The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1920-02-10
FARMERS LOST
TWO BILLIONS,
GR0NNA AYERS
Scion Will Ask Repeal Of Law
Creating United States Grain
Corporation; Attacks Inter-
ference.


the grain farmers of the United States
lost S2.OOO,OOGOOO because of govern
ment interference with wheat and
that the price of bread would be not |
more than cents per loaf cheaper
If the farmers hauled their wheat to
the mills and gave it to the millers
without penny of compensation,
Senator AISLE J. Gronna, of North Da-
kota, chairman of the senate agricul-
ture committee, himself farmer, has
announced his intention to move for
the repeal of the law under which the
United States grain corporation is
now acting, Senator Gronna said, in
part:
Let me say at the outset that if
the farmer of the United States would
give the wheat to the miller for moth
ing there could not be difference
of more than 2 cents on a pound loaf
of bread, based upon existing prices.
am making this statement in order
to inform the public that it is not the
price of the manufactured wheat
which is the cause Of the high price
of bread. II is evident that there is
propaganda going on for the pur-
pose of getting whatever grain may
be left, at a much reduced price, and
it will be absolutely Of no benefit to
the consumers"
Prices Climb Rapidly.
After calling attention to propagan-
da designed to induce farmers to sell
their wheat in anticipation of a drop
in prices, Senator Gronna continued:
II have here map which shows
that on the first of November or about
the time when Mr.. Barnes announced
the embargo was to be withdrawn,
wheat was worth $500 bushel.
"On the 18th of November, when
the embargo was withdrawn wheat
was s. bushel, and on the 18th of
December it had advanced to $40
bushel, and later on to $3.55 BUSH
el, showing that the embargo did af-
feet the price of wheat. AS. Mr..
Barnes stated before our committee,
it was his purpose to keep it down
AS said, am not criticising him for
it, because he was following the in
structions of the president of the I'm
tied States to keep down the price of
wheat if possible; but do object to
propaganda being conducted by Of.
ficials of the government and by the
grain SPECTATORS to make combina-
tons which will make it possible for
the gamblers in grain to move all this
grain or to ask that the grain shall be
moved. Let me tell you that mil
lions of bushels of this grain has been
sold that can not be delivered on &C
count of the shortage of cars.
Hoover Gets Bumped.
"They are trying to make the peo-
pie believe that just as soon as the
existing law expires wheat Is bound
to go down. l dissent from thai
statement. We know that all of Eur.
ope needs grain; that is needs more
than we can supply. In connection
with the propaganda carried on now
to elect Mr.. Hoover president there i:
"a movement for the purpose, assume
of showing the women of the country
what great efforts Mr.. Hoover is max
ing to cheaper the cost of bread. Let
me tell you what has already hap.
pened. The reduction in the acreage
sown to grain last fall was 40 pc,
cent. What will happen to the spring
wheat crop under existing conditions
We are discouraging the wheat farm
ers from producing Labor is costing
them three or four times as much a.
it did before the war, and yet we ar,
deliberately using great government
agency to hamper the grain industry
of the country"
In conclusion, Senator Gronna re
called that when the food administra
ton bill was under consideration, Mr.
Hoover said it was desired merely t.
fix minimum price for grain, but, at
ter getting into power he made tn
minimum price the maximum price
a betrayal of the confidence of tn
sAoafe