The Lamar register., 1920-02-11
WASHINGTON NEWS
Gronna Declares Farmers Lost Two
Billions-GOvernment Interfer-
ence With Wheat Blamed.

washington, reD- l1.-t0peclai cor
respondence) - Declaring that the
grain farmers of the United States
lost $4,000, 100000 because of govern
ment interference with wheat, and that
the price of bread would be not more
than 2 cents per loaf cheaper if the
farmers hauled their wheat to the mills
and gave it to the millers without a
penny of compensation, Senator AISLE
j. Gronna, of North Dakota, Chair
man Of the Senate Agriculture Com
mittee, himself farmer, has announc-
ed his intention to move for the re-
peal Of the law under which the Unit
ed States Grain Corporation is now
acting. Senator Gronna said, in part:
LET me say at the outset that if
the farmers of the United States
would give the wheat to the miller for
nothing there could not be a differ
ence Of more than cents on a pound
loaf of bread, based upon existing
prices. l 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. It 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"
After calling attention to propagan-
da designed to induce farmers to sell
their wheat in anticipation of drop
In prices, Senator Gronna continued:
81 have here a map which shows
that on the list of November, or about
the time when Mr.. Barnes announced
the embargo was to be Withdrawn.
wheat was worth $500 a bushel.
"On the 18th of November, when
the embargo was withdrawn. wheat
was SO bushel, and on the 18th of
December It had advanced to S3.40 a
bushel, and later on to 1855 a bushel,
showing that the embargo did affect
the price Of wheat. As Mr.. Barnes
stated before our committee, it was his
purpose to keep it down. As l said,
] am not criticizing him for il, be-
cause he was following the instruc-
tions Of the President of the United
States to keep down the price Of wheat
If possible; but do object to a pro-
paganda being conducted by officials
Of the Government and by the grain
IN lra h
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 ac-
count Of the shortage of cars.
"They are trying to make the peo-
pie believe that just as soon as the
existing law expires wheat is bound
to go down. dissent from that
statement. We know that all of
Europe needs grain; that is needs
more than we can supply. In con-
nection with the propaganda carried
on now to elect Mr.. Hoover President
there is a movement for the purpose.
/ assume, of showing the women of
the country what great efforts Mr..
Hover is making to cheaper the cost
of bread. Let me tell you what has
already happened. The reduction in
the acreage sown to grain last fall was
40 per cent. What will happen to the
spring wheat crop under existing con-
ditions? We are discouraging the
wheat farmers from producing Labor
is costing them three or four times
as much as it did before the war, and
yet we are 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 to
fix a minimum price for grain. but.
after getting into power he made the
minimum price the maximum price,
a betrayal Of the confidence Of the
Senate.