Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-08-31
WHEAT PRICE
IS NOT FAIR
TO FARMERS
j. p. Bacon Declares They
Will Lose on the Price
Fixed. /.
Food value Of Wheat Should
Have Made Basis at
Least $3.50. !

] believe every farmer in North Dako-
ia will feel disappointment" said J. D.
Bacon, when apprised Of the work Of
the price fixing committee in setting
1920 for No. 1 Northern at Chicago
as the basic price for the 1917 crop,
Yet unmarketed.
II cannot. see how they fix he price
atsless. than $3.50 per bushel, as every
argument and statement made by peo-
pie who have made a study Of the
comparative nutritive values OF FOOD
products must admit that wheat at
the price Of So per bushel lie the
cheapest commodity we put on our
tables.
The price, fixing committee produc-
ed no argument whatever to prove
otherwise. One reason for the conten-
ton for a So price is the fact that no
other commodity has advanced in ac-
tual value during the past year in pro-
portion to wheat Yet the producer
of wool, and cotton, and iron, ana
steel, and even Of winter wheat, ana
practically OF every other commodity
comfort Of every one engaged and in
terested in the present crisis nave
reaped the benefits of supply and de-
mand prices. The producer of spring
wheat alone is made to suffer.
Spring Wheat Section Suffers.
"Only about one-third of the wheat
grown In the United States is spring
wheat, and a large number of the pro-
ducers Of this class of wheat had poor
crops in 1916 and a poor crop this
year (although there are some spots
in the spring wheat belt where the
crop is fair this year,.
THE government has fixed a price
for the commission man Of one per
sent per bushel, which means 22O per
cent Of his former commission of one
cent per bushel, which under, tho pres-
emit regulation would mean 2.2 cents
per bushel.
1T looks to a person who has stud
led the situation from every angle. as
though the spring wheat grower is the
first and practically the only class to
be obliged to suffer a severe loss on
the 1917 crop from what they would
have received under the law OF supply
and demand as a direct result Of the
institution Of the price fixing commit
tee.
Will Not Get Money Back.
Many farmers in portions Of this
state will not got the amount Of cash
it has cost them to produce this crop.
All this in the face of the fact that
president, North Dakota increased her
production capacity 1.200,0 900 acres.
"Regardless of all this, it Is to be
hoped that in 1918 the farmers of
North Dakota will prove the truth of
the statement made in Washington
before the committee that the farmers
Of this state are patriotic and loyal to
the government and, that there will be
even an increase In the acreage over
1917. It is possible, at least it is to
lbe hoped, that the price fixed for the
1913 crop will be equitable by the
time that cropssiss Marketed through
the adjustment Of the prices Of other
commodities SO that the difference be-
tween wheat and other articles will
not be SO great.
IT say again, that I am disappointed
at the result of the price fixing com.
mtttee's work. I had hoped and be:
lieved hat fairness would have given
us a price ear SO than 50, and sc
firmly was I grounded in the Justice
OF this belief That I refused to accep,
$40 for q carload Of my wheat, abou,
1000 bushels, that is now on the mar
ket at Minneapolis"
Grand Forks Saved Stats.
II am convinced that but for the
initiative taken by the Grand Fork.
Commercial club and the work Of thu
North Dakota committee who went t.
washington at their W expense
the price we would have received fol
the 1917 crop would have been II
the neighborhood Of $1.76, so the
farmers. of the state have been saved
several millions of dollars by the
fight made for the higher price.
1T is my honest Judgment that W.
are being made to suffer the bitter
fruits Of misguided ad disloya;
things said and done In this state
that have hadttheir effect on the rep.
resentatives on the price fixing com
mtttee who come from the eastern
states. They have taken a slap at the
west. in all probability, for such un.
patriotic utterances as these:
Things That Hurt.
John M. Baer. now congressman
This Is no time to make an issue Of
Americanism." and "Unless the farm.
er is treated right he will strike"
Congressman Young's "You will,
have to shake your fist under the nose
] of Hoover" ~
Senator Gronna's disloyal and un-
patriotic, attitude toward the govern
ment during this great crisis.
g,Townley's saying, your Nboys. are
going across the water to fight for the
damned pirates, the rotten rich" AL
SO. his MANY men would sell, their
Esons for q price" - sss Z
L. Governor Frazier's attitude toward
the i. WV. and his apparent sym
lpathy with the opponents Of the gov
ernmSnt's policies as evidenced in his
recent action in b~efriending the cast
out Peoples Council.
Fargo is Disappointed.
Fargo, N. D., Aug. 31.-Disap-
pointmsnt was expressed by represen-