American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1918-03-08
ASKS SQUARE DEAL
FOR FARMERS OF IDAHO
Governor GOOding Demands Cars for
Spuds and Fair Price for Wheat
Policy OF Government Unfair TO
Idaho Producer.

because of their in ability to secure
cars for shipment Of the spuds on
hand, have appealed 10 Ex-GOv. F. r.
GoOding for help. Mr.. Gooding has
taken the matter up with charac-
teristic energy and his success in
handling Idaho's fuel problem justifies
the prediction that he will be able to
relieve the situation.
The following letter from Governor
Gooding to Senator Borah sets forth
not only the car shortage trouble, but
also several other matters vitality al
fecting the interests of the Idaho
farmers:
February 2S, 1918 Hon. W. E. Bor-
ah, Washington, D. c. Dear Senator:
am in receipt of your very kind let
ter in which you advise me that very
little announcement can be given in
the car situation for Idaho.
regret very much to advise you,
Senator, that the car situation is
growing more serious each day. l am
in receipt of daily advice from Poca-
tello of the number of refrigerator
cars received at Green River by the
Oregon Short Line. and the records
show that during the last five days
the Oregon Short Line received only
seventeen refrigerator cars. This is
a very serious situation and unless
there is immediate improvement, it
will mean a great loss in our potatoes.
The people of Idaho are clearly en-
titled to know the reason for this car
shortage at this time both for pOta-
toes and hay, so, if it is possible, we
can guard against such an unfortu-
nate condition in the future.
There are other matters, Senator
besides the car shortage, of which the
farmers of Idaho have right to COM
plain, and it is through their delega-
ton in congress that we must get
relief, and l know that you will be
glad to do all you can TO relieve these
conditions.
l called your attention in my tele-
gram to the government buying pota-
toes on competitive bids, and buying
them for less than 81 a hundred
through commission firms. BY the
time the farmer furnishes the sack
and pays the commission, he receives
from sixty to seventy-five cents a
hundred for his potatoes. This is so
far below the cost of production that
l feel the potato growers of Idaho
have a right to protest, especially
when they are encouraged by the
government to plant potatoes last
spring when the seed was worth from
four to five cents pound.
Another matter l want to call TO
your attention is the price Of wheat
fixed by the government The follow
ing is a copy of night letter which l
sent to Mr.. Hoover under date Of
August 18th, 1917:
"As Chairman State Defense
Council for Southern Idaho wish to
urge on you necessity Of dealing
Justly and fairly with western and
eastern farmers. l believe the price
of wheat should Re the same at all
railroad points. the government
paying the freight charges to all
the market centers in America. 1t
costs considerable more to produce
a bushel of wheat in the west than
in the eastern and middle we. tern
states What would be a fair price
for farmers with a low freight rate
in these states would be ruinOus 10
the western farmer where freight
rates are excessively high. il IS the
duty of the government TO recog-
nize individual effort in every part
of this country. One man should not
receive more for growing a bushel
of wheat for the government than
another Western states have re-
sponded patriotically with vOlun-
teers to the army and navy. Their
quota under the conscription lew Will
~, f,rr 81 aI ,t~fth fFu1l n
government for liberty bonds and
Red Cross subscriptions not sur
passed in any part of country
AS you will see l made a vigorous
protest. My convictions have only
been confirmed over and over again
that in this matter l was right.
The new order of the president fix
ing the 81 price at PocatellO does
not help the situation as far as IdahC
is concerned From Gooding l find il
the farmer sells his wheat at POcatel-
10 on a 50 basis. it will bring hin
two-fifths of a cent less than in Chi
cago at 1920. There will be a few
farmers close To PocatellO who have
only a short shipment TO make. whC
will receive a little benefit, but il vii
rot improve the condition of the farm
er as a whole In fact. if they ar,
permitted to do so. they will continue
TO ship to Chicago. for by the time th'
local freight is paid TO POcatello theii
wheat will bring more in Chicago OF
$500 price than in Pocatello on th'
5000 price
As | said in my telegram to Mr.
Hoover. Senator. there is no good rea
sen why the government should pa.
one man more for growing bushe
OF wheat than another. There is
principle involved in this that SHOULD
not be overlooked.
Another matter l want 20 call 4
YOUR attention. is that by the ruling
of the Food Administration. when thl
elevators buy a hushel of wheat from