The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1918-01-10
FAIR POTATO PRICES
Proposition That Government Com
mandeer Potatoes in the
Hands of Farmers.
Dollar a Bushel Not Unreasonable
Price for Stuff That Cost
20 Cents to Raise.

Chicago, Jan. 7.-Government ac-
ton to force farmers of Wisconsin and
Michigan to loosen their hold on the
potato supply may be taken, it was in
Dictated here today.
Harry A. Wheeler, state food adj
ministrator, secured production and
distribution costs for potatoes before
he left for conference in Washington
with Herbert C. Hoover and state adj
ministrators.
Distribution costs have doubled in
the past year, but the profit of COM
mission agents and retailers has not
increased, according to the figures
Wheeler prepared. A year ago 43
cents brought bushel of potatoes
from Wisconsin to Chicago and today
88 cents is required. The consumer
pays $1.62 bushel for potatoes that
cost 80 cents year ago.
Farmers of Wisconsin and Michigan
are holding their crops for price of
81 bushel, Samuel Livingston Of the
state food administration charged.
The above is an associated press re-
port that appeared in the daily papers.
It was an oversight, probably, that
Minnesota was not included. -
One dollar per bushel to the farmers
is not unreasonable, since the best
and most careful farmers in this
vicinity tell US that it cost them 70
cents per bushel to raise potatoes last
year, and we believe them. -.
| Last spring as high as $500 per
bushel was paid for seed potatoes here
in Princeton. Paris green sold for 60
cents per pound. Labor was abnormal
ly high. At harvest time the going
wages were $500 per day, and labor
mighty hard to get at that. It is easy
to see that when the farmers say it
cost them 70 cents per bushel to raise
potatoes they are not distorting the
figures.
Now it is proposed that the govern
ment step in and commander the crop
that is still in the farmers hands at a
price less than it cost to produce it
IF anything Of the kind is done il
would be an outrage. Let the govern
ment commander potatoes if it is
deemed best, but let fair price be
paid-a price that will cover the cost
of production plus reasonable profit
to the farmer. --. .>s
It would be an exceedingly short
sighted policy to force down the price
of potatoes below the cost of produc-
ton, and would result in a greatly re-
duced acreage being planted this year.
We are decidedly of the opinion that
if the middlemen were to be satisfied
with reasonable profits the consumer
of potatoes would not be obliged to
pay exorbitant prices.
Political demagogues to the con-
trary, we hold that middlemen are a
necessity. In handling perishab1e
crop like potatoes it would be physical
ly impossible for the consumer-es-
pecially the poor consumer who pur-
chases in small quantities. to deal d.
rectly with the producer. But if there
is to be any government regulation it
is the middlemen who should be regu-
lated.
Undoubtedly there is big surplus
of potatoes in the country, but we do
not believe there is any such surplus
as interested parties-those who are
interested in bearing prices claim
there is. Anyhow, potatoes are a
cheap food at $3.50 per bushel to the
consumer. More potatoes should be
eaten and less flour. Wheat and rye
can be exported and our allies need
those cereals. Potatoes are too bulky
to export, especially when there is
such a dearth of shipping. There is
room for campaign Of education
along these lines.
But one thing is mighty certain: If
potato-raisers are not fairly dealt
with now there will be no surplus Of
tubers next fall.
ArnIro 10 d.