Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1917-09-18
wheat Prices TOO
HIGH, SAY Bakers
Declare Hoover Rate of
$3.50 a Bushel Gives
Farmers Whip Hand
BUTTER PRICES
UNUSUALLY HIGH

CHICAGO. Sept. 1s.-Complaints
that the farmer is holding the bag
of prosperity and that every other
person is forced to drop something
into Il or starve were emphasized
yesterday with the arrival OF 1000
master bakers here to attend their
annual convention. Many shippers.
grain men and railroad managers
arrived at the same time to confer
on the situation.
The baker does not hesitate TO say
that Congress has legisla.ed and that
tho Food Commission has fixed prices
that make the farmer the dominant
person in the fight against high
prices. The fixing of wheat prices
at s2.20 a bushel. undreamed OF a
few years ago. with a minimum price
OF 81 bushel for 1918. they declare.
not only boosts the price OF -four to
the neighborhood Of S12 a barrel re-
tail but places the consumer at the
mercy OF the farmer, who Is even
now holding back his grain crop for
a higher price.
Millers assert they are unable to
get sufficient wheat TO grind-that
the farmers are hoarding-while ex-
porters assert the Eastern seaboaTd
is free Of wheat and unless the far
mers let 90 Of their crops the supply
10 the Allies will be down to the
danger point.
On top OF these conditions. me
milk producers are preparing 10 de-
mand a heavy increase in price de-
spite the fact that Herbert c. Hoover,
Food Administrator, has appealed 10
them to maintain present prices.
They assert the cost Of mill feed and
the fact that they mus winter feed
their daily herds even in summer
make any price less than $3.50 hun
dred pounds OF milk a mere pittance
that will result in sending their dairy
cattle 10 the stock yards.
Naturally with the price Of milk ad-
vancing, butter prices have shot sky
ward and butter today commanded
more than so cents a pound retail In
Chicago, hitherto unheard Of price at
this time Of year.
Reports from many communities are
that farmers are refusing 10 dig pota-
toes or harvest other vegetables or
fruit crops unless they are guaranteed
prices far in excess Of what they have
received in years previous. Personal
observation in Michigan, Wisconsin
and Iowa shows that hundreds OF tons
OF fruit and cabbage are rotting for
lack Of preserving OF shipping to mar
ket. Some dealers report that farmers
IN certain localities are trying TO force
the price Of potatoes to the same height
II reached last winter by holding their
crops.
The arrival in Chicago tomorrow Of
julius Barnes, chairman Of the export
board OF the food administration, whicf
regulates all wheat exports, is said tC
be in line with the governments pur'
pose to prevail upon the farmers u
release their wheat for consumption
and shipping. II is known that the sea
board shipping points are now practi
cally free OF wheat and that tho gralr
commission Is anxious to get grain fol
export.
Il is asserted that the pinch thu
mlllers and others are experiencing II
the matter OF getting the farmers L
release their wheat at the fixed price
due 10 their objection TO the commits
sion Of 1 per cent, will bring abod
drastic measures by the food admins
,rator-the connscation OF wheat from
those farmers holding out and me pay
ing TO them OF the price named Dy IN
government, II is declared Mr. Barnes
mission west has that objective.