The Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 191?-19??, 1919-05-17
WHEAT PRICE
TO BE LOWER
WILL REACH ALL WAY DOWN
THE LINE FROM PRODUCER
TO BAKER
STATEMENT ISSUED BY BARNES
Will Maintain The Guar
anteed Price of
$2.26.
STATEMENT ISSUED BY BARNES

New York, May 16.-An immedi-
ate reduction in the price of wheat,
reaching all down the line from the
producer to the baker, is believed as
sured, according to a statement issu-
ed by Julius Barnes, wheat director,
following prolonged conference be-
tween Mr.. Barnes and representa-
tives of the grain industry, including
grain handlers, millers, jobbers and
bakers.
The statement issued by Mr..
Barnes says:
"There was a general agreement
that in order that all the wheat pro-
ducers of the country should secure
equal benefits, that the various trades
could be bound by contracts to see
that wheat trading should be only on
the guaranteed price and, and if a
lower basis was justified with the de-
velopments of world factors as the
season advanced, this lower basis
should be made to reach the consum-
er by trade agreements with millers
and manufacturing facilities, the
wheat director making the readjust-
ing basis effective by the payment of
the difference as allowed under act
of Congress.
''In return for protection against
a fall in price, after the guaranteed
price had been made for wheat
bought, the wheat director would re-
quire from the various trades con-
tract obligations by which their trade
practices and margins of profit should
be subject to review and control by
the wheat director.
MiIIers Limit Profits.
'It was suggested, for instance,
hat the mills agree that their total
gross operating profits between wheat
bought and the finished products
jold should not exceed an agreed ba-
lis per barrel of flour manufactured,
,hus assuring immediate reflection to
he consumer of any reduced price of
wheat supplied to the mills.
''The jobbers expressed willing
less also to contract that their hand
ing margins should not exceed the
,rice fixed on an agreed basis, thus
making Immediately effective a low
r retail price of flour when made
" the mills on a readjusted wheat
'asis.
"The bakers are willing to enter
nto a contract by which they would
effect at once in their products the
over price of flour effective by the
rills. In this way, down to the re-
all trade, there is thought to be an
ssurance that a reduced price of
,heat should be effective immediate
Y all down the line.
Growers Ready To Sell.
"Some of the Western Delegates
expressed the view that certain sec
ions of the producing wheat country
ad developed a sentiment that wheat
ext year might be worth more than
he guaranteed price in the open
but the general view was
hat the crop promised so we'll that
ny Withholding from the market un-
er such sentiment would be unap-
reciable in the total volume and that
lost growers would be ready to mar
ct at the guaranteed price, thus
narply reducing the present price of
heat and facilitating a lower flour
rice with the new crop movement.
''New wheat will be moved in Tex [
S in thirty days and from the pres
Mt outlook in six weeks more they
ill commence a very large move
lent of new winter wheat. In order ]
nat seaports and interior markets
lould not be choked by congestion i
nd blockade, the general opinion was
lat the grain corporation should con- I
nue. the cooperative control with (
le Railroad Administration Of the
lovement of cereal and cereal pro- ]
ucts into all the markets by all the
ermit system of car shipping.