The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-06-08
The Editors Mail Bag

To the Editor Of The Forum:
AS a grain grower Of the western part Of North
Dakota I will have to admit the fact that many
OF hard up" at this time. But cannot
agree with the stereotyped Nonpartisan claim
that profiteers big business and old-time politi-
clans alone are to blame for this condition. We
all know, or ought to know, that the light crop
Of 1916 and still poorer yield in 1917 have rob
bed" Of our usual incomes, while our ex-
penses have been heavier than ever before and
that the present condition is simply the result
Of these two poor crops in succession
If we, against our better judgment, should try
to charge our present financial stress to the poll
ticians the state administration; If we should
ley and his hirelings has helped to dry up
crops, then the Nonpartisan league would have
much to answer for, because we never had such
poor crops before these self-appointed farmers
guardians invaded state,
We farmers of North Dakota are all right how
ever, if we can raise a fair crop; and in this
Of the largest wheat crops North Dakota ever
produced. We have had bumper crops every
three years since came to this state-in 1906
9-12-15, and the next Is due this year. We
have even had fair crops in between the sea-
sons mentioned before the Bolshevih came on
the scene,
Take our big crop of 1915, for instance and
remember how prospered by 1t even at a local
price of about dollar per bushel! We had
most of our wheat stored in our own elevators
because did not need the money, and many Of
kept storage tickets till the spring Of
1915. Cur local farmers elevator shipped the
grain to the terminals, for want Of room, where
they sold 1t and hedged it, and the commission
men have told US that they held millions OF
many months. on which they paid interest
at the rate Of to per cent. The local banks
even in this western part of our state said they
could not use any Of this idle money Of ours,
held by the commission men, having more money
than the law required for reserve and the de-
mand for money being slow. When good crop
Of wheat at dollar a bushel could bring such
prosperity at that time, what would bumper crop
mean to US farmers this year at the present
prices? .-
But they tell us that everything we farmers
have to buy is so high that large crop would
not help much, IL any. Let US see: Political
economists teach us that high prices (Which rel
ativefy means cheap money! will benefit the Dor
ROVER and the producer; but we don't need to
sense will tell us that any person who produces
and sells more than he buys will be the gamer
by universal high prices.
wheat is the only true measure of value in
this state, az that is chief product, especial
~ this year when we all are striving to produce
a bumper wheat crop and thus help to win the
war We do not grow, money--we can't dig it
out of the ground. nor do the dollars grow on
trees. We raise wheat and should use it as a
some OF my misIed brethren complain of the
banker and say the rate of interest is too high
While am not presenting any or1er Tor the
they still charge enough and are able to take
care OF themselves nicely, the truth Of the
matter ig that, measured with wheat the
bankera' money Is now worth only about one
half of what 1t was a few years ago. and con-
sequently the rate OF interest has, practically.
-Four years ago borrowed $4,000 on a piece
OF land, and that loan represented about 1000
bushels of good wheat. When harvest my
crop next fan could pay that loan with only
1000 bushels OF wheat and stin have enough
money LETT over TO buy many nice things for my
wife and children. This loan carries per cent
interest, which thought was rather steep be-
cause In the beginning had to dig UP $140 or
about 140 bushels Of wheat TO pay the annual
bushels Of wheat as at the present price Of
S2TB or $3.50. We can get one OF these machines
for only about 40 bushels OF wheat or about
20 bushels cheaper than three or four years ago.
interest. Now can Day one years interest with