Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1919-03-03
Washington is Discussing
Governments Dilem-
ma on Wheat Prop
0sition.
WILSON IS POPULAR
Business Doing it's Best to
Get Back to Normal
Conditions.
BY ]. Il. JONES.

Of wheat up to August 1, 1919, the
European countries exclusive of
Russia and Germany's allies, will
need 575,000,000 bushels. The esti-
mated surplus stocks of wheat in
Argentine, Canada, Australia and the
United States, which are the princi-
pal wheat producing countries, will
he approximately 7OS,OOO,OOO bushels.
However, this seeming world sur
plus would be consumed in sixty days
by the other peoples Of Europe and
Asia, who, as u result OF the war,
are underfed, and in many places to-
day starving. Undoubtedly, if the
United States government were to
put a ban on the exporting and i'm
..plusS Of 267,OOO.OO0 we're allowed a
free market within our own bound
ries, the price Of wheat and of wheat
! -four would drop to or below its pre-
war level, but this is economically
unfair because the farmers would be
bankrupt, who, on representation of
the government, have invested large
amounts at high prices in seeds, labr
and machinery for the purpose of
stimulating and increasing prOduc-
ton as far as possible. Also, wheat
production would fall off, and the
anticipated surplus would not become
real surplus.
On the other hand, in order to pro-
vide jobs for everyone, the war be-
ing over, it is necessary to have
cheaper raw materials, greater pro-
duction, and some people believe, a
cost of living very much lower with
the resultant decrease in the wage
scales. Cheaper wheat would help to
bring about this condition.
1t is very hard to reconcile the
two points of view, but in one case,
the war worried people of Europe
would be aai1d upon to undergo a
great trivation and perhaps s'arv.i-
IlON bccluSC OuI SSlliSu
Keep Faith With Both.
In the second case, our farmers as
a class would become bankrupted at
the expense of the industry of the
country. 1t is very evident that the
people of Europe must be fed at any
cost; that the farmers guarantee OF
$2.26 per bushel for wheat must be
fulfilled, and that the cost OF our
basic food product must, through
freedom of movement, reach price
as determined by supply and demand.
These three needs can be met by the
passing of the bill which is before
congress at the present time, and
which provides that the government
appropriate $1,25O, 100000 and pur-
chase at the guaranteed price of $2.26
per bushel at Chicago the total
wheat supply; that the surplus
needed for Europe be sold at such
price as will be set by an interna-
tiOnal grain commission. Then after
setting aside "carry-over' supply
for our needs, let further imports or
exports be prohibited, and let the
grain have a free market and thus
ACQUIRE real value. This would
tend in some way to reduce the price
OF flour and wheat products to the
consumer and thus to the extent that
II is vital factor in the cost of liv-
ing. the cost of living would be re-
duced and c0nquently wages.
The difference between the guar
anteed price paid by the government
and the real value of the wheat i'll the
open market would result in loss,
but this loss could be made up out
Of the national treasury through tax
alton on the public where 1t belongs
rather than upon the farmer or the
consumer. This would also not in
yolve taking our, total grain supply
at the expense of the people OF Eu-
rope where no wheat crop is avail
able. and where people are starving.
In other words by the taxation
method, the loss would be more
equally distributed and the greatest
good would come to the greatest num-
Der not only here but in Europe.
Business Beating Back
A statement from the department
of labor says that 1.-THE enlightened
business men of America know that
it is impossible to come back to the
conditions of 1913 when the rest of
the world is living in 1910" The in
timation accompanies the statement
that a lot of our business men are
short on nerve A sort of psychology
cal state has become general and ii
has induced Unity.
Secretary of Commerce Redfeld
has taken affirmative action to induce
business to ''go ahead" He declares
that the slow economic process Of al