Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-05-18
WHEAT At Sl.e07

Paul t. skinner. macaEoni r.afGiaG-
turer and president OF an institution
which claims to be the largest mac
aroni factory in America has written
an open letter on the wheat question
urging governmental price setting on
wheat. This letter Is being brought TO
the attention OF the newspapers thru
the wholesalers and comes to this pa
per thru a large grocery firm with To-
cal headquarters Mr. SINNERS APP
peal to the grocers is to further
the publicity Of his statements il
they believe them to be true.
Consequently receipt Of the state
ment by the press is to be taken
as Endorsement Of SINNERS position by
the wholesale houses who forward it
to their local publications. Below are
some of the statements and assertions
made by the big manufacturer:
If present prices Of wheat are justi-
fed by present or prospective short
age in supply, the government made a
serious mistake in not taking over the
supply when wheat passed the $50
per bushel price. BY allowing manipu-
lation to bring prices where they are
today, the government has absolutely
played into the hands of spectators
and has made the public suffer: only
spectators have profited.
Prompt action on the part of the gov-
eminent 10 set the price of wheat at
$3.50 bushel or lower, is to the inter-
est Of every business man and every
individual IN the United States with the
exception of those who are speculat ing
in wheat
Not one farmer in a thousand who
raised wheat last year or the year be-
fore, even considering present high
prices, actually received more than
$3.50 bushe! for his crop. Wheot is
profitable crop at 81 and as few
farmers are gamblers practically all
sold when wheat went to $3.50 per
bushel
Heavy sales always result from ris-
ing prices. When the public see prices
advance they buy for the future. In
so buying the consumers make business
good for the manufacturer, whole
saler and retailer but at the same time
they play into the hands Of the specu-
lators who are only interested in seeing
prices mount higher and higher.
The public is not to blame for CO.
operating with the SPECTATORS In this
way, for as long as the government re-
mains inactive no one can tell where
present conditions will end But to say
that present conditions are serious is
putting it mild and without question
the price Of wheat OF once deserves the
full attention OF the government.
Personally we do not believe that
there is an actual shortage Wheat con-
ditions were never better thruout the
great northwest which is the real wheat
country. II is true that large acre
age of fall wheat in such corn states az
Iowa. Nebraska, Illinois, etc, has beer
injured. however, II is also true thai
there is still large acreage Of good
fail wheat in these states. Conditions
| in every state have been extremely IA
vorable for spring wheat. You can talk
with any farmer In any wheat section
and ne will tel! you thai acreage
planted to wheat within the last
twelve months in his section IL greater
than It ever has been heretofore and
without regard to the lost acreage Of
fall wheat that the prospect for har-
Wrestling an increased acreage this fal