The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-03-15
Other Mems Views
An Editorial That May or May Not
Square with The Forums
Opinions.

The Chicago Tribune: The nation
al and local policies of the food ad-
mtnistration are coming in for some
very severe criticism at the hands Of
the farmers. In Illinois the milk pro-
duoers declare the food administration
broke a formal agreement to fix q
price that would cover the cost OF
production plus a reasonable profit.
In their convention at Bloomington
recently Illinois farmers institutes
passed resolutions asserting that the
present milk price is having the re-
suit Of sending thousands Of dairy
COWS to the stockyarda and threaten
ing the dairy industry OF northern
Illinois with ruin.
The farmers institute had other
complaints. It was asserted that the
farmers are losing confidence in the
national food administration, and we
are warned that in the absence Of .
strong and uneuuivocar' agriculture
al policy the nation is threatened
with a food shortage bordering on
famine.
The farmers allege among other
things a failure on the part of the
government to maintain a minimum
price for hogs. They assert that
meatless days have so reduced the
demand for prime beef that feeders
Of such beef have been forced to take
heavy losses. They complain that the
food administration is trying to re-
duce the price Of corn-to the disad-
vantage Of the farmer. And finally
they raise a question as to the prop
riety Of depicting the supply of farm
labor through the operation OF the
draft.
It is a rather formidable list of
grievances, and impartial observers
will conclude that they are to a. large
extent justified. The layman's most
immediate interest is to keep prices
as low as possible, but he must Bes
that large production IS, after all, the
vital thing.
II would seem to be Of prime inn
portance to establish cooperation be-
tween the food administration and
the farmers. The statement of the
Illinois farmers indicates clearly that
there Is a lamentable lack Of harmony
at the present time. Most serious Of
alI', we are told, "is the loss of con-
fidence in the good faith Of the food
administration and the exemption
boards. Morale cannot be main
tanned in the face of vacillating poll
cies that keep food producers in
STATE Oh uncertainty
These recommendations are then
made: that greater consideration be
given the claims Of agricultural work
ers for deferred classification; that
the food administration revise milk
prices on a more equitable basis in
the Chicago district; that assurance
be given with respect to minimum
prices for hogs, and that meatless
days be enforced with more consid-
Grafton for their effect on future pro-
duction. In this connection ii is sug-
gested that the food administration
is overemphasizing the Importance of
food saving and overlooking the much
greater Importance of food produc-
ton. FL
The patriotism of the farmers
should not be brought into question.
II would be rank injustice to ask the
farmer to increase his production at
a loss or to charge him with a lack
OF patriotism If he fails TO do so. The
responsibility for speeding up food
production lies with the government,
and a change Of policy seems to be
imperatively needed. .. ..