The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1917-12-25
KAISER AND FARMER
Germany's Ediet Meant Farm Prices
Lower Than the Cost of Pro-
duction

Lower Than the Cost of Pro-
duction
/ clarence Ousley, Assistant Secretary
Of Agricultural.
It has been lightly asserted that the
American farmer has no material in
terest at stake in the war with Ger
many. Let US see. Those who think
| that there is nothing in the American
cause except the privilege of pleasure
seekers TOT travel on passenger ships
/ to Europea must have forgotten the
specific condition upon which Ger
many offered to permit American
shipping. Without reviewing the
tragic events which caused the death
lof 226 American citizens including
women and children, without discuss
| ing the sinking of any particular ship,
and without even considering the four
separate and distinct promises of
/ Germany In effect not to sink ships
without safeguarding the lives of pas
Isengers and crews. let it be recalled
that in her declaration of purpose of
January 81, 1917, to extend the sub.
marine zone to Great Britain, France
land Italy and therein to sink all ships
regardless of flag or cargo, she offer
led to this country as special favor
the privilege of sending one steamer
a week each way to the port of Fal-
mouth, England, upon condition that
lit should be striped with three stripes
leach meter wide, white and red al
lternating, and upon the further condi-
ton that guaranty be given that
such ships should not carry contra
tband.
/ Perhaps one ship week each way
would accommodate the pleasure
seekers but how much of our export
and import business would it ac-
commodate?
In the fiscal year ending June 80,
1913, we exported to Europe farm
products to the value of 81, 123, 651 1886.
Among these products are the follow
ling:
Animals, live. 1913 7,080,122
Dairy products. 3,220,893
Eggs $500. . 1891 ,653
Packing house products. 162,706, 1855
Cotton. -. ......... 1885,, 1875
Fruits. 1855. ...... 36,345, SIT
Grain and grain products 21O,523, 721
Oil cake and oil cake meal 1914, 252
oil, vegetable -. ...... 24,044, 401
Tobacco. -. ... 1855, 595
Let us consider the two items of cot
ton and wheat. The cotton consists of
,562, 295, 675 pounds or 9,124,591 bale
The cotton alone would require at the
lrate of 10000 bales to the ship more
than 900 ship cargoes. As there are
lonly ffty-two weeks in the year, it
will be seen how long it would take
a ship week to move the cotton alone
The wheat consisted of 81, 602, 794
bushels. 1t will be an interesting call
lculation for the children to figure out
how many cargoes of $500 tons each
would be required to move this wheat
to Europe and how long it would take
at the rate of one cargo a week.
As to these two main products and
las to other farm products, not to
Ispeak of manufactured products, their
commercial value depends upon the
foreign market. Without a foreign
market for cotton, for instance, even
this year with the probable crop of
ionly 100000 bales we have for ex-
port something like 100000 bales
labove the American consumption of
approximately 100000 bales If we
lcould not export cotton, therefore, we
would have a surplus of 100000
bales and that surplus would cause
Icotton to decline from the present high
price of twenty-six or twenty-seven
: cents pound to price far below the
cost of production. As illustrative OF
this point it is necessary only to re-
lcaH the conditions in 1914 when at the
beginning of the war shipping was I'M
certain and as a consequence cotton
sold at six or seven cents a pound
Even with the short wheat crop this
year we have nothing like 100 million
bushels more than we need for con-
sumption in the United States. II
Happens that Europe needs not only
that 100 millions but very much more
but if we had accepted Germany's die.
tation and were to send only one ship
week to Europe, that 100 million
bushels above our own needs would be
a surplus which would carry the price
of wheat below the cost of production
The right to use the seas is the
fright to buy and sell in the markets OF
i the world. To be denied that right Is
to be compelled to live upon our own
Nlresources. Of course we can do that
Hin this wonderful country but we car
HI y. II
only by trading our surplus of pro
ducts for the surplus of product!
which other people have to sell. If
4 for instance, our farmers could sell nj
more cotton or wheat than is needed IL
this country many farmers would be
compelled to quit raising cotton ant
wheat and would use their lands fol
other farm products To have accept
ed Germany's dictation. therefore
4 xxroY4Id have heaY Tn mt ON. apricultI,rE