Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-10-30
Wednesday,. October 30, 1918.
Who Cares Ter the Faemsr7

cred by economists to be rosy. unless
the farm products OF this country
are adequately protected nov. And
such IL not the case. The American
farmer has been guaranteed only
s220 a bushel for his 1919 wheat crop.
despite the fact that agricultural ex-
perts. and a special commission ap-
pointed 10 investigate the whole sub,
jec'. recommended the minimum
guaranteed price Of se46 This
commission stated that even at s2.4S
a bushel. the H. rmcr could not make
a cent of proh,
TIL argument against increasing
tho guaranteed price ~ wheat runs
az follows II pace IL declared be-
fore the harves, " 1919. the world
uil. be able 10 draw upon the gran
aries ~ South America. Australia and
india whey "'I' Immediately in
creaSs the Visible supply OF wheat in
such degree as 10 cause a radical
break In its price. II ~ asserted that
under such conditions the govern
mn, could not aNArd to guarantee
the farmer price for his wheat
niger than the prevailing market
prices.
But ne are told In the news Of to-
day that upward revision OF wages
In all ship Yards where cxorbitant
A.. and unearned wages already prevail
AZ the country knows are to be ef-
fective Immediately. The increases
average Is 20 20 per cent.
These advances are made. IT should
he remembered. on the basic rates al
ready fixed at So cents per hour. or
~ cents per hour.
And u also should be remembered
that contractors for this government
service are guaranteed 10 per cent
proft on volume Of business as indi-
Gated by pay rolls and the moro they
esy N ~ssss the moro they st in
profits
II the farmer anywhere. even in the
cotton and Democratic south where
farri prices are NOT hxedD getting
any such profits or any guarantees
on the food he is providing for our
Soldiers. our allies. our people and
the world,
Toe stress Of the reconstruction
period viii be harder TO sustain than
the stress Of war. The danger OF
reconstruction period IL not that
prices MAJ be too high but that they
may rapidly tumble 10 such low
level as to bring about panic and
dire distress. The greatest need dur
Inc the period Immediately following
the var when business Of all kinds
~iil he readjusting itself to a peace
basis viii be ready cash ana liberal
credit. slump In the labor market
or In the price of farm products
would 30 handicap our financial re.
sources az To retard the entire re-
construction movement and usher in
an indefinite period OF depression in
all lines Of business.
II IL to prevent just such a calam-
ity that Great Britain has perfected
~ = part Of her scheme of recon
struction. a plan whereby she guar
antse wages for n rathe- lengthy
period following the end of the war;
has made arrangements to continue
TO pay all Of her soldiers for a period
~ one year following their being
mustered out: and guarantees her
farmers fixed prices for their pro-
ducts for a period Of several months
following the declaration OF peace.
Our administration. in answer to
demands for provisions against peace
disasters caused by the bottom fall
ins out Of every Industrial and COM
merciai affair when the war is ended,
demands power to do anything II may
desire without possibility Of interfer-
ence by the people.
The northern farmer has not prof
tied by this var. He has had the
price Of many Of his products fixed;
he has been compelled TO meet terrific
advances IN freight rates. which pinch
him both ways-being added to
everything ne buys and being cub
trscted from the price Of everything
which he sells: he has had the price
~ everything he wears and OF all his
farming machinery advanced to him
IN far greater proportion than he has
had the price Of what he sells ad.
vanced. His hifed help ana his own
sons have been taken into military
service. thus cripplins him in his
production. and at the same time he
has been asked to increase his pro-
duction AZ a matter Of patriotism.
He has stood for all Of this with
out murmur. and has complied
with every request Of the govern
ment because he is intensely patfi-