Daily Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1918-191?, 1918-07-14
PRESIDENTS
WHEAT VETO
FARMER. SAYS THE PRESIDENT.
DOES NOT DEMAND HUGE RE.
WARDS TO SERVE NATION.

Washington. July l2.-In vetoing
the s2s.0OO.OOO annual agricultural
appropriation bill because Of its
amendment fixing the government
guaranteed minimum wheat price at
s2.i0 a bushel. the president submit
ted the following message:
II regret to return without my
signature so important a measure as
II. r., 954. entitled. An act making
appropriation for the department Of
agriculture for the fiscal year ending
June 30. 1919 but feel constrained
to do 80 because Of my very earnest
dissent from the point Of view Of
principle as well as wise expedieney
from the provisions Of that part of
section IL. which. prescribes a uni
form minimum price for No. north
ern spring wheat Of $2.IO a bushel
Il descent upon principle because
| believe that such inelastic legisla-
tive price provisions are insuscepti-
BILE Of being administered in a way
that will be advantageous, either to
the producer or to the consumer, es.
tablishing as they do arbitrary levels
which are quite independent Of the
normal market conditions and be-
cause ! believe that the present meth
cd Of regulation by conference with
all concerned has resulted in the most
satisfactory manner. considering the
complexity and variety Of the subject
matter dealt with.
ut is evident that the present
method Of determining the price to
be paid for wheat has had the most
stimulating effect upon production.
the estimated crop Of spring wheat
for this year exceeding all high rec
ords in a very remarkable and graft
flying way. BY an overwhelming ma
iority Of the farmers Of the United
States. the price administratively fx-
ed has been regarded as fair and
liberal and objections to II have come
only from those sections Of the
country where. unfortunately. il has
in recent years proved impossible to
rely upon climatic conditions to pro-
duce a full crop Of wheat and where,
therefore. many disappointment to
the farmer have proved to be un-
avoidable.
Personally | do not believe that
the farmers Of the country depend
upon the stimulation Of prices to do
their utmost to serve the nation and
the world at this time Of crisis by
exerting themselves to an extraordi-
nary degree to produce the largest
and best crops possible. Their pa
triotic spirit in this matter has been
worthy Of all praise and has shown
them playing a most admirable and
gratifying part in the full mobiliza-
tion Of the full resources Of the
country. To very greatly increased
production Of wheat they have added
an increased production Of every
other important grain, so that our
granaries are likely to overflow and
the anxiety Of the nations arrayed
against Germany with regard to their
food supply has been relieved.
"The administrative method Of
agreeing upon fair price has this
very great advantage which any ele-
ment Of rigidity would in large
part destroy. namely, the advantage
Of hexibility, rendering possible at ev-
cry stage and in the view Of every
change Of experience. readjustment
which viii be fair alike TO producer
and consumer.
"A fixed minimum price Of S2.t0l
per bushel would, Il is estimated, add
81 per barrel to the price Of -four; in
other words raise the price Of -four
from the present price Of s10.5O to
sl2.5O at the mill and inasmuch as
we are anticipating a crop Of approx
imately s0.000.000 bushels Of wheat
this increase would te-squivalent to
the immense sum Of Ssa7. .0oo. 900.
Such an increase In the price "
wheat in the United Stst<s would
force : comparative increase IN the