The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1919-07-18
BUMPER WHEAT CROP
HARVESTED BROUGHT REAL
WEALTH TO FARMER
(By C. M. Morrison J

The wheat crop that has just been
harvested in the United States came
up to all the predictions made last
winter by the United States Bureau of
Crop Estimates. The binders went
through more than 50000,00O acres
of golden grain, and the farmer who
did not smile with inward satisfaction
as the straw bent, broke and fell be-
meath the knife must needs indeed be
Lard to please.
Last winter the snow was falling
sometimes scantily and sometimes not
at all, there was fear lest the crop
might not be all that was wished for.
But it escaped the freezes and thaws
that sometimes prove disastrous. The
spring drought failed to materialize,
and the red and black rust did not de-
velop. The hessian fly and the chinch
bug developed in numbers in but few
| places.
A real fright came along just be-
fore harvest, when there were rains,
sometimes heavy, but for the most
part accompanied by no driving winds,
and no hail to speak of. These rains
helped out the corn and did no real
harm to the wheat.
Then came the harvest. And it was
some harvest. The greatest that
America ever saw, and the prices that
will be obtained for every bushel that
is marketed will aid in placing the
farmer in the position that he has ev-
err felt should be his lot-fnancial in
dependence.
Every bushel of this wheat will sell
at not less than 1920 a bushel.
The Government guaranteed this
last summer before single plow-
point was showed into the ground for
the fall seeding. The farmers of
America have the solemn promise of
the country that it will bring just so
much money. Back of the guarantee
stands the United States Government.
The resources of the nation are pledg-
ed to make that guarantee good all
through the year that follows harvest.
This guarantee was one Of the
financial problems that the United
States had to meet A billion bushel
wheat crop means that more than 49,
900, 100000 will be needed to pay for
the wheat of the country. With the
worlds markets opening, with the
ships blowing the seas and moving
the stored wheat of India, of Russia,
of Australia and the Argentine into
the markets, the wheat prices Of
America would certainly fall far down
from what they are, were it not for
this guarantee. At the first of this
year men who have grown grey in the
grain business stated that if there was
no guarantee on wheat, it would at
that time have been selling at no
more than $1.25 a bushel.
There is no use quarreling at the
price fixed. Bread will remain high
for while yet while this guarantee is
being met. But we must remember
that when this price was set, no man
knew how the war would end. Ger
many was making a last desperate eff
fort to break through on the west
front. The fate of civilization was in
the balance. The war might have
dragged along for years. 1t was nee
essary to make certain of enough
foodstuffs to feed our army and that
of our allies. The guarantees were
given. There were farmers and So
called organizations that wanted an
even higher guarantee. Doubtless the
farmer is thankful now that he was
given the 1920 guarantee, for without
| it his wheat would not be worth what
it is today
| But this guarantee must be met.
This requires an adequate amount of
funds in the hands of the Government.
| A weak government financially, ma
ton that is almost at the bottom of
it's treasury could not meet the srain
that will certainly be thrown on it's
finances. There will be an avalanche
Of wheat pour into the markets soon.
1t will be a golden flood of foodstuffs
and it will rush in like river pouring
over broken dam. The ordinary ma
chinery of the markets would never be
able to hold up the price to 1920 On
ly a Governmental guarantee could
do that; only a powerful and rich
government with plenty Of money on
hand to take up the surplus grain
would be able to stem the rush of
this yellow sea of wheat that will pour
out of the west and out of the Corn
Belt and out of the great winter and
spring wheat states.
! This vast amount of wheat that is
now pouring into the markets will
make others than the farmers pros
porous. 1t will help all along the line.
But the public is prone to forget fun
damental facts. This prosperity is
due to the Government guarantee. The
people are back of the guarantee.
The Government needs more money
just now than the ordinary sources of
revenue can provide. 1t is willing to
pay for this money. 1t is offering
War Savings Stamps in denomina-
tions of $500 to $1,000, and it is pay
ing four per cent interest, compound
ed quarterly, for this money, that is
needed to continue to make the coun-
try prosperous.
The farmers are responding liberal
ly to the nations appeal and not
few of the larger wheat growers can
exhibit $1,000 Baby Bonds, the limit
one can buy in any one series, while
many others are joining the War Saw
;pnc Societies that ara hacop,in1 oy