Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1917-08-16

Clay Center never was much STUCK
on Taft but reports are that DR.. Nor
gan is giving the best care possible
and will bring him through in first
class style.
m ~ ~
Let us hope that the new generals
will not be so slow in getting to the
relief of the Allies as General Rains
was in relieving the corn crop OF
Kansas.
- - "a
Down at Hope fly-by-night store
offered prize of $25 to the person
getting the most votes and appointed
three ministers to count the ballots.
When the committee met II found
that the decision was all over and
that the money had been covered into
the stores bank account. From
which a great moral can be drawn II
you look for it.
~ "a "a
We can't help feeling peeved at
Censor Creel for allowing the news
that Bill White and Henry Allen will
sail for France to be dated New York
instead of IAN Atlantic Port. In
the first place 1t is not showing suf-
ficient respect to Kansas and then
il gives the tip to the German subs.
If they should get both Henry and
Bill at one swoop it would leave the
world a desolate place indeed.
"a ~ p
PRICE AND SQUARE DEAL
Topeka Capital; Administrator
Hoover, it is reported by trade gossip,
does not believe in the high price of
wheat. Consequent on this trade I'M
derstanding of his attitude wheat has
declined some 20 cents in the mar
ket. 1t is on its way, say some trade
to the 1918 minimum of So.
There are those who think it is des-
tined to $l.5O.
The farmer has raised half crop
of wheat, on high-cost seed and labor.
lie is not, in Kansas at any rate, fac
ing good corn prospect, but on the
contrary a near-failure. His hay is
better than half crop, but
owing to last years drouth, more
weedy than usual. All feed is high
and he has rushed stock to market,
fearing to attempt to carry a consid
cradle holding of livestock thru win
ter.
There is no prospect that with So
wheat or $3.50 wheat the farmer will
make large profit on his years out
turn.
Yet wheat, left to market condi-
lions alone, free from government in
might perhaps bring to-
day not SO but So 1t had risen be-
, ond 81 when artificial interference
stopped II and drove it back. No
prohibition of futures or minimum
market price for copper, steel. leath-
err, lumber, etc, has been declared |
But If no minimum price and no pro-
Of futures in wheat had been
declared, the farmers wheat would
be perhaps 81, perhaps So.
Let 1t be clearly understood what
has happened. Kansas does not pro
test against regulation of the price of
wheat. But Kansas views with con-
siderable curiosity the singular fact
that no product of American indus
try, outside of wheat, has been sub
iected to government repression of
price.
All that is to be desired is square
iealing, equal treatment to all indus
ries.
Last year the United States Steel
Corporation showed $50 million dol
ars profit on its common stock (all
Did the government step in.
II was any action taken to suppress
he natural process of demand and
upply and artificially bring down the
unaway prices of steel? None.
The Steel corporation last year de-
Jared 450 million dollars profit. In i,
II three years of war all the farms
Kansas combined have not shown
ct profits over and above repairs and
aggregsting $50 million
ollars on all products. Yet the CAPT
Il invested in Kansas farms is in no
.nse water"