Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1910-02-01
cent over the value OF the product
,non tho farm X.

en- away from the farmers products
/ have introduced this resolution,
with the hope that the committee
on agriculture will give the world
the true facts in relation to the cost
of the product as it is sold upon the
farm and the cost of the product
when it is sold by the retailer and to
determine the comparative cost of
the production upon the farm and
the added cost after the product has
passed through the hands of the
wholesaler and into the hands of the
retailer. When the committee has
tive amount received by the produc-
er and the various profits added by
middlemen and finally the retailer,
done that I am very well satisfied,
Mr. President, that we will come to
the conclusion that. the protection
which the farmer himself is receiv-
ing upon his products is not more
than what is adequate and just, and
that the prices which are charged
are due to the exorbitant rates and
prices that are placed upon those
products after they leave the hands
of the farmer, and in which he has
not his proportionate share Of in
terest
An inquiry to determine the rela-
tive amount and finally the retailer,
through whom the sale of food pro-
ducts is conducted, will be of inter-
est, but we cannot quite see just
where it will effect the cost ofilv-
ing, unless it is discovered that there
is some unlawful combination to
keep up prices. We do not believe
anything of that sort will be dis
covered. Prices are fixed largely by
supply and demand, and the demand
for food products has been greater
than the supply. For example, not
a thousand miles from this center
of trade, there has been a loud call
during the past few months for fresh
eggs, and fresh eggs have command.
ed an abnormal price, and some
eggs that were not so very fresh
either, benefited from the demand.
These eggs came from the farms
directly and passed through one, or
not more than two hands before
reaching the consumer. The con.
sumner had the money to pay and
that fixed the price, which was as
high as the farmer, the commission
man and the retailer could put it.
That was human nature, and the in
dividuals who shared the price are
not especially to be blamed.
When labor is high prices are
high. Labor has been pretty high
during the past year or so. 1t has
been hard to get, as WELL When
labor is we'll paid, it insists on hav-
ing the best it can get for it's money.
That creates competition and
brings prices up. There has been a
big era of building through the
country. Factories and shops have
been running overtime. Railroads
have been and are being built. Capt.
tai has been seeking investment And
the farmers who have been supplying
the markets have not kept pace with
the demand. We notice the other
day in a report of bureau of the
department of agriculture, that the
number of steers and beef cattle,
aside from mich cows, has decreas-
ed some two millions for the year.
This is significant, and in keeping
with an interview by Mr.. ]. E. Phel-
an, published in the Tribune few
days ago, who stated that there was
an actual shortage of cattle and that
it would in all probability grow
greater rather than less.
If the lesson is needed, the over
crowded cities and centers of popu-
lation give their overplus of intelli->
gent effort to the tilling of the soil
and the raising of food products,
and there comes about sensible and
substantial economy in the purchas-
es of individuals, then we shall
come through the period of high
prices and bring about a readjust-
ment on wise basis without harm
ing anybody. The farmer who has
good acres and gets a substantial
profit from them is fortunate, and
he is not kicking on the tendency of
food prices. Neither. do we think,
will he be led to kick against the
general prosperity that makes for
good prices. If he will give heed
to the advice of agitators, dema-
gogues, democratic low tariff men
and others who want to ride into Of
flee on a wave of popular unrest,
he will soon find that the prices will
be far lower than they are now, and
perhaps little too low to suit any
body else
-
Henry Clews weekly financial re-
view says: The agitation against
/,