The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1919-10-13

J- II. DdIIeS, pIeSluelll VI tIe lcueIdI
grain corporation met and talked with
the wheat growers and gave them
some valuable information Mr..
Barnes denied, flatly, the sensational
charges made by Miles Cannon, agri-
cultural commissioner of Idaho. His
talk and the action of the meeting.
although taking a great deal of space,
are here given as they are of such
Importance and interest to the farm
ers of this section A report of what
occurred in Spokane follows:
At the luncheon, Mr.. Barnes was
introduced by Chairman j. K. Nc
Cornack as one of the dollar-a-year
men to whom the country owed much.
Mr. Barnes said in part:
Dislikes Price Fixing
81 do not believe in government
price fixing. | was not consulted as
to what was done by congress and
am simply carrying out instructions.
There is popular misconception that
you can interfere with the laws Of
supply and demand by legislation.
You can not.
"The grain corporation may be
pointed to as an instance of success
ful price fixing. 1t is not 1t is a
gigantic monopoly sanctioned by law
which, during the war, operated sue
cessfully to control the price of wheat.
Immediately the war was over, its
control ceased.
''That the grain corporation has
been successful in its task of pro-
tecting both consumer and producer
and at the same time stimulating the
agricultural industry, | submit is
shown by figures.
Wheat Price During War
Agricultural products in 1910 were
worth $6,000,0 100000, in 1914, $10,00O,-
100000 and in 1918, $21 900, 900, ,OO0
AS to the protection of the consumer,
wheat has increased in cost on an
average of 166 per cent while flour
has increased only 118 per cent and
bread only rs per cent. This test may
be applied to other grains
During the war the grain corpor-
alton handled five and a half billion
dollars worth of wheat. Two billions
of this was handled overseas and that
which we sold to our allies was with
out a cent of profit On such as we
charging a profit inasmuch as they
WSiC SHei SiiS US lile HlSueSI price
for their ships.
Sees Economic Rocks Ahead
"Now word as to the economic
For the last four years we
nave had an easy time as to foreign
5rade conditions. We have had an
enormous credit balance. The ma
ions of Europe were too busy at war
% do anything else. They are get
ing busy again and soon we will be
,acing different condition The
irst of this month the ships of the
world again became free for immi-
grafton purposes and there are mil
ions of Europeans who want to come
o this country. Between foreign
market competition and foreign immi
grafton we face a condition that is
serious and that may be upon US
within six months | have, however,
very faith in American organization,
,enius and inventiveness and believe
he question will be solved"
At this juncture those not especial
y interested were given the oppor-
unity to leave and Mr.. Barnes spent
he next two hours answering ques-
ions, most important among which
we're those of A. A. Elmore, president
f the Washington farmers union.
Replies to Idaho Attack
Mr.. Houses also spoke and Mr..
Barnes then took up the attack of
Niles Cannon, Idaho agricultural
'As to his statement;
'Wilfully and maliciously violat-
ng provision of the United States
rain standard act and grading the
7heat production of Idaho and other
tates entirely in the interest of the
niller and not the producer 1t is
iolation of law and business ethics
or any grain buyer to assume the
light to grade and inspect grain
yhen his personal interest lies in re-
ucing the grade to the lowest pos
ible level
The grain corporation has moth
lg to do with the grain standards
nd those standards are administered
y the bureau of markets under the
xpress authority of congress- The
that the grain corpor-
ton, because it buys in the national
lterest, is interested in any way in
epressing the grade on its pur-
hases is unworthy of any fair
lind"
Ayers Direct Falsehood
Again quoting Mr. Cannon:
" 1T is contrary to law and ethics
II any officer to dictate the price
any commodity wherein his per-
1nal interest lies in dispossessing
lie producer of his property at the
west possible level and at the same
me exact the higest possible price
.O,,o tha oOnc11p,ay,
This is a re-statement of a self
7ident fact, but again the insinuation
lat the grain corporation has any
terest in either buying or sell
g at a profit is also. unworthy of a
enial. The statement that violating
e law when they insist that millers
lall charge the freight and COM
issions on wheat from interior
,ints to the terminal mills when
is wheat is ground into flour and
sposed of to the consuming public
the immediate vicinity where
own and upon which no