The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-11-24
HooDer's VieDs On Price Fixing

mate the price We are face to face
with price determination whether
we will or not.
Third, commodities where internal
demand exceeds the supply ana
where direct exports alone do not
sufficiently influence the price-and
here we are driven to price fixing
at once to which coal has already
fallen.
Fourth, commodities where our inn
ports control the price. We can in
some instances control the volume
and price Of imports so as to regu-
late price, and 1t is obviously in our
interests to export as little of our
money as we can.
In all control of price there is one
dominant factor. The very need-ot
price control is proof of insutiicient
production, and in war the necessity
OF the commodity itself 1transcends
the cost. Therefore, the constant
dominant thought in price must be
the stimulation of production. There
Is, however, a point at which stimu-
lation is attained. To get 80 per cent
of volume production costs one price
and the need to secure each advanc-
ing unit OF production. towards 100
per cent becomes a problem of bali.
ance in the necessity for the com-
modify against the burden to the
consumer.
Retailer And Producer Immune.
Each and every commodity has its
own situation; each must be handled
on the merits and with the least in-
reference by government that win
effect purely war ends and each by
cooperation with the industry it
self.
One illusion in the mind of the
public I am anxious to get clear. The
food administration, through its own
authority and the 'coabperation of
other government agencies, can ac-
complish q great deal but it Is limit
ed absolutely to that area of conl1
merce between the producer and the
retailer. We are stopped in law
within this area; we can only use
influence on both the producer and
the retailer and depend upon their
patriotism. In this area we can only
regulate the dow of trade and hold
Ii TO moderate profits and excise
speculation. This is an economic
step short Of price control--except
where we can accomplish 1t by in-
direct means have quoted above.
1t appears to us that no right
minded man. in this community wants
extra profit from the war;. IL he does
he should be branded with the brand
of Judas for selling the blood OF our
sons for profit. have read among
the proceedings Of this important
body a demand for larger participa-
ton in the government by the busi-
ness community. The food adminis-
tration today is directed by a body OF
$50 volunteer representative business
men, producers and experts and up
49, 7mAs -
ences with representatives Of trade
and producers. We have asked them
to help in formulating plans to COM
serve, to stimulate production, and
above all to regulate, distribution.
Most have been helpful and in i'm
stances where Organization has been
completed the devotion OF the bust
ness men has been above all praise
and in some cases we have so far
failed to secure this cooperation in
discouraging way, but / am not, III
view OF the success in some lines,
prepared to say that the experiment
is either q success or a failure. But
let no one be under the illusion that
selfishness or greed has disappeared
from this great republic There
passes over my desk daily a sicken-
ing mass OF evidence OF Individual
sectional and class ayarice and self
interest, backed by demand and
threat, that is Illuminated by rarer
instances Of real support in the CT
gantic task of government.
We wish for cooperation in SER
vice from our commercial commun-
ity. We wish to stamp it with the
stamp Of service In the public in
tereat. Compared with the sacrifice
of our sons and brothers it is bat
little to ask And 1t is a service
which, IL given now. VIII not be with
out interest returns for the future.
This interest in q thousand fold will
come in two directions II we re-
ceive the support we will have dem-
onstrated the falsity OF radical
claims as TO the necessity OF social
izing our industries. IL we fail we
have given impulse to those demands
and ground for their complaints. one
looming shadow of this war is Its
drift towards socialism, for with the
gigantic sacrifice OF life the world Ii
demanding a sacrifice OF property
and we viii surely drift to that rocky
coast unless we can prove the econ
omic soundness and willingness 20
public service Of our commercial In
stitutions.