South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-06-15
DAYLIGHT SAVING
RECEIVES A JOLT
Fall Fertilizer Prices Likely to
be 80 Percent Lower
Than in Spring.

The daylight saving law received
another jolt when the house inter
state commerce committee voted fav-
ora bly, upon its repeal the last sun
day in October. The committee
sought 10 avoid repeal in midsum-
mer because Of the serious hardship
which might result at eastern indus
trial centers.
Further support of the farmers
opposition TO daylight saving was
proffered by the American Fedora
ton Of Labor when the annual con-
vention by a large vote refused TO
pass a resolution favoring the law.
The delegates held that a large body
Of laborinG men in common with the
farmers profit little by il. The fight
against repeal is led by the Mer-
chants association of New York and
other commercial bodies. and enjoys
the support of business, professional
and other salaried men in a larger
percentage than any other class. It
does not seem as If their protests
could outweigh the solid phalanx of
opinion arrayed against them.
Fertilizers Lower.
Mixed fertilizers for the fall OF
1919 should price 80 percent lower
than during the spring. according TO
the department of agriculture. This
announcement will give much salts
faction 10 the farmer. who feels that
eXtortion has been practiced at some
time in the past. The new prices will
apply in the territory north or Ar
kansas, Tennessee, Virginia, and
West Virginia Southern prices have
not yet been determined. The reduC-
tions noted here are based on S0-ton
lots BY publishing its forecast of the
coming market the department
hopes to overcome the wide yaria-
ton in prices charged by dealers last
spring
Commenting on the wheat guar
antee, Julius Barnes recently made
"A very significant statement concern
ing the future prices of agricultural
products. Ii reveals a keen under
standing Of the present economic
situation from the farmers point
Of-view. Mr.. Barnes said:
Those who would restore the
farm prices Of past years of depres-
sion in this era of increased prices
of labor, machinery, and all the sup
plies that farmers require would tend
10 throw the largest basic industry
OF America into confusion and de-
moralization that would reach far
beyond the confines Of the agricul-
tural class alone Mr. Barnes adds.
ITO think that an 4rtifcally depress-
ed price for wheat would be decisive
in reducing prices Of other foods is,
in my Judgment, pure theory and not
capable Of demonstration. On the
contrary could the old play of sup
ply and demand be reinstated, wheat
might easily soar to new heights.
because as food il has a superior
value, and a value under present
conditions Of desperate need that
may well give it a peculiar prem
ium."
Food Prices TO Stay Up.
These statements do not coincide
with the belief. entertained in some
quarters, that food prices will come
tumbling down after the great wheat
harvest. profoundly affecting the
whole price level. Herbert Hoover
estimates the European shortage
this year at around 100000, 900 bu-
shells, exclusive Of Russia. which may
yet enter the market, absorbing food
like a starved octopus. The Ameri-
can exportable surplus Of perhaps
AS. 100000 bushels, plus the Ca
madam, Australian, and Argentine
SURPRISES, aggregating 400. 900. 900
bushels will little more than I'LL the
urgent need. Many observers believe
the government will incur slight loss
under the price guarantee and do
not anticipate any immediate decline
In food nricns