The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1918-03-01
PRESIDENT SETS
1918 WHEAT PRICE.
ISSUES PROCLAMATION IN WHICH
FIGURE FOR NORTHWEST
is $2.17 PER BUSHEL.
NO CHANGE FROM LAST YEAR
Grain Must Be Harvested In United
States This Year and Sold Be-
fore July, 1919-State-
ment Issued.


S217 a bushel at Minneapolis and
1920 at Chicago-the same as for
last years crop-has been fixed by
President Wilson for the coming sea-
sons wheat crop. The price is for
No. 1 northern spring.
President Makes Statement.
In a statement accompanying his
proclamation, the President said:
Under the food control act OF
August 10, 1917, it is my duty to an
nounce guaranteed price for wheat
Of the 1918 harvest: l am, therefore,
issuing proclamation setting the
price at the principal interior pri-
mary markets. 1t makes no essen
tial alteration in the present guaranty.
1t is a continuation of the present
price of wheat with some adjustments
arising from the designation of addi-
tional terminal marketing points.
'This guaranteed price assures the
farmer of 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
agitate any increase of price would
have the effect of very seriously ham
pering the large operations of the
nation and Of the country's Allies by
causing the wheat of last years crop
to be withheld from the market.
1t would, however, dislocate the pres
ent wage levels that have been es-
tablished after much anxious discus
sion and would, therefore, create an
industrial unrest which would be
harmful to every industry in the coun-
try.
81 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-thirds
of our wheat production, took place
with no other assurance than this.
The farmers confidence was demon
strated by the fact that they planted
an acreage larger than the record of
any preceding year, larger by two mil
lion acres than the second largest
record year, and seven million acres
more than the average for the five
years before the outbreak of the Eu-
ropean war.
ut seems not to be generally under
stood why wheat is picked out for
price determination and only wheat
among the cereals. The answer is
| that while normal distribution of all
our farm products has been subject
| to great disturbances during the last
| three years because of war conditions
only two commodities, namely, wheat
| and sugar, have been so seriously af
| fected as to require governmental in
| tervention.
Must Prevent Speculation.
1.-THE disturbances which affect
| these products, and others in less
degree, arise from the fact that al
of the overseas shipping in the world
IS now under government control and
| that the government is obliged to as
| sign tonnage to each commodity thai
enters into commercial overseas traf
| fic. 1t has, consequently, been nee
| essary to establish single agencies
| for the purchase of the food supplies
which must go abroad. The purchase
| of wheat in the United States for for
| eign use is of so great volume IL
comparison with the available domes
| tic supply that the price OF wheat has
been materially disturbed and it be
came necessary, in order to prOtec
both the producer and the consumer
to prevent speculation. 1t was nee
essary. therefore, for the government
to exercise a measure of direct super
vision as far as possible to contro
purchases of wheat and the processe
of it's expectation. This supervisor
necessarily amounted to price liking
and /, therefore, thought 1t fair ant
wise that there should be a pr1c
stated that should be at once liberia
and equitable.
Farmer Relied Upon.
"Those peculiar circumstances gov
erning the handling and consumption
of wheat put the farmer at the YER
! center of war service. Next to the so
der himself he is serving the couT
try and the world and serving it IN
way which is absolutely fundamenta
to his own future safety and prosper
tty. He sees this and can be relle
upon as the soldier can.
"The farmer is also contributln
men to the army, and | am keenl
alive to the sacrifices involved Ou
of 13,800,0Q0 men engaged IN 1arl
industries, 205,O00 have been drafted
or about 14S per cent of the Who'll
number. In addition to these Their
have been volunteers, and the farn
ers have lost considerable numpe
of Iaborers because the wages PAL
in Industrial pursuits drew thel
away. In order to relieve the farn
ing industry as far as possible 1rol