Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1917-11-24
THE CONSUMERS
SIDE OF WHEAT
PRICE QUESTION
THE ARTICLE BY "a FARMERS
FRIEND" MADE BASIS FOR
DISCUSSION OF THIS
ALL-IMPoRTANT ouEsTloN-ThE
FACT THAT GOVERNMENT
HAS FIXED NO
MAXIMUM PRICE DOES NOT PRE-
CLuoE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH
LEGISLATION.
Inwood, w. Va. Nov. Fl.
Editor OF The World.

To TIE Editor OF The World:
The communication published in
your columns yesterday under the
signature of "A Farmers Friend
makes the point that the farmer will
profit by holding his wheat until
spring. and 1t bases the argument en-
tirely on an economic theory OF sup
ply and demand. There are other
factors which may enter to inau
ence this theoretical marketing. now
ever and It would have seemed a
fairer article If your informant had
at least mentioned them ip his ad.
vice 10 the farmers.
May | suggest them briefly?
lit is true that the Government
has set no maximum price to be
Paid for the 1917 crop of wheat; but
that does not preclude the POSSIBLE
ity of such legislation. The suppo-
sition ard hope OF the Government
md certainly such a hope was popu.
lar--in setting the minimum price,
was that the farmers would be will
in to market their crop at $22o.
which would give them a profit
somewhere between fifty and a
hundred, per cent or their invest
ment. II the Government sees fit to
legisiate Gcth minimum AID max-
mum prices on other necessities. Il
there any reason why wheat should
not be treatede in the same manner
The Washington dispatch referred TO
doubtless had this possibility in
mind when il hirted that the farm
ers would be taking q risk And 1t
seems to me that the farmer would
have no justihable complaint were
be to be so limited.
at Is only common sense-and
| this quite aside from the price"
which may obtain at the time-to
believe that the Government will not
allow itself to be embarrassed by \
scarcity of wheat on the market
when there Is plenty OF IT In the far
mer's hands. War permits OF no de
lay in It's prosecution; food there
must be-. and food there will be
there need be no concern about that
so long as there Is wheat In the
country. Communicating OF nece9.
stiles is not an impossibility, anac-
customed as we MY be TO such
methods.
Economists always take into
account when considering marketing
the popular mind That Is TO say,
there may be such a sentiment
among the people towards a com
modify or towards the marketers Of
a commodity that the sale Of such
commodity will rise, or flll, with
phenomenal rapidtty. To apply IL
to the present issue: IL II were TO
become increasingly evident TO the
masses that the farmers were hold
ing back wheat ia a time OF hfgh
prices In order to get excessive prof,
its and at the expense OF the masses;
il the people were to realize tnat the
farmers were simply making capita.
of the crisis in food supplies; II they
were TO reGson it out that the whole
scheme OF prices depends largely
upon the prices for these 1ecessi
ties. and that by forcing up the price
OF wheat the farmer is tamper1ne
with their very existence; If these
things were to be felt nationally
there would follow a certain and a
very evident effort to avoid the use
OF wheat as much as possible. You
viii say this Is sentiment only. II
is; but sentiment works wonders
when II gets into action.
And finally, Is your correspon
dent c~ounseIlng wisely when he I'D
wise his friends TO act in direct op
position to the appeal Of the Govern
ment? The 1920 price vas not set
in a minute, nor because the Govern
ment wanted something to do. Il
was the result OF serious study, and
f. It's fairness invited all farmers te
demonstrate their patriotism By
coming TO market at that price. dis
lance lends enchantment" some
(~Continued on page stx)