The Washington times., 1918-03-22
BREAD WOULD co
SKY HIGH UNDER
G0REPR|CEF|X|NG
By DAVID LAWRENCE.
CONTINUED from First Page.)


pus was raised. most OF the farmers.
according to official reports, were sat
isfied with the price fixed. Since the
possibility of getting $3.50 for wheat
was raised, OF course, more converts
were made until now many OF them
are shouting for an abandonment OF
all price fixing whatsoever, and a re
turn to the old-time speculation and
nuctuation that can make for bread
riots in our cities as fast as any
other kind Of war privation.
Nobody realizes more keenIy than
the President that costs of basic com
modities ought TO be reduced to the
farmer, and IL Congress had followed
the recommep pdstions made In the last
message OF Mr.. Wilson on the subject,
the proft OF the farmer on S2.2O
wheat would mean more to him in
prospect than 1t does now.
Farmer Needs Relief.
The cry OF the farmer for help is a
serious one. But unscientifc Iegisls-
ton that puts practically a poll tax
of 81 on every man and woman in
the country by increasing the price
OF -four by that much per capita will
not benefit the farmer or obtain more
production.
The most that can he obtained in
increased production, I am informed.
by the higher price IL fifty million
bushels of wheat and that much the
experts in conservation estimate can
be saved by wheatless meals and days.
As a matter OF fact, the price fixed
by the President recently has already
in 100000 more acreage.
and reports from county agents to
the Department OF Agriculture indi-
cate that the bulk CT the farmers
are satisfied. The Senate Agricul-
tural Committee made no study OF
the matter so far as is known-at any
rate IL did not ask governmental
a gencies for data or Information con-
cerning nationwide conditions.
The effect OF the measure therefore
win be TO give farmers who had al
ready made tI,eir plans on the basis
OF 800 wheat an enormous profit II
the wheat yield is large. and only in
the arid belts will the stimulus to
wheat production be accomplished.
This stimulus measured in terms or
! 400. .OOO. 900 to the American people
when the same amount OF wheat can
be saved by conservation methods or
when the same end could be obtained
by reducing costs to the farmer ac-
counts for the general opposition Of
the Administration to the Senate's
measure OF last night.
Principle at Stake.
But there Is another principle at
stake. Shall the Congress fix prices?
Shall the economic problems Of the
war be subjected to the whims OF po-
IItical influence where selflshness and
not patriotism trlumphs? II the Sem
ate bill OF last night were put into
aw, there would be no means Of dis
between the 1917 crop for
which a price of $500 was nxed and
the 1918 crop for which the Senate
would fx a price of $3.50.
Farmers who patriotically refused
o hold their 1917 wheat for the high
r price would be penalized for their
while other farmers
who have been depending on the
senate agitation to get results would
cap a profit
The whole machinery by which the
-nIted States has undertaken to deal
With its allies in the supply OF food.
he machinery by which wages AL
'eady have been fixed in many lines
" Industry is threatened BY the leg
station OF the Senate. but more than
hat the price OF bread may be forced |
everal cents upward and an entire |
adjustment compelled in the prices |
Il other foodstuffs
The general expectation Is that the |
resident will express his opposition |
nd assure the farmers that the Gov
rnment Will investigate costs of pro-
uctIon and revise its prices scien-
ideally II the investigation so war
ants. Otherwise the Congress may
e constrained to engage in an orgy
Z price fixing that viii run the whole
"a NUT OF war necessities.