Sioux County pioneer. (Fort Yates, Sioux County, N.D.) 1914-1929, 1919-10-09
MARKET SLUMP
seen IN 1920
thorough Organization Alone
Will Prepare Farmer for
Era Of Low Prices.

The farmer Is close to the end of the
high prices of war time and the old
struggle against monopolized or limited
markets and low prices is near, ac-
cording to the opinion Of many stu
dents of economic conditions through
out the country. Immediate intensive
organization, political and economic,
say these writer's, is the best prepara-
ton the farmers can make to meet
this condition.
Among variety Of reasons why
conditions will begin to grow worse in
1920, the following are some that have
been given:
The war price guarantees will all be
removed in 1920.
Argentina, Australia, Canada and
other farm competitors of the United
States will be everywhere in the world
markets with their immense quantities
of produce. rs
The war areas Of Europe by that
time will have approached normal
farm production.
Back to Monopoly.
Competition in the world markets
for the sale of farm products will be
keen under conditions where monopoly
and not governments ut war will be
the controlling factor.
The Forum of Spokane, WASH, de-
voted to the interests of the farmers
and labor, says that on account of so
called overproduction, unemployment
and glut in the market of farm
products, the farmers may face Scent
hogs and 70-cent wheat in the fall of
1920.
This paper says:
1T will startle many to know that
our own power to produce, with mod
ern tools, is so great that during 1917
and 1918, when we too were in the
war, when 100000 of our best men
were off the farm and out of the mills
and factories, we produced more of
every commodity, except cotton. than
we had ever done before; that we now
have the largest stock of hogs and
cattle on the farms; the largest sur
plus of grain in our history.
1--WE would now be in the throes of
unemployment and, general financial
disaster except for two causes: First,
an exaggerated idea of the great world
market now open to u.s., which in fact
is myth, as Herbert Hoover has
pointed~out recently by showing that
every European port is blockaded with
goods from our markets, but which the
people of Europe either do not need or
cannot buy. Second, feverish fear
that if our soldiers are not put to work
at once they may go Bolshevik.
Farm Stocks Increasing.
I'VE have just examined the United
States government reports for 1918
and quote from them a few compare
sons of stocks on hand. For instance:
Cows. .......2O, 49,, 600 2s,467,O0o
Stock cattle. .35, $4,000 44,399,OOO
Hogs. sc, $4,000 75,5s7,OOO
Production in iron in 1914 was 3d.
100000 tons; in 1918 100000. The
increase in the production of farm
products range from 10 to 100 per cent
increase and it is doubtful if 1919 will
equal 1914 in the volume of export
trade.
There is a possible shortage in q
few lines of manufactured goods, but
is in no wise alarming and can be met
in six months.
Industrial lines, especially metal
trade, are already slowing up and be-
fore spring there will be surplus of
labor. Idle labor has no purchasing
power. This will help to sharpen the
drive downward on farm products until
Scent hogs and 7O-cent wheat is an
easy possibility for the 1920 CROP
FARMERS URGED TO GROW