The Raymer enterprise., 1917-09-20
ADVERTISER CRIT|CISES
OUR CRITICISM OF PRICE

lengthy criticism Of the Govern
ment plan t6Sregulate the price OF
wheat and argues that the farmer
who growls that grain is being dis
criminated against because the
same authority is not applied to
the things which he has to buy,
and cites clothing, gasoline, meat
and farm machinery as examples
to sustain its objections.
Right at the beginning the En-
terprise should take time to COM
pare the price which the wheat
grower will receive for his crop
this year. and next if the war con
tinues-and reflect that two dollars
per bushel is a figure that, taken
by itself, would have been looked
upon as a fancy one for the gov
ernment to guarantee. Compared
with the price which has prevailed
during the past six months it is
not 30, but it is still one which, in
spite Of increased. cost Of the grow
ing, will yield a fat profit to the
grower.
In taking hand in regulating
wheat prices the government pro-
badly did not have in mind the
man with abundant means for pro
viding his daily bill of fare so
much as the man on the daily wage
or small salary who saw inevitable
want staring him in the face If
something were not done to reduce
the cost Of the main item of his
food. No one can safely argue
from the record made 90. far that
the goyernmentcontemplates doing
anything to cripple the farmer or
any other producer Of raw or man
ufactured necessities, and that it
was high time for something to be
done to prevent untold hardships
to the poorer classes no one can
deny.
An occasional farmer may be
found who will protest the regula-
tion Of the price Of wheat, but as
rule they will doubtless figure, not
from the unprecedently high price
at which that grain sold mp to a
month ago, but from the basis OF
what it costs them to produce it
and the price which they are tore
ceive, and their patriotism will re-
strain themfrom complaining when
there 10 no real cause for COM
plaint.-Ault Advertiser.
The Enterprise does not want in
any way to voice frivolous criticism
Of government activities in the face
of war conditions. We do not wish
to exempt farmers from any Of the
Just burdens Of this war. They
would not thank US for so doing,
for they are loyal.
But loyalty does not require that
we accept the conclusions OF the
price fixing board as just, and
while will not revolt, nor burn nor
kill in defiance Of government or.
ders, we feel it proper to point out
injustice if it appears, and call at
tention to it.
We do not complain the present
price Of wheat, but it is the means
by which the decrease in price was
forced, and the selection Of this ar
ticale alone for price reduction.
The knife has fallen on the
wheat price, but what bread buyer
has discovered any benefit? II
reducing the price Of wheat does
not result in cheaper bread who
reaps the beneits9
The Advertiser speaks Of the
benefits to be derived from the
price Of 81 wheat fixed for next
year. Itremains to be seen wheth.
or we ever reap that benefit. We
have great doubts Of it.
Newspapers are advising us that
gasoline is going to be higher, be
cause it il scarce. They also adj
vise us that the price fixing board
will leave meats alone. Scarce