The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1919-10-10
FOR FARMERS THOUGHT

fOlt fAllN1Uft > lt1OUGt1l
'There is another thing which farm
ers must take into account. After the
conclusion of peace agriculture will be
one Of the first industries thrOughOu:
the world to return to normal conili-
tions. Tlfd government will not guar
antee a price for wheat, and farmers
will not be able to fix a price for it.
1t will be governed in large part by
the law of supply and demand. The
same will be true of other farm pro.
ducts and the prices may fall surpris-
ingly low I did not begin growing
wheat as long ago as you and have
not sold it as cheap as. you but most
that 1 have raised has been sold for
less than dollar per bushel. Farmers
must face lower price levels for their
products. Butter win go down; eggs
will drop; the price of wheat and
coarse grains will shrink. It behooyes
us TO take thought of the future. While
there may be serious times ahead for
all, there is special danger in the stu.
alton which may confront farmers. 1t
is time when members of congress
should realize their responsibility, and
it is likewise time when those at
home who advise them should also feel
their responsibility, and prepare them
selves to give just and patriotic YER
dict. The farmer who has been in
doubt as to the wisdom of State owner.
ship may have concluded that it was
worth experimenting and that if a
failure the state could stand its loss
and get out Of business. 1t will not
do to follow any such philosophy In
respect to national government owner
ship The farmers, who have the big
gest financial stake in North Dakota,
are in the majority. They have the
power to vote themselves out OF any
proposition into which they have voted
themselves, if they find it is losing
money or is out of harmony with sountl
principles Of government. Not SO in
the case Of national government owner
ship They will not have the power
to vote it out, because they are in the
minority. Farmers who elamored for
national grading Of grain would be
mighty glad to get out Of 1t now. 1t
looks as though that door is closed for
all time, and it should stand as a
warning that it is sometimes easier to
get in than to get out.
Another important fact to bear III
mind is that in the event of govern
ment ownership the railways would
pay no taxes. This would increase the
taxes upon farm lands, and all other
property. Would the freight rates lie
correspondingly reduced? Ny belief
is they would not.
TO SAFEGUARD AGRICULTURE
II want to do the right thing by
all the people of my congressional dis
trict and believe can serve them best
by helping to safeguard the interests
of agriculture. 1t is a time to 20 slow.
The men who come to us with az pro-
position that If we will support govern
ment ownership Of railways they will
save us money In freight rates should
be treated the same as anyone who has
something to sell. Let them show rs.
The farmers did not start this. The
idea did not originate with them. 1t
is the other fellows idea. It is well
known that the farmers never thought
of government price for wheat. The
idea originated with others. They
Whispered to the farmers that 1T would
be a good thing and they took the bait
'Now we are asked by some very
plausible gentlemen to support the
Plumb plan for government ownership
Of railways upon the assurance it will
be a great thing for us. This is very
generous, very generous indeed. bu. ]
want, none of it in mine, and will vote
for none of it. Senator LenroOt's plan
for a broad Government control with
some changes would, to my mind, be
much better. sssszE.s
PUBLIC OWNERSHIP
3 The Plump plan, as applied to rail
roads, is to be only part of q general
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