Semi-weekly herald., 1916-11-20
GRAIN EMBARGoEs AND WAR.

A movement is under way from the
Denver Labor assembly to have con-
gress and the national executive
place an embargo on the shipments
Of all foodstucs to the war zone in
order that the home costs Of living
nay be brought within bounds. Such
step we are sure could not be con-
sidered unneutral or contrary to in
ternational law, or what remains of
it after two years of buffeting.
Before the war ends, and after
many sumptuary measures may have
to be taken in the cause of self-pres-
ervation. A good deal will depend
lpon the harvests-the spots on the
sun. As in the days when nations
worshiped Baal and dedicated to him
great temples and sacrificial affairs,
the sun is the supreme arbiter in
our mundane affairs, causing the
wheat pit to bow down in sorrow or
raise its head in exaltation. If the
earth brings forth not better than it
did this last season we know not what
may come to pass by this time next
year. Another failure would have a
determining effect upon the world
war, its duration and terms of peace.
Wheat now is selling around two
dollars a bushel, free on board car,
at New York Shortly after the Civil
war it was $2.S5 a bushel. In 1888,
as the result of a wheat corner" in
Chicago, it reached present prices. In
the Napoleonic wars wheat in Europe
reached $4.S5 bushel.
All the grain supplies for the en-
tente allies are purchased by single
commission: There is no competition
among the powers able to ship grain
from this country to Europe. The
buying of war supplies is done by
one body dealing with single corpo-
ration in this country. If, in the
case of ammunition, the price is con-
sidered unreasonable, the order is
withheld or shifted to Japan, which
is supplying England and France as
well as Russia and acts as a dter-
rent upon American factories.
Regarding wheat purchases, the
British commission charged with that
duty hesitated until it was too late
when wheat was plenty and prices
were low. Strategistss promised to
open the Dardenelles and let the Rus
sion surplus out, but the gateway is
as tight now as it was when war
broke loose. 1t is estimated that
Russia has 300,000O0O bushels ready
to rush to her allies if she could get
possession of the straits. For the
present. foreign purchases are from
hand to mouth, the only heavy pur-
chase made being from the Austral-
ian government for the supply that
it Communicated as war measure
and the Indian Empires coming har-
vest.
Every ship sunk by submarine
adds its decimal to the total increase
in the cost of living. Tonnage sunk
since the war opened has brought the
price of all manufactures and soil
products up to a pretty penny. Prof
its of shipowners and middlemen
have been equal to the gains from
the most prosperous "war brides"
1t is possible that the government
of this nation may be required to
take war measures in peace time and
prohibit expectation and set the price
to be paid for all cereals so long as
the European struggle continues. If
there is to be interference with the
ancient law of supply and demand
it must be drastic to be effective.
What the American farmer may
have to say is another question. As
between him and the city consumer it
will be hard for a political party to
choose.-Rocky Mountain News.