss of a market for large quantities or
wheat, which would be bought by Eng
lish BUYERS il delivered in advance OF
the Argentine crop, which begins 10
move in January. The price OF wheat
ia now but from so to 60 cents to the
grower at the local markets. M
further decline In price will be a dis
aster to many growers that have pllis
to meet based on the high prices oi
what they have purchased.
How do those farmers who have ac-
ntrin
wheat grower is protected by the tar
if from the pauper raised wheat OF
Argentina. Russia, India and other
countries like the outlook? How can
the Republican spellbinders and or
gans explain the low price of wheat,
although it is protected by tariff or
% cents a bushel? The speeches of
Secretary Shaw and Secretary Wilson
in which they try to prove that the
tariff protects the farmer: and is uni
versal prosperity producer, must fall
rather fat and provoke anything but
enthusiasm in the hearts of the western
wheat growers.
AS the price of nearly everything the
farmer buys is still advancing and
Bradstreet's index numbers for Octo-
Der show that the average price Of
commodities has increased since 1897
nearly so per cent, so that to make
things even wheat should be so per
cent higher and be advancing annually
In price about 3 per cent, as other pro
tected products are.
How much longer will Republican
farmers submit to this one-sided pro
lection that fosters trusts and allows
them to force up the prices Of their
tariff protected products and compels
the farmer to sell his surplus products
in the markets of the world at world
wide prices? No system of trust pro
lection can protect the farmer in OBJ
tanning better prices for his products,
of which more are raised than can be
consumed in this country. The sur
plus must be sold for what it Will
bring. No combination of wheat grow
ers can force up the price Of wheat,
for the shrinkage and expense of stor-
ing will eat up the increase In price
which might be gained by holding back
the surplus from market, unless there
should be a worldwide failure of the
wheat crop to cause a very great ad-
vance In price.
The impudent attempt of the Repub-
hcans to make the farmers believe that
their prosperity has been brought about
by the Republican policy of protection,
instead of the bountiful crops which
nature and hard work provided,
is entirely disproved by the disappoint-
ment Of the wheat growers at the drop
In the price of wheat. Nor can the
Republicans explain to the satisfaction
of any wide awake farmer why under
the system of trust protection that has
so vastly increased the price of trust
products, the price of protected wheat
should not be equally advanced. To
explain how the tariff fosters trusts
and does not foster agriculture would.
If truthfully given, entirely demolish
the standpat doctrine upon which the
farmers are asked to support the Re
publican ticket.