The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-08-20
TIE FARMERS WHEAT.

THE FARMERS WHEAT.
North Dakota farmers are anxiously
watching the outcome of govern
ment controlled wheat and -four mar
ket
Suddenly the nation, through Its
governmental agencies has seized up
on economic forces and the manner IN
which the authority is used means
profit or loss to the tillers of the soil.
The speculative market has been
swept away and in it's place Is govern
ment control.
No one knows yet where the law is
going to leave the producer. But North
Dakota now has concrete example
Of the application Of state socialism,
preached from the hustings for the
last two years.
1t is, however, war not political
expedient The natural laws of sup
ply and demand are sadly disorgan'
lied War has broken down the Oper-
alton of the normal economic forces.
The government has stepped in, hop
ing to restore equilibrium anu guar
antee fair prices and fair profits.
During the transition there is but
one thing for the North Dakota farm
or to do and that is to sit tight and
keep in close touch with developments.
Now is no time for hysteria. Con-
sentative, sound, business judgment is
imperatively necessary. Neither is 1t
q. time to listen to the demagOgue.
The grain exchanges have practically
been wiped out and the farmer now
has the government controlled mar,
kets which his new political leaders
have been crying for, but Of course
under decidedly different conditions
The farmer is not the dominant fac
tor in this wheat situation.
At present no price has been guar
anteed The 81 bushel minimum in
corporated in the food bill applies
only to the 1918 crop and is chiefly
an incentive to plant larger acre
age.
Wheat prices have sagged since the
food bill passed. The interim that
must come before the government car
handle the crop Is what menaces the
North Dakota farmer and the grain
trade of the northwest.
The federal government proposes &
paternalistic control over wheat, but il
intends also to administer that author
ity for the prosecution of the war, no
: primarily in the interests of the pro
i Queer. 1t is reasonable to expect tina
! the farmer will receive a Just profit
He must have adequate returns, ant
! If the federal government bungles tn,
Job the result will be disastrous. Tn,
farmers must receive as adequate ;
profit from their toll as any one en-
gagged in war work, and to deny tn,
North Dakota farmer return on hi
; capital equal to that invested in tn
manufacture of munitions or othe
war supplies will seriously unbalanc'
economic conditions. The North Da
kota farmer is not demanding .exces
sive profits. but he wants enough t,
enable him to pay the increased cos
of production and a far return upol
=, his investment.
: There is no indication but that tn
administration proposes to deal fairl
with the agricultural interests Of TIL
northwest. The farmer invested hi
money in this years crop withou
warning that it would be markete
under government supervision. H
had every reason to believe that wa
prices would prevail On this cro1
at least, he is entitled to more tina
the minimum promised for 191S's 'croI
and when wheat conditions are COZ
sidered, it is serious question whetf
er the government should compel tn
ssEttt!rH-