The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-01-21

/ uC hSCu VI IL pan "hSlCOy SNpCH.
sive obstacles between producer of
food and consumer can be removed is
pointed out by Eugene Greenhut. pres
ident of the Consumers Cultivating
corporation, in a communication to the
New York Tribune of January II.
Mr.. Greenhut declares that sys-
tenn. rather than appropriations and
red tape, is needed. His communica-
ton follows:
Sir: On December II. 1916. Presi-
dent Wilson received letter from me
in which the United States govern
ment was offered Il plan which would
F.! reduce the cost of food by from 80
to SO per cent to the consumer, and
| at the. same time increase the farmers
| income 100 per cent.
And what was the result? The only
| response my letter brought was a let
ter from Mr.. Tumulty, secretary to the
president, advising me that the matter
had been referred to the secretary of
| the department of agriculture. In 9TH
err words, the matter was diplomatical-
! ~, sidetracked without investigation.
| Whether the plan I offered had any
merit or could accomplish what
! claimed for 1t does not matter. The
| fact remains that there was a pos
sibility that it might have accom-
/ plished something definite and by un-
businesslike handling the people of the
| United States have been deprived of
getting whatever benefit might have
accrued from the institution of any
! plan offered
! The American consumer and the
American farmer must realize by this
| time that there is little hope for re-
| lief of this or any other problem un-
| less they take definite action them
selves. / frankly do not believe that
! any public official can offer Il solu-
ton to a problem such as the high cost
| of living. There is nothing personal
| in that. l mean that q situation like
| this requires intensive study. which
| no man in public life can give it. But
that is why outside aid should be en-
! listed. ~
Methods Are Wrong.
! 1t must be admitted that our pres
ent methods are far from right. With
our natural resources farming should
be the greatest American industry,
and food should cost the consumer
! less here than anywhere else in the
world.
Where is our boosted efficiency?
| Where is our genius for organization?
Where is that -sightedncss of our
captains of industry If they do not
| recognize that all labor unrest Is
caused by the high cost of living and
| buys 100 cents worth.
Many economists. educators, labor
\ leaders and other men who are con-
! tinuously in touch with the seventy
million with whom our problems deal
have limited Of the possibility of food
riots, revolutions and other agitations.
| There may or may not be truth in
these opinions but undoubtedly some
thing is bound to happen unless some
one accomplishes something definite
1t is about time we alt realized that
Not much can be gained by investiga-
4 tons. probes and commissions.
I Are the American people sufficiently
stirred up? DO they realize their dan
| ger? Will they act?
This Problems.
/ The solution is at hand il they are
past the talking point. No plan sub
mitted could be absolutely perfect I'M
less it solved each factor tabulated
here:
1. Farm yields are 13 per cent eff
ficient.
.. Fifty-two per cent of farm fam
| lilies have income of less than $500
a year on one hundred acre farms
Census. 1870.
| 3. Loss to the farmer from crop
failure.
4. Improper banking and loan fa-