The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1912-09-26
THE FARMER AND THE COST OF
LIVING.


of living" is the real issue in this
campaign.
There is no reason to dispute Gov.
Wilson's statement. He thinks the
cost of living is paramount and that
is why he favors free trade. Included
in his program is that of reducing
the prices paid for the foodstuffs
produced by the farmers. He thinks
the farmers should feed the people
of the country at lower prices. And
the democratic program is carried
ont, this object will be accomplish
ed.
But how is this going to strike
the farmer? Hasn't he the right to
consider just how the the democratic
program would affect his future and
ms income F!
The federal bureau of labor has
just completed a report upon the cost
of living. This report shows that
prices of foodstuifs have increased
in the last decade as follows:
Graunlated sugar, S.5 per cent;
strictly fresh eggs, 26.1; fresh milk
32.9; creamery butter, 33.3; whea,
flour, 39.3; pure lard, 61.3; corn
meal, 63.7; rib roast, 63.S; ROUND
steak, 81; pork chops, Sc; smoked
bacon, SCI; potatoes, Ills.
On this list of foodstuffs there APP
pears only one article that is not The
product of the ordinary American
\ farm and that is granulated sugaI
and what is more, this article shows
the smallest increase in price to b,
found in the lot.
Now what complaint has the farm
er to make about these price increas
es? 1t is true that the city mar be
lieves they are ~indefensible. He is in
e clined to favor almost any measur
that will lower them, unless it S
happens that he is engaged in a bus
Il ness that benefits directly from tn
prosperity of the farmer.
But the farmer surely is not cor
WINGED that the prices of these pro
n ducts are too high. III he is NAH
ing unreasonable profits. the tow
sman can do the same by going int
II ever even suggested that there is c
could be a monopoly in farmin,
'e Even with the prices that now obtai
n there is complaint OF an eXcessiN
VI movement from the farm to the cit,
is The simple truth is this, that pri,
D. es of farm products are sure to |
lie made relatively high enough to u
&c tract sufficient numbers to the farn
~ to supply the demand. If the prict
rs are not that high, they will adyant
ar to the point, for one thing is sur
a. and that is that the public must ca
II Ii at any time the farmers obtai
profits out of proportion to the cal
r ital they invest and the amount 4
- labor they perform-judged by I'll
~ standard prices of labor and none
: then it is certain there will be
movement toward the farms al
IL prices will fall again. Thus it
al clear that the farmer cannot artif
ar cially increase his prices. In the fin;
analysis this is rue because the SO
ie IN tne united EtateS Is To-Day prOuu
ing only a small! fraction of tt
IL amount it is capable of producing.
But the democratic plan is to for'
Us down the prices of farm products /
I'd exposing the farmers to the competi
= ion of the world.
ce
n That sounds very nice for tn
other Fellow.
: But what does the farmer thir
H. about it?
z@Ae<~%
GETS SPECIAL PENSION.
Ipswich, S. D.-Lester j.. Dack
Ipswich, S. D., has received VOL
that the special bill granting his
C. pension of $50 a month has becon
-, a law REPRESENTATIVE purEo ;pfr