The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-04-23
\ Monster Wheat Crop.

! winter wheat crop Of the United
! States indicates the greatest produce
! ton in The history Of American
planting. The enormous bulk 01 clSht
hundred thirty-scvcu million bushels
Of the grain. This. it is pointed Out.
is two hundred fotty-eiGht mliloh
bushels more th:lsi waS produce III
ihc winter crop Of last year ana one
hundred iifty-two million buShels
more than in the winter crop OIL
1914 which was the previous n
record. In the one case it repl:-
scnts an increase Of forty-four and
in the other of twenty-five per cent IN
volume. Considering the incentive TO
production last year and the stlmu-
luS which was given to the planning
of food crops, the record OF nearly
onc-half again brought forth this
year is remarkably impressive.
This great production of an essen
tia grain cannot but give cheer TO Il
hungry world. The food supplies Of
Europe arc. Of. course. running low.
for there has been practically no op-
portunty yet for production since the
period Of the war. Central and per
hapS. Eastern Europe. have probably
planted less than during war years.
because, OF the general breakdown Of
organization and the unrest and de-
moralization consequent upon the mil
itary collapse. II has been stated un-
til quite recently that the grain pro-
duction of America and other parts
of the earth over which the war has
not trampled would make large
surplus this year. assuring susten-
;,ncc to the hungry peoples, but lately
there has been an expression Of doubt
us to this and estimates have lndl-
Gated Il rather close margin between
demand and supply. The forecast OF
the American wheat crop must re-
store confidence in the sufticiency Of
bread material for the worlds ne
cessitieS.
1t is Il strange commentary and an
unhappy circumstances that the cOun-
try whose rich soil and human energy
have brought forth such an- abundant
food supply should still have to pay
for wheat q price nearly double that
Ut which it may be bought in coul-
tries Of Europe which have. for four
.earS depended and still depend upon
the yield OF our fields for food. The
law Of supply and demand, which
would operate to give the people
cheap flour, in view OF this immense
crop Of wheat coming into sight. is
effectively suspended by the govern
- > IA, Il
10 the growers Of grain. That the
guarantee should be kept rs far as
the producer is concerned is we'll
enough. since it was largely under this
that the great crop was grown and
produced. but that the consumer
should get no advantage from the
condition is not merely unfortunate
but ine&cusable. The government.
while guaranteeing the war price Of
wheat TO the producer should like
wise guarantee the peace price to the
consumer, liquidatinS the difference
over the whole body OF the popula-
ton by the process of buying at the
price it fixed last year all the Amer
lean wheat and selling It ut the
worlds market price to the Ameri~
can people. accounting the loss part
Of the cost of the war. Not only IS
this important of itself in the saving
it would constitute in the cost OF
bread to the people Of the United
States. but it would be the most eff
fectivc measure possible to take to-
ward inducing a downward course III
the whole range Of living cost, cspe-
cially in the item of food.
a correspondent of the Me- York
Times. in a long discussion of c"ndi-
tons in Central Europe, state that
In the opinion Of the la!a. sHperts,
the high rate Of unemployment pay
and strikes for higher wages are due
much more 10 the high cost Of food
than to any definite working class
movement If food were cheapened
these questions would settle them
selves" This conclusion may we'll be
taken rs a general law. applicable to
ver-proSpcrous and highly victorious
nations as we'll us TO the defeated and
suffering. There is no lack of food in
the t,nitcd States aDG certainly no
lack OF money yet the problem Of
paving lOf IOpfi 6ilu OtIicl llcCcSSi illcS
Of living may be operating as surely
in Germany The problem is more
real than apparent but it is bound
TO become visible an" sensible at the
first recession from resent eX
travagant measure of prosperity. In
the face OF this condition. it is re-
mark;,ble that there should be lack
ing the prcscicnce Of craftsmanship
to move employment Of the opporllin-
ity presented by the wheat situation
10 begin the downward trend OF
food prices which would inevitably
follow Il suspension of the prevail
ing immunity to the law of supply
and dcm:n(j which alone keeps up
he whole Observation-Disclosures
Post
AnnaaI to The Oil Mills