Bisbee daily review., 1918-02-24
PRESIDENT FIXES
 WHEAT PRICE FOR
 THIS YEAR CROPS
Names $2.20 Minimum at Chicago as Farmers Return for 1918; Cites Two Con- tributing Causes.
(Rv Reriew 1.eased Wlrel


 Of S2.20 a bushel-:he same as for dent Wilson tonight for the coming seasons wheat yield. The price is for No. l northern spring wheat at Chicago. with a scale of differentials for other markets.
 The differentials differ 10 a slight extent from those now operative and range from a minimum of $2 to maximum of SIPS.
 Why President Acted.
 In fixing a price now for the new crop. which will not be harvested un.il June. the president was believed to have had two objects in view. The first came to halt legislation pending in congress to fix prices at from $Z25 to S3 and the other was to stimulate spring planting.
 The introduction of the price rais- ing bills had begun to checksthe How of w4eet to market and food admin istration officials feared that mills soon would have to close. Hoping the legislation would pass. farmers. , it is declared. have been refusing 10 sell at the present price of S2.2O. In enacting the food control law con gross put a guaranteed price of g on next seasons crop and this has been construed as a minimum price. Food administration officials have declared that if the bills passed the government should be forced to raise present prices to the new levels and that to do so would upset the food administration flour and bread pro gram
 Meets Emergency.
 The presidents proclamation states that the action is to meet an enIer- eenoy requiring the stimulation Of wheat planting
 Ia a statement accompanying his proclamation the president said.
 Under the food control act of August 10. 1917, it is my duty to an- nounce a guaranteed price for wheat Of the e'191S harvest I am. therefore, ! issuing a proclamation setting the price at the principal interior primary markets. It makes no essential alter ation in the present guarantee It is, a continuation of the present prices of wheat. with some adjustments aris- ing from the designation of addition al terminal 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 nov cut off from transportation should again come into competition witt his products. To increase the price of wheat above the present figure. or to agitate any increase Of price. would have the effect of seriously hamper ing the large operations of the nation and of the allies by causing the wheat of last years crop to be withheld | from market It would. more ove. 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.
 Farmers Confidence.
 '1 know the spirit of our farmers and have not the least doubt as to the loyalty with which they will ac eept the present decision. The fall wheat planting. which furnishes two third of our wheat production took place with no other assurance than this and the farmers confidence was demonstrated by the fact tht they planted an acreage larger than the record of any preceding year. larger by two million acres than the second largest record year. and seven nil lion acres more than the average for the five years before the outbreak of the European war.
 "It seems not to be generally under stood why wheat is picked out for price determination. and only wheat. among 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 at- fected as to require governmental in- tervention.
 ~The disturbances which affect these products land others in less degree) arise from the fact that all of the overseas shipping in the world now is under government control aud that the government is obliged to as sign tonnage to each commodity that enters into commercial overseas traf- fic. It has consequently been neces- sary to establish single agencies for the purchase of food supplies which must go abroad The purchase of wheat in the United States for for eign use is of great volume in com
 Cconunued on Page Two)