Baxter Springs news., 1919-02-28

WmnnA 40 - .NaAAN A-0-Af-NA
After using up their own produc-
ton Of wheat up TO August 1, 1919,
the European countries, exclusive Of
Russia and Germany's Allies, will
need 675,000,000 bushels. The esti-
mated surplus stocks of wheat in
Argentine, Canada, Australia and the
United States, which are the princi-
pal wheat producing countries will be
approximately 70S,000,OO0 Of bushels.
However, this seeming world surplus
would be consumed in sixty days by
the other peoples Of Europe and Asia,
who, as a result Of the war, are under
fed, and in many places today starv-
ing. Undoubtedly, II the United
States Government were to put a ban
on the exporting and importing Of
wheat, and II our own surplus Of 267,-
100000 were allowed a free market
within our own boundries, the price Of
wheat and of wheat flour would drop
to or below its pre-war level, but this
is economically unfair because the
farmers would be bankrupt, who, on
representation Of the Government,
have invested large amounts at high
prices in seeds, labor and machinery
for the purpose Of stimulating and in
creasing production as far as possible.
Also, wheat production would fall of,
and the anticipated surplus would
not become a real surplus.
On the other hand, in order to pro-
vide jobs for everyone, the war be-
ing over, it is necessary to have
cheaper raw materials, greater pro-
duction, and some people believe, a
cost of living very much lower with
the resultant decrease in the wage
scales. Cheaper wheat would help
to bring about this condition.
1t is very hard to reconcile the two
points Of view, but in one case, the
war worried people of Europe would
be called upon to undergo a great pri-
walton and perhaps starvation because
of our selfish interest.
In the second case, our farmers as
class would become bankrupted at
the expense of the industry Of the
country. It is very evident that the
people of Europe must be fed at any
cost; that the farmers guarantee Of
1926 per bushel for wheat must be
fulfilled, and that the cost of our
basic food product must, through
freedom of movement, reach a price
as determined by supply and demand.
These three needs can be met by the
passing of the bill which is. before
Congress at the present time, and
which provides that the Government
appropriate $1,250,OO0,0OO and pur-
chase at the guaranteed price of 1925
per bushel at Chicago, the total wheat
supply; that the surplus needed for
Europe be sold at such price as will
be set by an International Grain Com
mission. Then after setting aside a
"carry-over" supply for our needs, let
further imports or exports be prohib-
tied, and let the grain have free
market and thus acquire real value.
This would tend in some way to re-
ducc the price of flour and wheat pro-
ducts to the consumer and thus to the
extent that it is a vital factor in the
cost of living, the cost of living would
be reduced and consequently wages.
The difference between the guaran-
teed price paid by the Government
and the real value of the wheat in the
open market would result in a loss,
but this loss could be made up out of
the National Treasury through taxa
ton on the public where it belongs
rather than upon the farmer or the
consumer. This would also not in
volve taking our total grain supply
at the expense of the people of Eur.
ope where no wheat crop is available,
and where people are starving. In
other words by the taxation method,
the loss would be more equally dis
tributed and the greatest good would
come to the greatest number not only
here but in Europe.