New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-25
Pro6teers-and Farmers

simultaneously from two such widely OIL
fering bodies as the Chamber OF CON-
merce Of the United States and the farm
ers' convention engineered by the Non
Partisan League at ST Paul, TESTIFY eio-
ou.ntly to the determination of the coun-
try at large that there shall be no "goulash
barons" here. 1t is excellent that these
elements are in agreement on a poilcy OF
such vital importance to the country at
this time. But it could be wished that the
farmers advocacy of it did not spring ap-
rarently from vindictiveness.
This particular group of farmers, to
Judge by the tenor of the addresses made
at its convention, views itself in the light
Of a victim of the price-fxing already be-
gun by the government. These men say
in effect: "We've been hard hit; our profits
have been taken. Take everybody elses!
Conscript wealth! Take all incomes over
100000! Wipe out the soft-handed ex-
nloiters who wave flags but keep lobbyists
n. Washington to help them rob the toiers'
We are feeding the country and the army
while they are rolling up fortunes. We
will not submit to being the only victims
of a movement termed patriotism
1t is trife hard for the ordinary citi-
zen to regard the wheat growers, or farm
ers in general now, for that matter, as
victims of war conditions. These farmers
refuse to regard themselves as profteers,
vet the statement of Mr.. G. E. Mccall, of
the Kansas State College Of Agriculture,
regarded as an authority on the subject,
that with wheat at 1920 bushel the aver
age farmer nets S1.41 profit scarcely
leaves them in the position of victims Of
the government-fxed price. Whether
h their profits are S1.41 bushel or some
N what less, nobody who remembers that
y couple of years ago 81 wheat represented
the widest dreams Of riches for most Of
them is questioning the fairness, even the
lberality, of the present price.
Last July President McAuliffe Of the
Kansas Farmers Union told representa-
tive of The Tribune: Our people are not
excited about the war. It's too far away.
We're patriotic, though. Well be
more patriotic if President Wilson fixes
the minimum price of wheat at 81 TO the
farmer. At $3.50 we would be wildly pa
triotic' This spirit does not seem to be
confined to the wheat growers. Ex-Sena-
tor McLaurin, of South Carolina, told the
Non-Partisan Leaguers that his patriotism
was running low with cotton at six cents,
hut since it had risen to twenty-six cents
he had become a powerful patriot, willing
to shout "Bless the Lord Let's lick the
Germans"
If this isn't exactly the same brand of
pocket patriotism" which the Non-Parti-
san Leagues members denounced so fer
yently in Capital" what is it? Appar-
sntly, it makes a difference whose OK is
pored. The business men and manufact-
urers typifed by the membership of the
Chamber of Commerce of the United
States are Capitalists"
This organization does not regard itself
as likely to be victimized by price-fxing.
1t says to the government that the opera
ton of business has been vitality affected
by the price-fxing already in effect. There
is no assurance Of obtaining supplies in
competition with the government as pur-
chaser, and no way Of knowing what costs
will be and, consequently, what prices
ought to be- But the remedy for this re-
suit of price-fxing Is more price-fxing. 1t
must continue, the Chamber urges, until
prices are fixed for every basic industry.
even until the prices are fixed for labor
entering into the production of all articles
On which prices are fixed. Otherwise,
work cannot go on.
This matter of price-fxing and the wip-
ing out of profteering is vast issue, with
many angles. 1t might pay the perfervid
orators Of the Non-Partisan League to
consider, for instance, the fact that the
United States Steel Corporation, which
they'd probably consider the greatest
profteer and exploiter of them all, has
since the beginning of 1916 raised the
wages of its employees in the aggregate
about 60 per cent. There is altogether too
much indiscriminats denunciation Of