The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1916-12-06
FOOD STUFFS EMBARGO
IS HIGHWAY ROBBERY
FARMERS on COUNTRY HAVE
NEVER HAD FULL SHARE OF
pROSPERI1f.
No Right NJ This Time of Rich Uar-
vest Co Sacrifice Their Interest
for Interest OF Consuming
Class.


Throughout the country. from the
Atlantic TO the Pacific and from the
Lakes 70 the Gulf. nearly every
region felt the effect Of adverse
Weather conditions on this years
crops. The result is shortage
which would be serious under any
conditions. II Is doubly serious as
compared with the past ten years. IN
view OF our increase in population
IL that time. which averages in the
neighborhood of 100000 year.
aud OF the increased consumption by
reason OF the financial conditions
of the millions of people who are
being paid higher rates of wages
than ever before in the history OF
the country.
The very prosperity OF the manu-
featuring interests is increasing the
demand for foodstuffs. Men who
are employed Mt high rates OF wages
are this year able 70 buy more food
stuffs than formerly. and. therefore.
we have a demand greatly in excess
of normal conditions OF the last
eight or nine years, and to this we
have the gain in population. We
likewise have the increased demend
from Europe coincident with smaller
production not only in Europe. but
throughout the world OF wheat and
OF some other foodstuffs.
Under these conditions 1t is Inn
perative that farmers should be en-
couraged to increase their grain pro-
duction as well az all other food sup
plies. for all will be indemand at
high prices for the next year or two
at least. If we should be able next
year to match the bumper wheat
crop OF 1915, we would probably still
see wheat selling as high as IL is at
present, or very nearly so. because
by that time the world will be al
most bare of wheat
We do not believe, however, that
any embargo should be placed on
the exports of foodstuffs. To do so
would be unfair to the producers.
The farmers OF the country have
never had their full share of pros
perity as compared with the indus
trial interests. Their work is not
confined to eight hours, but Is more
nearly fourteen hours. They have
struggled long and late, and to place
an embargo on the shipment of
foodstuffs or of cotton would be abb
sclutely unjust to the producers. TO
do so would be sacrificing their In
terests for the interests OF the con-
suming class In the cities, and how
ever severe may be the hardship on
the consuming classes of high prices
OF foodstuffs due to the fact that
nature denied us large crops this
year, we do not believe that there
is any justice in robbing the farmers
for the benefit of the consumers.
1t is very attractive policy for some
newspapers in the cities. catering TO
the consumers, to ignore the rights
O: the farmers and demand an en-
barge on foodstuffs, but in doing
this they are seeking to rob the
farmer of his just dues and OF his
honestly-earned profits.
If an embargo were placed on the
exports OF iron and steel and other
manufactured articles, there would
soon be such decrease in employ
ment throughout the country, and
such universal depression, that the
demand for foodstuffs would be les
sened and prices greatly reduced, but
this would be getting low prices by
means OF a panic and of universal
business depression. Such an embar-
go would be just as fair as an EN-
barge on grain or cotton. or on any
products OF the farm.
This country Is constantly cursed
with the exploitation of uneconomic,
visionary schemes for the purpose
OF appealing to the crowd 1t has
been popular to yield to the demand
of labor unions for an eight-hour
day which has necessarily increased
the cost OF production. Where an
eight-hour day is feasible, the Manu-
facturers Record Is in sympathy
with it, provided it is honestly won,
and not won by hold-up OF con-
gress and a threat of revolution. But
if an eight-hour day is TO be the law