The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-09-19
GIGANTIC WHEAT
TRUST TF0RESEEN
BY REP. YOUNG
Congressman Frightens Producers
at St. Paul With Julius
Barnes Grip on Grain
MARKET WILL BE LEFT
IN HANDS OF THE FEW
North Dakotan Predicts Evil Ef-
feet From League Govern
ment Regulation Plan

Hldy NC concentrated IN q few men
after the war unless changes are made
In the program Of the food admins
tration was sounded in an address be-
fore the producers and consumers con-
ference today by Congressman George
M. Young of North Dakota.
Young Fears Monopoly.
Congressman Young said in part:
This meeting may be the begin
ming of the end of political and indus.
trial control by the middlemen One
general election will do the business
If rural and city laborers strike hands
"The manufacturers of the country
claim to be patriotic, and presume in
the main they are, but have they sold
anything below cost during this war?
1.-The merchants are patriotic, but
have their margins OF profit been de.
creased?
"The railroad companies boast of
their patriotism, but that did not deter
them from asking the Interstate COM
mcrce commission for higher rates
"The ocean transportation COM
panies unfurled the American flag, but
they have demanded good rates.
"The bankers have helped the Red
Cross, but have interest rates been
reduced? No, they average higher
than when the war began.
"Now some enviOus, discredited old
politician would like to make it ap-
pear that it is disloyal to consider the
conditions under which wheat should
be sold.
Respects to Hoover.
"Mr Hoover is man of great abil.
ity. lie made wonderful success as
a mining engineer, making millions OF
dollars for himself and associates. He
handled the Red Cross food distribu-
tiOn in Belgium skilfully and we'll.
While we accept his appointment az
food administrator it is matter Of
regret that most OF his matured man.
hood has been spent in foreign land.
where it would have been impossible
for him to keep in close touch with
American life and conditions, even II
he had tried ever so hard. Under
these circumstances, think 1t is our
duty to advise him as best we can
and warn him of the pitfalls placed in
his pathway by those whom he has
most trusted up to this time. We
should seek to stave him from be-
trayal in the house Of his friends.
Seek to Use Commission.
"Cool, calculating and designing peo'
pie have sought and are seeking to
use the food administration to ac-
complish these purposes:
81. Gripping of small flour mills.
driving many Of them out of busi-
ness.
"2. Killing the principle Of the mill
ing value in the grading of wheat.
"3.Tightcning the grip of wheat ex-
ported upon the grain trade.
a. Reduction of the price in order
to discredit government operations in
the eyes of the producers.
81 am talking gentlemen, OF these
things which the food administration
should remedy in order to save it
from being wrecked. cannot expect
to have the confidence of producers
and consumers unless its activities are
solely in their interests.
Grip of Exporters.
"This leads me to the third cause
of disaster to the food administration.
coming from within. namely the tight
ening Of the grip of exporters upon the
grain business and their power to con-
troll it and fix prices. The greatest
exporter Of wheat in the United
States, J. Harncs, has been placed at
the head of the United States gram
corporatiOn Other representatives OF
the grain market of the country have
bccn selected by him The grain BUS
mess is being concentrated in these
men. After the war. they will have
fighter grip on the business than ever
before. They will have strange
hold. am not of the belief that MI
barnes, personally, is dishonest or
that he will, during this war. receive
anv pccuniary benefits. lie STANDS
hjyh in the business world. but VEN
turc to say that after this war is over
if no change is made that Mr. Barnes
and those associated with him will
have a control of the wheat produced
in the United States such as they
never had before. and by reason OF
which they can make profit which will
far outreach anything they have made
in the past. All of these matters which
have been discussing, to my mind.
are of equal Importance to consum-
crs as we'll as to producers.
Take Pay Out Of Patriotism.
CONGRESSMAN John NJ. Baer of North
Dakota, speaking on the cost of pro-
duction as a basis for price-fxing
urged that the consumers and produc.
CONTINUED on Page Three.)