Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-08-21
CANDO FARMERS
SEND PROTEST
TO WASHINGTON
Demand fair Price for Wheat
Unjust to Put it
Below.
Say they Responded Loyalty
to Call for More Wheat
.; and Demand Fair Price.

,Cando, N. D., Aug. 21.-At a meet
ing here today of representative
farmers and business men of Towner
county, a telegram was sent to Presi-
dent Wilson, North Dakota's congress
ssional delegation and food administra-
ton officials demanding a fair price
for wheat and protesting vehemently
against a price below the average
market price between July 10 and
August II, which is in the neighbor-
hood of $500. The protest is signed
by 100 farmers and business men.
The protest follows:
"Cando. N. D., Aug. 20, 1911.
president woodrow Wilson,
Treasurer John Burke,
Food Commissioner Hoover,
Senators p. j. McCumber and A.
j.. Gronna,
.Congressmen John Baer, P. D.
Norton and Geo. M. Young,
"Prof. e. #. Ladd,
Washington, D. G.
Elevator and milling interests are
represented in hearings as to handling,
milling and fixing price of wheat. Is
actual wheat grover represented?
Why not? Elevator and miller will
till protection is given them in this
respect. Result, no market left. AT
same time they are using their inf1u-
ence to have the price Of wheat arbi-
trari1y fixed at $500 at the terminals.
This treatment is unfair to producer.
Is actual grain grower to have no
voice. Is price to be fixed without
regard to cost of production? Aver
age yield for state this year less than
six bushels per acre. Will not exceed
that In this county. Normal yield for
state is about 18 bushels. In normal
times with normal yield cost Of pro-
duction $3.50 per acre exclusive OF
taxes and interest on land investment
That cost without interest and taxes
almost double. With production re-
duced more than one-half, can farmer
subsist IL price Of his product is fixed
at less than cost of production? Last
spring you encouraged him to seed
every available acre to wheat. He
costs. It is now unjust to him, hav-
ing waited until he has invested this
heavy increased cost, to inform him
that he must take arbitrarily fixed
q losing price. It is unjust to him tc
: ask him to operate at a loss in any
instance asiit Is under present condi-
tons. It Is ~inexcusably unjust tt him
to make his obedience to such encour-
agernent a special source of loss tc
4hAA WAllLSL W11SdI grower udu aL
opportunity to dispose Of his product
at price prevailing on and prior tt
August II and. extensively did 40
Spring wheat grower is entitled tt
same price. No valid reason 5ustifes
his being singled out and made t.
bear brunt of arbitrary action. 4
less is fixed for Him, the difference Ii
an unjust tax levy on him. It is un.
just discrimination against him. Black
rust destroyed his crop last year, re.
sulttng in heavy loss. Is, same result,
to be repeated this year by action ar.
bitrarily reducing price below cost Of
production? We are loyal American
citizens but we protest that the time
has not yet come when we should be
financially crushed. Canadian gov.
eminent when 1t Communicated wheat
of its citizens gave them above pre-.
vailing price. We, actual grain grow.
ers and land owners in Towner county
N. D., in harmony with sentiment Of
u fellows, represent that we wan,
fair treatment accorded us. That W.
expect average Of cash price prevail
ing at our terminals between July Ii
and August II and that we protest
against fixing Of a lesser price,"