Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1908-04-08
VICTOR E. LAWSON, Editor and Manage
WEDNESDAY, APRIL s. 1908.
BARLEY AND BREWERS.

bANlE AlND 0NE w End
Realizing the strength of the pro-
hibition movement among the farm
ers of the country, the liquor deal
ers have come to the conclusion
that something must be done to
change that sentiment it possible.
Having no arguments on the moral
side Of the question, they appeal to
the cupidity Of the people, believ-
ing that the farmers, like the liquor
interests, thinks more of his pocket
book than of a question of right
and wrong. Among other papers
that have been enlisted in the effort
to create liquor sentiment is our
esteemed contemporary, the Ga
zette. In its last issue it published
an article purporting to be clip
ping from another but in reality is
nothing but one of the cunning adj
vertisements prepared by the led
ucational' department organized
! by the brewers. After giving a lot
Of statistics regarding the barley
crop in Minnesota, the article comes
to the real point it wants to make.
as follows:
These figures furnish material
food for thought along two lines.
First, the possibilities to which
Minnesota may aspire in the barley
world by increased acreage and q
consequent increase in total yield.
Second, as to whether the farmers
of the state are not cutting off one
of their best sources of income
when they follow the cry of those
who would first establish county op-
ton, aiming eventually at state and
rational prohibition. Too little
heed has been paid as to what the
Iviping out of breweries would
mean not only to the farmer, in d.
rect income and diversified farm
ing, but to the elevator and com
mission men who handle the crop.
The continued growth of prohibi-
rion and the destruction of the
brewing industry will result in the
farmers being made to suffer great
losses through the destroyed market
for their product.
Same old story! The thirty pie
ces of silver flashed before the eyes
Of the people to blind them to thei]
moral obligations. 1t was thought
that this was an opportune time t.
talk barley, on account Of the alb
normally high price it commanded
for a few weeks last fall. The
brewers think they can make the
Farmers believe that that will be
the normal price if the brewers are
permitted to continue their business
unn- olested. In this case, however
it is easy to see thru the delusive.
ness of the claim.
In the first place, the price OF
barley last fall was abnormal for
several reasons. The new pure
food law required the brewers tc
use some more barley than former
~ in their business. Then the crop
was below the average in quantity
and practically all of it could have
been used to advantage by the
farmers in feeding stock. To get
the barley the brewers had to bid
up to a point where the farmers
would sell. The Spectators, see
ing this, entered the market and
forced up the price still higher, ex-
pecting to bleed the brewers for a
good profit; but the panic prevented
them from holding out for this,
and the brewers got their barley
comparatively cheap. The farmers
got very good price that time
but it was not all profit by any
means. They found themselves
short of feed stuff, and the big
stock buyers, knowing the farmers
could not keep their stock, forced
down the price away below what it
would otherwise have been. Thus
what was gained on barley was lost
on stock, and it is doubtful if the
farmers as whole made a cent by
letting their barley go.
In the second place, the brewers