Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-04-24
PRICE GUARANTEE To
FARMERS IS NEEDED
TO PREVENT FAMINE
Government Could Encourage
Large Yields by Assuring
the Farmers a Fair Price for
Products, Manly Says
ny BASIL N. MANLY.

WASHINGTON. u. c.. April 21.-The
authoritative statement by David Lubin
If me International Institute OF Agri-
culture in Rome that the worlds grain
supplies are 15O.OOO.OOo bushels short
and that the United states, as we'll as
all other countries, is facing possioie
famine next year. created CONSERVATION
today in Washington.
Members Of congress and administra-
tive officials are being awakened to a
-s,1{zation that only the most strenuous
measures within the next month VIII en-
able this country to avoid the threat OF
great food stint
The end of the planting season Tor the
most important crops is just little over
fortv-ffve DAYS away, and whatever-is 10
he 6ona must be done in that time. Be
fore the first Of June throughout the
Greater mart Of the country all the corn
wheat. harley, oats, potatoes. and other
stapie crops must be planted. AFTER that
time all the statesmanlike plans in the
world would not increase the harvests
one per cent.
with the awakening Of Washington
oficialdom to the seriousness OF the sit
uation is coming a realization that there
nIanting OF the largest possible area. That
e for the government TO guarantee TO
the farmers a fair price for all staple
crops they produce.
the department of agriculture has
been conducting a nationwide campaign
nreachinE to the farmer that II Is his
sacred. patriotic duty to plant all land
that he can possibly handle.
Mass meetings are being held all over
the country to carry the message to all
farmers.
Rut the agents of the department in
charge Of this campaign Of education
are discovering that the farmer is not
only hard-handed: he is hard-headed.
He Is afraid of being caught with
bumper crops on his hands which ne
will have to sacrifice at low price.
He Is not going to exert himself to
the utmost until he knows that he IS go
ing TO have a fair market for what ne
produces If he could be assured OF 81
for every bushel of corn and Sl.bO Tor
every bushel of wheat, he would put
every inch of his land into staple crops
corners. hedgerows and all
But he is not going TO do II, except
in a cautious way, until he gets some
guarantee.
So the agricultural department is rap
idly Incoming convinced that minimum
prices must be guaranteed by the gov
eminent for all staple crops within the
next two or three weeks, and the widest
possible publicity given before the end
of the planting season.
Bills already being drafted to Ak min
imum prices will be introduced as soon
as they are in shape. The probable form
will be for the federal government to
guarantee to buy at prices named all
the wheat, corn, potatoes and beans THAI
may be offered.
Canada, Britain, France, Australia and
many other important countries guar
antee crop prices. in some cases four
years in the future.
Agricultural experts declare that the
guarantee Of minimum prices for staple
crops is one of the surest ways to re-
duce the cost Of living. IF the farmers.
encouraged by the assurance of gen.
erous price for all they can produce,
bring big crops to the market prices are
bound to be reduced far below the fam
inc level now existing
The farmer will not suffer, because
he does not get the benefit Of the exor-
bitant prices spectators are now reap
ing.