River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1918-02-28
PRESIDENT SETS
1918 WHEAT PRICE
ISSUES PROCLAMATION IN WHICH
FIGURE FOR NORTHWEST
Is S2.17 PER BUSHEL.
no CHANGE FROM LAST YEAR
Grain Must Be Harvested in United
States This Year and Sold Be-
fore July, 1919-State-
ment Issued.

Washington, Feb. 25.-A price of
gSl7 a bushel at Minneapolis and
S220 at Chicag o-the same as for
Last years crop-has been fixed by
President Wilson for the coming sea-
3On's wheat crop. The price is for
No. 1 northern spring.
President Makes Statement.
In a statement accompanying his
proclamation, the President said:
Under the food control act Of
August 10, 1917, it is my duty to an
nOunce guaranteed price for wheat
OF the 1918 harvest. am, therefore,
issuing a proclamation setting the
price at the principal interior pri
mary markets. 1t makes no essen
tiaE alteration in the present guaranty
1t is q continuation of the present
price of wheat with some adjustments
arising from the designation of addi
tiORal terminal marketing points.
This guaranteed price assures the
farmer OF a reasonable profit even if
the war should end within the year
and the large stores of grain in those
sections of the world that are now
cat off from transportation should
again come into competition with his
products. To increase the price of
wheat above the present figure or to
agitate any increase of price would
have the effect of very seriously ham,
geEIng the large operations of the
nation and of the country's Allies by
causing the wheat of last years crop
go be withheld from the market.
&c would, however, dislocate the pres
emit wage levels that have been es-
tabiished after much anxious discus
sion and would, therefore, create an
Industrial unrest which would be
harmful to every industry in the coun-
try
81 know the spirit of our farmers
and have not the least doubt as to the
loyalty with which they will accept
fhe present decision The fall wheat
planting, which furnishes two-thirds
OF our wheat production, took place
with no other assurance than this.
The farmers confidence was demon
'gtrated by the, fact that they planted
an acreage larger than the record of
any preceding year, larger by two mil
Zion acres than the second largest
record year, and seven million acres
more than the average for the five
years before the outbreak of the Eu-
rOpean war.
''Tt seems not to be generally under
stood why wheat is picked out for
price determination and only wheat
among the cereals. The answer is
that while normal distribution of all
oar farm products has been subject
to great disturbances during the last
Il ~E
only two commodities, namely, wheat
and sugar, have been so seriously af-
Fected as to require governmental in
AerventiOn.
Must Prevent Speculation.
THE disturbances which affect
these products, and others in a less
degree arise from the fact that all
OF the overseas shipping in the world
fFs now under government control and
that the government is obliged to as
sign tonnage to each commodity that
enters into commercial overseas traf-
pic. It has, consequently, been nee
leSsary to establish single agencies
Nor the purchase of the food supplies
(which must go abroad. The purchase
iDf wheat in the United States for for
seign use is of so great volume in
comparison with the available dOmes-
tffc supply that the price of wheat has
been materially disturbed and it be-
came necessary, in order to protect
Both the producer and the consumer,
ito prevent speculation. 1t was nee
essary, therefore, for the government
ITO exercise a measure of direct super
vision as far as possible to control
purchases of wheat and the processes
NJ fSSr ovnnrtation This SuOprViSiOn
necessarily amounted to price fixing,
and I, therefore, thought it fair and
vase that there should be a price
stated that should be at once liberal
sRnd equitable.
Farmer Relied Upon.
Those peculiar circumstances gov
serning the handling and consumption
III wheat put the farmer at the very
xenter of war service. Next to the SOL
saies himself he is serving the coun-
fry and the world and serving it in
way which is absolutely fundamental
To his own future safety and prosper
lily. He sees this and can be relied
ROon as the soldier can.
THE farmer is also contributing
men to the army, and I am keenly
alive to the sacrifices involved. Out
Of 1880, 900 men engaged in farm
Industries 205.000 have been drafted,
or about 1.4S per cent of the whole
uwmher. In addition to these there
have been volunteers, and the farm
ers have lost considerable number
.Ux laborers because the wages paid
I'm industrial pursuits drew them
away. In order to relieve the farm
rang industry as far as possible from