Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1918-03-01
New Wheat Prices Fixed.

in one primary market and in varying
sums in all other primary markets except
four. The Chicago price was put at $500.
New York at $228, Philadelphia at $227,
Baltimore at $2.27 and Newport News
at $2.27.
In a statement accompanying his proc
lamation the President said:
Under the Food Control act of August
10, 1917, it is my duty to announce guar
anteed price for wheat of the 1918 harvest.
am. therefore, issuing proclamation set
ting the price at the principal interior
primary markets. 1t makes no essential
alteration in the present guarantee. 1t is
a continuation Of the present prices Of
wheat, with some adjustments arising
from the designation of additional termi-
nal marketing points.
This guaranteed price assures the farmer
of a reasonable profit. even if the war
should end within the year and the large
stores OF grain in those sections of the world
that are now cut off from transportation
should again come into competition with
his products. To increase the price Of
wheat above the present figure or to agi-
tate any increase Of price would have the
effect Of very seriously hampering the large
operations of the nation and of the Allies
by causing the wheat of last years crop
to be withheld from the market 1t would,
moreover, dislocate all the present wage
levels that have been established after
much anxious discussion and would, there
fore. create an industrial unrest which
would be harmful to every industry in the
country.
know the spirit of our farmers and
have not the least doubt as to the loyalty
with which they will accept the present
decision. The fall wheat planting, which
furnishes two-thrds OF our wheat produc-
ton. took place with no other assurance
than this. and the farmers confidence was
demonstrated by the fact that they planted
an acreage larger than the record Of any
preceding year, larger by 100000 acres
than the second largest record year. and
100000 acres more than the average
for the five years before the outbreak Of
the European war.
II seems not to be generally understood
why wheat is picked out for price deter
mination, and only wheat, among the
cereals. The answer is that while normal
distribution of all our farm products had
been subject to great disturbances during
the last three years because Of war con-
ditions, only two commodities, namely
wheat and sugar, have been so seriously
affected as to require Governmental inter-
vention.
The disturbances which affect these
products (and others in less degree) arise
from the fact that all of the overseas ship
ping in the world is now under Govern
ment control and that the Government Is
Obliged to assign tonnage to each COM
modify that enters into commercial over
seas traffic. 1t has. consequently. been
necessary to establish single agencies for
the purchase of the food supplies which
In the United States for foreign use is Of
90 great volume in comparison with the
available domestic supply that the price
of wheat has been materially disturbed,
and it became necessary, in order to pro-
tect both the producer and the consumer.
to prevent speculation. 1t was necessary
therefore for the Government to exercise
measure Of direct supervision as far as
possible to control purchases of wheat and
the processes of its expectation. This
supervision necessarily amounted to price
fixing. and therefore thought it fair and
wise that there should be q price stated that
should be at once liberal and equitable.
Those peculiar circumstances governing
the handling and consumption Of wheat
service. Next to the soldier himself, he
is serving the country and the world and
serving IL in a way which is absolutely
fundamental to his own future safety and
prosperity. He sees this and can be relied
on as the soldier can.
The farmer is also contributing men to
the army. and am keenly alive to the
sacrifices involved. Out of 13.800,000
men engaged in farm industries. 205.000
have been drafted, or about LAB per cent.
of the whole number. In addition to these
there have been volunteers. and the farm
ers have lost a considerable number of
laborers because the wages paid in indus
trial pursuits drew them away. In order
to relieve the farming industry as far as
possible from further drains of labor, the
new draft regulations have been drawn
with view to taking from the farms an
even smaller proportion Of men. and it is
my hope that the local exemption boards
will make the new classifcations with
view Of tightening the load upon the farm
ers to the utmost extent. The Secretary
Of War has asked for authority to furloueh
soldiers of the National Army. If condi-
tons permit it, so that they may return to
their farms when assistance is necessary
in the planting and harvesting of the
crops National and local agencies are
actively at work besides in organizing
community help for the more efficient dis
tribution Of available labor and the draw
ing upon new sources Of labor. While
there will be difficulties. and very serious
ones they will be difficulties which are
among the stern necessities of war.
The Federal Railway Administration is
cooperating in the most active. intelligent
and efficient way with the Food Admins
tration to remove the difficulties of trans
portation and Of the active movement Of
the crops. Their marketing is to be facili-
tated and the farmers given the opportu-
nifty to realize promptly upon their stocks.
The Department Of Agriculture and the
Food Administration will continue to CO.
operate as heretofore to assist the farmers