The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1917-04-19
Food Supplies and Prices.
IF G.. Dow. in the Maine Farmer.

TE. C. Dow, in the Maine Farmer
For the present, at least. Congress
will make no provision for an inquiry
. into the cost of food supplies. That
the appropriation was withheld on the
grounds of economy, speaks we'll for the
Senate that has often been too generous
with the peoples money. That such an
investigation, honestly conducted, would
be highly desirable and might lead to
much good, can hardly be doubted by
fair. minded men who have given the
matter careful thought.
1t is plain to all, even the most obtuse,
that there is something more than short
crops and car shortage at the bottom OF
the present serious conditions in our food
SUPPLIES. Just what that trouble is, no
one man is able to tell; just how to
remedy the i'll, no one knows.
One fact stands out clear and plain: 1t
is the supreme duty of the government
to protect the lives of it's subjects.
Every citizen has the right to look to
government for protection from death
from foreign foes and also from death by
starvation.
When the poor man, with family to
support, has to work two days to pay for
one bushel of potatoes, or its equivalent
in other food, he stands face to face
with starvation. That this condition
exists, none will deny. That food sup
plies are not short enough to warrant
such conditions, is self-evident.
The principal food crops were practl-
cally equal to the five-year average:
Some of them were much in excess of
that average. Exports have been much
less than was expected. and at present
practically nothing.
Corn and barley were very nearly the
average, oats and rice above-the latter
nearly SO per cent higher fruits equal
to the average or above. The crop OF
sugar beets was the largest on record,
while dairy and poultry products each
showed a gain. Not only is this true,
but there has been heavy increase In
meat products. The actual increase over
two years ago amounts to twice the
amount exported, so that we nave had
for home use in this country for the past
year as much as we had in 1914, plus the
amount of the 1916 exports, an increase
of three billion pounds.
In the midst of plenty, we are IN want.
None desires the prosperity OF the lar
mer more than |, but we are American
citizens first farmers after that. We
certainly have right to living prices
for our products; the consumer has
right to those products at prices that
will allow him to live. Our interests are
mutual. Wives and children must be
fed or there can be no family life. What,
then, would become of the nation?
Speaking of the food situation as re-
Gently as March 3rd, the United States
Secretary of Agriculture says: There
is nothing in the food situation of the
country which justiies hysterical think
ing or action. A full and satisfactory
explanation of prevailing prices is not
possible on the basis of existing knowl-
edge. We have not the necessary facts
to enable us to arrive at the truth. We
must have the facts, and the sooner the
investigation is undertaken, the better.
1t is highly probable that as result of
it, large permanent improvements may
be made"
Shall government fix the prices OF
food supplies? Under some conditions
such a course would be advisable. 1T
SPECTATORS are able to corner supplies
and put prices on an abnormal place, and
the men cannot be controlled, then 1t
would be best to control prices. But we
are not ready for that in this country
yet. Neither producer nor consumer
HUQlu SuDullI W d ulStdIotohIP VI eAoe
nature.
For the near future, our troubles can
best be overcome by first learning the
facts and then applying that knowledge
toward mutual getting together. Not
cooperation for the sake of getting
tighter squeeze out of the man who must
live, by our products but for the sake OF
the gre1test good to the greatest num-
Der.
Permanent prosperity to our agricult-
ure depends not on small production
sold at an eXorbitant price, but on
large production sold at a fair profit.
This is an economic truth that we shall
all do well 10 keep in mind.
AS farmers, we need to learn to guard
against OVERRIDING any one thing to the
neglect of other equally important mat
tiers. We cannot control yield as far
forth as it is affected by matters beyond
our powers, but we need not overpant
one crop to the neglect of others. We
do this, then curse the mlddeman for
broken markets and low prices.
There will always be "fat years" and
lean years" in perishable products, but
the man who keeps level head and
holds his course with steady hand, will
have no cause for complaint in the long
run. Cut the gambling spirit out OF
farm operations, and farming will be
safe and sound.
Belfast, Ne.