The Washington herald., 1918-04-11

Price-fixing must go-that is. it must
go if the farmers of the nation are TO
continue to do their part toward win
ming the war.
This is the ultimatum which Con-
gress seems to appreciate now-or
gives signs of appreciating-and which
will likely bring on sharp session
before the lawmakers go home.
From the agricultural sections OF the
country a mammoth objection is COM
ing. The farmers want price-fiXiug
curtailed. or else they want prices
fixed on all articles they have TO buy
and sell.
The situation Is much more serious
than some of the lawmakers realize
and just about as serious as some or
those realize who have to run for re-
election this year in the agricultural
districts.
A popular western farm journal
which expresses the sentiment of thou
sands of farmers. and which comes to
it observations only after the most
paintaking and loyal canvass of -he
situation. has this to say--and num-
bers of members agree that IT repre-
sents a strong sentiment in the agrI-
cultural sections just now:
THE farmers of this nation are ready
for service. and all they ask is that
muddlers and meddlers step aside and
give them a fair chance TO get into
action.
They are not trying to harass and
hamper you, Mr.. President, when they
demand a voice in the direction OF
legislation and regulation pertaining
to their own business.
They know that the Gripping of
agriculture. while not intended by
anyone. is dangerously imminent so
long as men not close to its problems
direct the regulatory powers of the
government.
They believe that it is entirely pos
sible to so blend and direct self
interest and public good that the max
imum power of the nation shall be
attained in the least possible time.
They are appalled, at a cheerful
optimism that on the one hand states
the need and on the other congratu.
lates itself when only small frac-
ton of that need is supplied. They
are alarmed when their leaders call
for billion bushels of wheat in the
autumn of 1917 and in the spring of
I'AO o'V SotioAlNu' with all
acreage. and with economic measures
that will bring an acreage capable of
producing but one-third of the needed
increase?
Are these to be the organizers Of
victory? Have these the vision?
They are alarmed for the nation
when they see with what cheerful
indirection. with what ignorance of
the details of the business. the forces
that control the live stock industry,
have presumed to act
Granting that the hour calls for
sacrifice, the farmers hold that 1t
also calls for sane leadership in ag-
riculture by men who know, through
experience. what may and what may
not be done without disaster.
THE demand of the hour is for this
type of leadership 1t is especially
needed in the Food Administration
More of it in the Department of Ag-
riculture.'
The East is not dull when 1t
comes to sensing the dangers of
the situation. A bankers maga-
zine which circulates among the
members Of that business and gives
them intimate and reliable gossip
affecting them, makes this state
ment which is also suggestive:
"Price-fixing. then, because it re-
tards production instead of stimu-
lating it. and stimulates consump-
ton instead of retarding it. be-
comes a serious drawback rather
than an aid in winning the war.
It not only fails to accomplish the
vital thing we now demand of ev-
cry new activity. but it actually
does the opposite. Witness on the
one hand the falling OF in coal pro-
duction which followed the fixing
of coal prices last fall and the de-
crease in steel production which
followed the coal shortage in De-
cember. and is still continuing, and
on the other the large volume of
non-essentials being sold in every
part of the country. So it fails to
stand the test. 1t will not shorten
the war. rather it will lengthen It