The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1919-03-11
WHEAT is A VITAL pRoBLEM,

hltCl uoiHS up lucli OWA piouuS-
ton of wheat up to August 1, 1919,
the European countries, exclusive of
Russia and Germany's Allies, will
need $4,000, 900 bushels. The esti-
mated surplus stock of wheat in Ar
gentine, Canada, Austria and the
United States, which are the princi-
pal wheat producing countries, will
be approximately 70S,000,O00 bush
els. However, this seeming world
surplus would be consumed in sixty
days by the other peoples Of Europe
and Asia, who, as result OF the war,
are underfed, and in many places to-
day starving. Undoubtedly, If the
United States Government were to
put ban on the exporting and i'm
porting of wheat, and if our own sur
plus of 267,000,000 were allowed
free market within our own bound
ries, the price Of wheat and Of wheat
-four would drop to or below it's 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, Ia
Dor and machinery for the purpose
of stimulating and increasing pro-
duction as far as possible. Also,
wheat production would fall off, and
the anticipated surplus would not
becdne a real surplus.
On the other hand, in order to pro-
vide jobs for everyone, the war be-
ing over, 1t 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 would be called
upon to undergo great privat1on
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. 1t is very evident that the
people of Europe must be fed at any
cost; that the farmers guarantee of
is2.26 per bushel for wheat must be
| fulfilled, and that the cost of our
basic food production 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 $3.50, 100000 and pur-
chase at the guaranteed price OF
s2.26 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 Interna
tional Grain Commission. Then at
ter setting aside "carry-over' sup
ply for our needs, let further imports
or exports be prohibited, and let the
grain have a free market and thus
acquire a real value. This woult
tend in some way to reduce the price
of flour and wheat products to tn
consumer and thus to the extent tina
it is a vital factor in the cost of liv
ing, the cost of living would be re
duced and consequently wages.
= The difference between the guar
. anteed price by the Government an
the real value Of the wheat in tn
) open market would result in a loss
| but this loss could be made up GU
of the National Treasuary throug
, taxation on the public where 1T be
l longs rather than upon the faHne
I or the consumer. This would ais
not involve taking our total graf
supply at the expense OF the peopl
of Europe where no wheat crop
available and where people are star'
ing. In other words, by the taxatio
t method, the loss would be NOR
: equally distributed and the creates
n good would come to the create:
t number not only here but in Europ
e -O-