The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-09-06
CRAINMEN MAKE
100000 OFF
FARMER, CHARGE
Secretary Taylor, Of State
Federation, Alleges Prof.
teering in Wheat Handling.

INDIANAPOLIS, Sept g. Indiana
formers are "out" about 100000 on
their wheat crop Of some 100000
bushels. This was the declaration to-
day OF officials of teh Indiana Fedora
ton OF Farmers Associations, in an
nouncing that the Federation Is plan
ming to 60 after and retrieve the loss
We are going to get that money, or
know the reason why" said Lewis
Taylor, general secretary of the FEEDER
alton, In a statement outlining the sit
uation. Here Is another case where
the farmer, as producer, Ia being
trimmed on one side, while the public,
as consumer. Is being held up for the
usual high prices on the other side.
We are going to correct the situation
II there is any way possible to do SO.
This, in a nutshell, ts what has
happened. The United States Grain
Corporation fixed wheat prices as fol-
lows: No. red winter wheat, $239h
per bushel; No 2, $236h; and No. 3,
s2.32A: all prices at New York, or
$2.26, $2.23 and s2.19 respectively at
Chicago. The farmers do not get
these prices. They stand the expense
OF getting the wheat to market, this
expense including 1873 cents per
bushel freight charges to New York,
where most Indiana wheat goes. and
handling charges, which should be
about cents per bushel.
De- .rs' "Rake orr Cents
indiana farmers selling wheat for
New York havN Oeen getting, as a gen.
eral thing. only $211 bushel at In
dianapolis for just as good whest as
10 {v1 H.
ing for Chicago have been getting
only $2.05 or thereabouts for No /
wheat. These figures show that deal
ers are getting, roughly, 1872 cents per
bushel for handling wheat. Our con.
tention is, that is cents too much,
and on a wheat crop of 40,000.00O
bushels Indiana farmers are losing
about 100000.
1--WE believe that when the prices
were fixed It wac intended that the
producers should receive their fair
share, but we are convinced that such
hac not been the result. Dealers have
taken an avsrage of about five cents
bushel mere than they are properly
entitled to receive.
Tho public has not benefited one
cert, while we have been trimmed
FIVE cents a bushel on our wheat, be
cause -four prices are based on the
standard fixed prices, and not on the
prices paid to US farmers. Here is
one Of the kinds Of prof,tesrfng that
will have to be eliminated before there
can be much reduction in the high
cost Of living"
Hope for Refund.
M. Taylor said that members Of the
Federation board are now considering
plans whereby they hope to force a
refund, or rather an added payment,
on wheat sold at SILL for New York,
and S2.05 for Chicago. They believe
they can establish the fact that hand,
ling charges have been agreed on by
Indiana grain dealers and made uni.
f<"m, to the detriment of the farming
interest
They also declare they can show
that the prices they have been receiv
ing are by no means fair reflections OF
the New York and Chicago. The Fed
eration's files contain numerous cases
reported by farmers throughout the
state, from Crown Point to Rockport
showing unfair treatment Indiana
dealers, according to Federation Off
Gals, are taking about five cents a
bushel in profit to which they are not
entitled.
Attention is being called by the
Federation to another method in
which the producer is trimmed while
the consumer goes ahead paying high
prices. Wheat that has been shrivel
ed by the heat has been brir ging the
farmer about SITS, and then used If
making the best patent flours which
in turn sell at prices based on the
$3.50 wheat price. Federation leaders
are planning action to stop this sort
of thing, they say