Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1919-04-11

A. T. wiancko, chief of soils and
crops, Purdue University.
b. II. Hubbard, agricultural eeonom
list, University of Wisconsin.
Frank d, Gardner, agronomist, Penn.
sylvania State College.
Il. w. Peck, assistant, farm manage
ment, University of Minnesota.
II. NJ. Eliot, farm economist. Agri-
cultural and Mechanical College
Of Texas.
If additional confirmation were
needed, the letter of the author of
one of the wheat studies will be suf-
ficient. 1t reads as follows:
October 90, 1918.
Honorable David F. Houston. Secre-
tary of Agriculture,
Dear Sir:
beg leave to ask you to withdraw
the manuscript Oh the cost of pro-
ducing wheat handed in to the De-
partment about July /, 1918. The
statistical data upon which the report
is based is not sufficient to count it
a statistical and analytical study in
any sense and / could not defend it
on any ground that now seems to me
proper and substantial. The report
is based rather on personal observa-
ton of local conditions and notes
taken on farmers experience and
knowledge, supplemented with very
meager statistical data. For these
reasons I am convinced that the
manuscript should not be made pub
lie by the Department.
Your committee has made thor
ough investigation of my work and
! believe has a true estimate of the
value and reliability of the report on
the average cost of producing wheat
in the various localities studied.
Respectfully,
j. H. ARNOLD,
Agriculturist.
5. 1t is asserted that the Secre-
tary rebuked Mr. Spillman in the
sternest manner for having gone be-
fore the Garfield committee when it
was fixing the guaranteed price for
wheat; that he (the Secretary stated
that it was we'll understood that the
price to be fixed for wheat was about
$3.50; and that Spillman, in spite of
the Secretary's views, suggested a
price of $2.30.
This statement is false. The Sec
rotary did not know that Mr.. Spill
man was going before the Garfield
committee, did not at the time talk
to Spiliman about the matter, and has
never since discussed it with him.
The Secretary did not then express
an opinion concerning the price that
should be fixed. The only informa.
ton the Secretary had regarding Mr..
Spillmans attitude as to the price,
during the whole time the matter
was under discussion, was contained
in the following letter from Mr. Spill
man, dated June II, 1917, a few
months before the Garfield commit
tee submitted its recommendation
June IL, 1917.
Dear Mr.. Secretary:
Il wish to call attention at this
time to the Importance of consider
ing the matter of a minimum price
for wheat for next year. The farm
ers will soon be making their plans
concerning the seeding of this crop.
There is widespread fear that if the
war should end before harvest time
next year the wheat market would be
demoralized, and the farmer would
not get fair return for his labor.
If anything is to be done along this
line its consideration should be taken
up at once.
l believe that 1t is important that
the government. or the allies, should
guarantee to the farmer a minimum
price for wheat. If this is done and
the farmer knows that he will get
a fair price for his wheat prospect
i've of the outcome of the war, be-
iieye there would be an enormous in
crease in the wheat crop in this coun-
try next year. There is no question
that it will be needed, even If the
war ends. would suggest that
price of $3.50 per bushel for wheat
delivered at the nearest shipping sta
tion would probably accomplish this
purpose.
Very sincerely yours,
w. ]. SPILLMAN,
=. Chief.
You will observe that on June II,
1917 Mr. SniIlmau haIiavaa +ho4