Republican farmer., 1919-02-14
keep Up PRICES,
farmers URGE
Products of Farms Should Be
Kept at Their War
Level.

Washington, Feb. 13-Organized Ia
Dor elements are not the only ones
that are working to keep the war time
level of compensation where it is.
Labor leaders have repeatedly served
notice that there must be no dimin-
ution Of wages now that peace has
ccme. But there are others who ara
taking the same position about the
things they have 10 sell.
Members from the agricultural
states are considerably perturbed by
demands which are beginning to come
in from their farmer constituents, in
sisting that the prices of farm pro-
ducts ought to be held up to their war
level and not allowed to go lower.
The argument is finding it's way into
some of the farm journals.
In support of the proposition, it is
argued that because of high wages,
1 high cost of materials, and the like,
the farmer must continue to get high
prices. Failing in that 1t is said
that in the first place there will grad
ually be serious diminution in pro-
America will tend to deteriorate.
Inasmuch as business men, manu-
facturers, mining interests, metal in
terests, and so on are fighting off
lowering of price levels, 1t can hardly
be maintained that there is any OBJ
iIquity in the farmer doing likewise.
However, it is unlikely that any
thing resembling a majority of con-
| gress can be induced to support this
doctrine. If it were 20 be supported
! and lived up to the ultimate con-
sumner, who has had hard Shedding
| thi ough the war in many ways, n ~
| be expected 20 emit loud protest. And
| there are enough members N con-
gress whu represent large co15+ituen-
c.es Of consumers to fight to the MI
against keeping up the prices Of agri.
| cultural products.
| 50 far rs the wheat guarantee II
concerned, that is an old obligation
as viewed by most members of con
| gress, which will have to be met. A
| that there is much opposition to eN
tending the gu rantee to sprint
wheat, which is not yet in th'
! ground.
Illustrating the tendency of pro
ducers to want prices kept up, it ap
pears that passage Of the wheat guar
antee bill may be much delayed
some think angered-because cot
ton state members are planning II
promote a rider to the bill to direc
that the government buy larg
amount of cotton in order to STABILIZE
and sustain cotton prices.
Such a plan will arouse strong an
tagonism in both houses, and it
conceivable that it might tangle VI
the wheat guarantee bill fatally
though it probably will not.
Outside of those members who hav
constituencies to a large extent in
| terested in keeping up prices aloni
certain lines, and more interests
in this than in consumption
prices there is a feeling in congress
that as a matter of fact prices canno
be kept up to near the wartime level
1t is felt there must be recession
in nearly all fields. Otherwise Their
would have to be a wide reorganiza
ton of standards of pay Of employees
in a great many lines. All persons OF
a salary or wage basis would hav'
to be highly paid in comparison witt
the pay of the ante-war period In or
der to make living for themselves
and families.
In connection with the talk Of keep
ing up prices of farm products, Their
is great interest among agricultural
lists in the future Of the American
merchant marine. Farmers are be
ginning to demand there be no sub
sidy to merchant shipping.
The theory is that to encourasa
foreign trade too much would meal
heavy importations Of Argentine
Australian, and other foreign graft
in exchange for American products
This would tend to hold down prizes
for foodstuffs and other agriculturs
products here.