The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1918-03-07
PRESIDENT SETS
1918 WHEAT PRICE
ISSUES PROCLAMATION IN WHICH
FIGURE FOR NORTHWEST
is S2.17 PER RUSHEL.
NO CHANGE FROM LAST YEAR
Grain Must Be Harvested In United
States This Year and Sold Be-
fore July, 1919-State-
ment Issued.

Washington, Feb. 25.-A price OF
S2.17 a bushel at Minneapolis n
$2.20 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 a guaranteed price for wheat
of the 1918 harvest. l am, therefore,
issuing a 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 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 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 ar
industrial unrest which would be
harmful to every industry in the coun
try.
II know the spirit of our farmers
and have not the least doubt as to the
loyalty with which they will accepi
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 sever million acres
more than the average for the five
years before the outbreak OF the Eu
ropean war.
1T seems not to be generally under.
stood why wheat is picked out foI
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 wal conditions,
only two commodities, namely, wheat
and sugar have been so seriously af
fected as to require governmental in
tervention.
Must Prevent Speculation.
.7fhe disturbances which affect
these products, and others in a 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 that
enters into commercial overseas traf
fc. 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 in
comparison with the available domes-
tic supply that the price OF wheat has
been materially disturbed and 1t be
came necessary, in order to protect
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 rs possible to control
purchases of wheat and the processes
of its expectation. This supervision
necessarily amounted to price fixing,
and !, therefore, thought IL fair and
wise that there should be a price
stated that should be at once liberal
and equitable.
Farmer Relied Upon.
Those peculiar circumstances gov
erning the handling and consumption
of wheat put the farmer al the very
center OF war service. Next to the sol.
der himself he is serving the coun-
try and the world and serving 1t in a
way which Is absolutely fundamental
to his own future safety and prosper
fly. He sees this and can be relied
upon as the soldier can.
THE farmer Is also contributing
men to the army, and l am keenly
alive to the sacrifices involved. Out
OF 1880, 900 men engaged in farm
industries, 205.000 have been drafted,
o. about 1.4S per cent OF the whole
number. In addition to these there
have been volunteers. and the farm
ers have lost a considerable number
of laborers because the wages paid
In industrial pursuits drew them
away. In order to- relieve the farm
ing industry as far as possible from