The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-07-13

agriculture for the fiscal year end,
ing June 80, 1919, but feel con-
| strained to do so because of my
earnest dissent, from the point OF
view Of principle as well as wise ex-
| pediency from the provisions Of that
part Of section ii which prescribes
uniform minimum price for num-
| Der 2 northern spring wheat of $2.4C
| a bushel.
Il dissent upon principle because
l believe that such inelastic legisla-
tive price provisions are insuscepti-
bic of being administered in a way
that will be advantageous either to
the producer or to the consumer, es-
tablishing as they do arbitrary levels
which are quite Independent of the
normal market changes, and because
believe that the present method
Of regulation by conference with all
concerned has resulted in the most
satisfactory manner, considering the
complexity and variety of the sub
ject matter dealt with.
1t is evident that the present meth
Cd Of determining the price to be
paid for wheat has had the most
stimulating effect upon production,
the estimated crop Of spring wheat
records in a very remarkable and
gratifying way. BY an overwhelm-
ing majority Of the farmers of the
United States the price administra-
lively fixed has been regarded as
fair and liberal, and objections to it
have come only from those sections
OF the country where, unfortunately,
1t has in recent years proved i'm
possible to rely upon climatic con-
ditiOns to produce a full crop of
wheat and where, therefore, many
disappointments to the farmer have
proven to be unavoidable.
Personally, 1 do not believe that
the farmers Of the country depend
upon the stimulation of the price to
do their utmost to serve the nation
and the world at this time Of crisis
by eXerting themselves to an extra
ordinary degree to produce the larg-
est and best crops possible. Their
patriotic spirit in this matter has
been worthy of all praise and has
shown them playing a most admir-
able and gratifying part in the full
mobilization of the resources Of the
country. To a very great in
creased production Of wheat they
have added an increased production
grain, SO that our granaries are like
ly to overflow, and the anxiety of the
nations arrayed against Germany
with regard to their food supplies
has been relieved.
THE administrative method of
agreeing upon q fair price has the
advantage of flexibility Of rendering
possible at every stage and in the
view OF every change Of experience
a reimbursement which will be fair
alike to producer and consumer.
"A fixed minimum price Of $2.40 per
bushel would, it is estimated add 81
per barrel to the price of flour; in
other words, raise the prices Of flour
from the present price Of $1,000 to
$3.50 at the mill and inasmuch as
we are anticipating a. crop Of ap-
proximately 900,00O,00O bushels of
wheat, this increase would be equi-
valent to the immense sum Of $751;
100000.
such an increase Of the price of
wheat in the United States would
force a corresponding increase in the
price Of Canadian wheat The allied
governments would, Of course, be
obliged to make ell Of their pur-
chases at this increased figure and
the whole scale Of their financial OPP