The sun., 1919-02-22
Cheaper Bread Abroad Than Here.

Cheaper Bread Abroad Than Here.
II a private corporation had In Its
grip all the country's wheat, and II
there was more of the wheat than
could possibly be used, what should
the people think Of that corporation
II, in spite OF such a glut Of wheat.
it made them pay famine prices for
their bread? What should the people
want to do to that grasping private
corporation?
In this country there are some 450,-
10000 bushels Of wheat. The United
States Grain Administration holds
more than 15O,0OO,OO0 bushels of it.
The rest Is ut the -four mills, in the
grain terminals and elevators and Oh
the farms. But, except for such
wheat as can be exported, the Gov
eminent is the potential owner of all
the wheat because the Government Is
pledged to buy on the basis Of S2.26
a bushel every bushel Of wheat that
comes from the farms. Any exces-
sive price that the public Is compelled,
to pay for its bread. therefore, is
gouged out Of the public. in fact, by
the United States Government.
Between now and the time when the
1010wheat crop begins to come in there
is no chance that the existing 49,
100000 bushels Of wheat can be dis
v1oeaJ of ai<har 70 doo,octic mr. IN FOR.
eign consumers. A home consumption
of 100000 bushels n month would
be unusually large. But If the Amer
lean people did consume $4,000, 900
bushels month between now and the
first day of next July, when there will
be hundreds of millions Of bushels Of
the new crop In sight and on the way
to market, even such liberal consumpl
ton would take care of only O,0O0,-
600 bushels of the $4,000, 900 bushels
which the Government holds or must
take when 1t is offered to it.
If this country could export be-
tween now and the first day Of July
an average of 25,0OO,OOO bushels of
wheat a month 1t would be doing
wonders, because Australia and the
Argentine are both exporting their
surplus wheat at export prices far be-
low even our $226 farm price. But
If we did manage, between now and
the first day of July. to ship O.00O..
600 bushels of wheat out of the coun.
try, there would still be left on the
hands Of the Government more than
15O,OOO,O0O bushels.
There seems little doubt, in truth
that the wheat carry-over will be near
er 20O.0OO,OO0 bushels than 10000,
900 bushels. And right on top Of that
unless billiards blast and drought
wither the unexampled new crop o
1919, there will come to market surely
another billion bushels perhaps bill
ion and a quarter of bushels Thel
there will be on this side Of the waite
such a surplus Of wheat as the worl,
never called for in peace or in war.
Yet because the Government, unde
Its promise to the farmers. must pa,
for every bushel Of 1t 1925, Il Is still
proposed in the name Of the Govern
ment that the American people. burie'
under wheat, shall be compelled {
buy their bread on the old basis o
1925 for wheat. When the Govern
ment should release the overabundan
wheat to the consuming public unde
the law of supply and demand, 50 tina
the people might have cheap bread,
10 still proposed in the name Of th
Government that the American loa
shall remain a famine loaf.
II the United States Governmer
persists In this determination to mai
the American people pay more fo
their bread than the rest of the worl
will pay for Its bread, what must
expect the people will think of II
What must It expect the people wi
want to do to Il?