Jackson County sentinel. (Gainesboro, Tenn.) 1914-current, 1918-09-12
PROTECTS AGAINST
THE SPECTATORS
PRICE OF 1920 FOR WHEAT NOT
INTENDED TO BRIDE FARMERS
WITH DREAMS OF WEALTH.
NOW is TIME FOR SERVICE
James /. Finney, Assistant Federal
Food Administrator Of Tennessee
Addresses Farmers Conven
ton Of West Tennessee.

Jackson, Tenn. Before the Farm.
ers' Convention Of West Tsnnesses.
James l. Finney, Assistant Federal
Food Administrator OF Tennessee.
made an earnest and eloquent defense
of the Food Administration, declaring
that its achievement in turning food
deficit into food surplus was 10 date
Americas greatest contribution 10 the
cause OF democracy and humanity. Nj
Finney spoke, in part, as follows:
THE price OF wheat Was fixed at
1920 not 10 bride the farmers OF this
nation with dreams Of wealth or 10
satiste their ayar ,ci0us appet.te~ To-
gain, hut il was fixed at that price he.
cause 1t was believed that il woald
guarantee them protection against the
Spectator and would at least insure
them fair return for their expendi.
ture Of brain and Drawn and capital,
while at the same time giving bread,
the great staff Of life, to the millions
OF workers who are not producers Of
food, but whose efforts in the nations
hehaif'are absolutely essential for its
existence, The Food Administration
has sought to deal fairly and Justly
between the farmers and the consum.
ers. Ii has denied, and ! deny with
all the emphasis at my command that
the farmers Of America ask spe eial IA
yors of the government; they would
be the first 10 resent the imputati0n,
Furthermore in order TO meet the
exigencies Of our allies, there has been
consolidated into one buying agency
the purch.s sing power for l20,G09,O00
of people, . phenomenon never before
witnessed In the entire economi3 his
tory Of the world, for It was o5vicys
that With shortage OF shipping AMI
Q rationing system in effect through.
eat these Nations II would not do to
trust the purchasing to the ordinary
agencies Of trade. We have furnished
during the past wear half Of the food
thaa has beeR consumed by 12Q.0Qo,oW
of people In addition we rave had to
concentrate In one agency the pur-
chase Of food supplies for from 5000
t0s to 5,e06 900 men under arms, II
could not he otherwise, for It is I'm.
thinksble that one agency of the gov.
eminent would be permitted to go into
the markets and bid for the same com.
moditisa In opposition to the other
aesacies Of the same government. II
10 also equally unthinkable that We
should bid ag4inst our allies, when, ss
the president has well said. We must
'sAt at a common table
Therefore, that these buying agen.
siss might not become rivals and get
txto each others way, II has teen
necessary to consolidate them under
one contrsl Hence In the final ansly.
sfs, we found ourselves with this most
gigsn tte renspoly In buying aud nee
ssarjly WITH the power either TO make
or tremendously Influence prices.
1T 70 true that II 10 price fixing
after a manner never before contem-
plated In the economic history o. the
world, and necessarily all our old the
cries Of price fixing through the ope.
pNtion Of the ancient law of supply
and demand had to 80 the way o. all
fesh, at least during this great up.
hsaval In such a situation II was alb.
seistsly necessary that the govern.
pIsAt, through the Food Administra-
1acn. Should stabilize prices and fire.
auently exert an Influence that
amounted to price fixing. Only the
price OF wheat has actually been arbi
trarily fixed, but the price OF pork and
indirectly many other food conmodi
ties has been very greatly iHflusncsd
by This volume Of buying exercised |
through one agency
Nov the government faced this
alternative. II could have purchased
che commodities needed for our allies, |
bought the supplies necessary for the |
army and navy In total disregard OF |
The rights OF cur civilian population, |
either OF the consumer or the produo.
er. That would have meant that after
the governments agency had taken
care OF the needs OF the allies and our
military establishment, then the 70
mainder. an amount under ordinary
consumption. admittedly grossly mad
eQuate. would have gone to the high.
est bidders among our civilian populs-
tion. This would have meant conservN-
ton for the rich, those able 10 offer
the highest bids; II would have meant
suffering and want among the less for
tunate, and II would have brought
about such an orgy Of speculation a.
the world had never contemplated.
'The flow Of food commodities from
che producer to the consumer Is sea.
sonsble It is subject 70 many yicls
situdes OF trsnspertaisn and weather.
Temporary shortages would have led
20 q deeauch OF speculation. hence the
absolute necessity for price stsblllXa-
tlon. We have tried to be fair 10 our
heroic allies: we have tried TO furnish
them supplies at fair and just price
We have tried to be fair to the great
masses OF our civilian population. both
the producer and consumer.
"Ts my mind. the achievement OF
the Food Administration OF the United
States during the first year OF its ex
ietence. in turning food deficit into
1 food surplus to date Americas
greatest contribution TO the cause Of
democracy and humanity. Although.
A YOU all know. crop failures were
e~n.ral last wear throughout the
Northern Hemisphere. America made
,hs smsIlest wheat crop II had made In
! generation.
Passing our consumption on the pre-
var basis. We actually had for export
from our harvest OF 1917 8 little over