Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-03-09
FARM JOURNAL PUBLISHER WHO
ADVISED AGAINST WHEAT
PLANTING ACCUSED.
CHARGED WITH DISLoYALTY
: BY SAFETY COMMISSION.
Chamber Of Commerce to
Vote March IS on Price Fixing Rule
agricultural Paper Doubts Wis.
dom of $2.17 Limit on Breadstuff-
Grading Inquiry to Be Held.

Minneapolis, March g.. While cash
rye. advancing another 10, cents
bushel, sold at the hitherto unheard of
price of SO, at the Minneapolis Cham
Der of Commerce, Hugh ]. Hughes, Of
the markets committee of the Mime
sofa public safety commission, stood
in open controversy with Chairman
John H. Rich of the federal reserve
bank and Mr.. Rich's assistant, Curtis
l.. Mosher, over the matter of the
spring wheat acreage in the northwest.
Mr.. Hughes, as editor of an agricul-
tural publication, in a current issue
presented an analysis of the grain acre
age situation in the northwest that
evoked wide comment. The federal re-
serve bank, in line with the expressed
desires of Herbert C. Hoover. national
food commissioner, has been advocat-
ling the planting of wheat as a matter
Of patriotic duty.
Mr.. Mosher, speaking for Mr. Rich,
said that the bank is aware that prop
uganda that Mr.. Mosher termed sedi-
tious in character, is going on to induce
farmers not to increase their wheat
dCIedSeS oilu tlt1I SOLuS VI (iiS dSIiSul-
tural publications ore fostering it.
Wheat Called Greatest Problem.
Mr.. Hughes said that the greatest
need of the United States is wheat,
that he stands for the largest wheat
acreage possible, but that there are
elements in the situation. especially as
it has recently changed. that make it
the greatest agricultural problem ever
existent in the northwest and one that
can not be solved merely by an appeal
to patriotism.
President C. A. Magnuson OF the
Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce
presided at a special meeting of di-
rectors that was called after the price
of rye yesterday jumped 10 cents to,
$500. No action looking to price re-
striction was taken. Secretary John G.
McHugh of the chamber said today
that pending change in the bylaws to
empower the chamber directors to fix
price limits. which the membership was
to have voted upon March 8, has been
put over to March Is and the price fix
ing clause changed to commit the di
rectors to support of any price fixing
move that may emanate from Mr.. Hoo
yer's Office. The proposed change also
makes it incumbent upon chamber
members to know, the food administra
ton rules governing grain trading and
provides penalty Of expulsion from
for violations.
Grading Revision Expected.
E. r. Rehnke, chairman of the state
board Of grain appeals, said he looks
to a meeting scheduled for Minneapolis
March Fl. and brought about as re-
suit Of the recent visit OF himself.
Colonel C. H. March of the public safe
ty commission. and Railroad Commits
sioner o. P. B. jacobson to Washing
ton, to bring such revision of federal
grading as will induce farmers to plant
more wheat.
Mr. Rich said that it is true that the
advance in prices Of oats. barley and
rye has changed the situation. but that
the federal reserve bank nevertheless,
realizing that the government needs
the largest acreage Of wheat that it is
possible to plant, is urging that wheat
be planted.
1--WE do not know what the prices of
coarse grams will be If there is big
harvest" Mr.. Rich said. Rye. barley
and oats. now at such high prices,
might decline heavily. But wheat is
We are sorry to see print
ed matter disseminated that tends to
chill the desire of farmers to plan big
wheat acreage from patriotic motives.
We believe also that 1t is a speculative
proposition to advise farmers to plant
coarse grains, while the farmer who
nuts in wheat has an assurance as to
price"
Declared Economically Unsound.
Mr.. Hughes said today that it is use
less to try to put an economically I'M
sound proposition before the farmers.
Everybody that is patriotic wants to
see "a big wheat acreage, he said. But
he believes, Mr.. Hughes said, that as ii,
is wheat that the government wants.
the government should not have an
chored the price of wheat at the $2.17
price basis in Minneapolis, while other
grains have advanced SO rapidly. The
order issued that with purchases of
wheat flour quantity of other substi-
tute -four must be bought naturally put
up coarse grain prices, he said.
"The government should take the lid
off of wheat to be consistent" Mre
Hughes said, land let the price get in
line more closely with other grains. The
proposition Of asking farmers to plant
wheat at $217 against 50. rye is not
economically sound, however patriotic
It may be. What we really want is the
big wheat acreage. But it is question
open to difference of opinion as to whe-
Their we are going about it in the right
way.
Risk Taken BY Farmers.
There are many other aspects to it,
Nearly 20 per cent of the farmers of
the northwest are tenants or have
mortgages on their farms and a good
many Of them have to be financed this
spring for seed. Labor is scarce. There
is time Of year beyond which wheat,
If planted, takes a serious risk The
whole economic structure Of the north
west, therefore, enters into the situa-
ton.
"The patriotic plea to the farmers is
fine and it will meet a hearty response
without doubt, but the whole PROPOSE