Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1920-11-11
STUDY OF WHEAT
MARKET MADE BY
FARM SOCIETIES
Adjourned Monday to Meet
Again December Thirteen
DIR. Ladd Of Fargo Rep
resented North Dakota on
Committee Of Seventeen.

in Chicago by committee of seven
teen representatives of farm organi-
cations to consider possible means
of securing better prices for wheat.
The committee held its meetings
under the auspices of the National
Farm Bureau Association. 1t ad-
journed Monday to meet again. Dec.
13. It summoned experts in the
grain trade, as well as men posted
on the cost of grain production az
witnesses and secured much infor-
nation on various aspects of the
problem. The holding back Of wheat
on the farm is one means proposed
to increase its price and it is beliey-
ed this can be accomplished in the
seven principle wheat growing
states. DR.. Ladd of Fargo repre-
sented North Dakota on. the commit
tee of seventeen.
Notwithstanding the large crop Of
corn, the importation of Canadian
wheat, and the lack of buying power
in Europe, there is a prospect that
the price of the American surplus of
wheat will be higher. Receipts con-
tinue to be smaller than last year,
and traders in the grain pits admit
that the market is getting on do
mestic basis. There will be large
demand for cash wheat to fill export
contracts, and the American stocks
may be reduced to point that will
bring higher level of prices.
Grain exchanges of the country
are to be investigated and commit
tee, was appointed to file complaint
with the attorney general to make
public, the operations of grain ex-
changes in Minneapolis and Duluth.
An application by cooperative
grain company is before the Chicago
Board Of Trade for membership and
If the application is denied Attorney
General Palmer will be asked to
prosecute. 1t is declared that the
exchanges have discrimtnated
against farmers engaged in hand
ling grain. Tho Federal-Trade Com
mission was asked by the committee
TO Investigate the exchanges. The
committee will also Investigate fu-
ture trading in wheat and its effect
on the price. and whether it diacrim-
mates against farmers and is an aid
to stabilizing prices. The committee
Is working out its plans adopted at
earlier meetings for the organization
Of national cooperative grain and
stock marketing system. The en-
gagement Of two prominent econo-
mists to gather data on the market
ing system was authorized by the
committee at last weeks meeting.
Under the present system of un-
restricted production Of grain the
farmers are at the mercy Of others
in the fixing Of prices. and the way
It has generally worked the more
wheat American farmer raises the
worse OF he is, as over production
IL used to unnaturally depress
prices. Prices can be maintained by
reducing production.
Many grain men who are interest
ed in q profitable price for the pro-
duction Of wheat. have reached the
conclusion that farmers should hold
their grain until they get a price
that will cover the cost Of produc-
tton. Shoe manufacturers, cotton
mills, automobile makers. are SELL
ing their products and when the
market becomes overstocked they lay
OF their employees and reduce pro-
duction until the market is more de-
pleted. II farmers should cut down
their acreage one third next year; it
will enhance the price next fall,
Legislation at Washington will also
be called on to cut out the discrim-
ination in the grain trade against
the producers.