The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1918-07-18

ngton.-President Wilson We
toed the annual agricultural appropria-
ton bill containing an amendment in
creasins the price OF wheat to $40 a
bushel. The President said the in
crease In the price OF wheat would add
81 to the cost of barrel of -four and
would add 1897 900 900 to the price of
the 100000 ,000-bushel crop OF 1918
wheat. 1t also would cause a CORE
spending increase in the price of Ca
madam wheat, the message said, and
would add materially to the general
high cost of living.
The Presidents message follows:
Il regret to return without my sig
nature so important a measure as II.
Il. 1854, entitled AN act making ap-
preparation for the Department of Ag-
riculture for the fiscal year ending
June 30, 1919" but feel constrained
} to do so because of my very earnest
dissent from the point of view of prin-
ciples as well as wise expediency, from
the provisions OF that part OF Section
IA. which prescribss a uniform price
for No. Northern spring wheat Of
$2.40 a bushel.
Il dissent upon principle because
believe that such inelastic legislative
price provisions are unsusceptible of
being ministered in a way that will be
advantageous either to the producer or
to the consumer. establishing as they
10 arbitrary levels which are quite in
dependent Of the normal market condi-
lions. and because believe that the
present methods Of regulation by con-
ference with all concerned has result
ed in the most satisfactory manner.
considering the completely and vsri-
ETY. OF the subject matter dealt with.
ut is evident that the present meth
cd OF determining the price to be paid
for wheat for this year exceeding all
high records in a very remarkable and
gratifying way.
by an overwhelming majority of
the farmers of the United States the
price enthusiastically fixed has been
regarded as fair and liberal. and objec-
tinns to 1t have come only from those
sections OF the country where. unfor-
tunately. it has in recent years proved
impossible to rely upon climatic condi-
tons to produce a full crop of wheat
and where. therefore. many disappoint-
ments to the farmer have proved to
be unavoidable.
Personally. do not believe the
farmers of the country depend upon
the stimulation OF price to do their ut
most to serve the nation and the world
at this time Of crisis by exerting them
selves to an extraordinary degree to
produce the largest and best crops pos
sible. Their patriotic spirit In this
matter has been worthy Of all praise
and has shown them playing a most
admirable and gratifying part In the
full mobilization of the resources of
the country. To a very greatly in
creased production Of wheat they have
added an increased production of al
most every other important grain, SO
that our granaries are likely to over
flow, and the anxiety of the nations
arrayed against Germany with regard
to their food supply has been relieved.
The administrative method OF
agreeing upon a fair price has this
very great advantage which any ele-
ment OF rigidity would in large part
destroy. namely. the advantage of fex.
ibility. OF rendering possible at every
stage and in the view Of every change
OF experience a readjustment which
will be fair alike to producer and con.
sumer"