The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1920-11-18
FARMERS STRIKE
AGAIN THREATENED
CALL SENT OUT TODAY FOR
100000 FARMERS TO HOLD
FOR HIGHER PRICES.

81
FOR HIGHER PRICES.
Kansas City, Mo.-(By A. Po-l
nationwide producers strike to com
bat the falling prices of farm pro
ducts is urged in call sent out toda,
by the National Farmers Union Il
local unions throgh the ouuntry, re-
presenting producers of grain, cotton
wool and livestock, said to number
100000.
Blames Gamblers For Price Drop
COLUMBUS, Ohfo-(By A. P.)-
Blame for the slump in prices fol
farm products was laid at the doo1
of "well organized conspiracy on the
part of grain gamblers and some OF
the captains of finance" by O. G.
Smith of Nebraska, president of the
farmers national congress, in his
address at the opening session of that
body in annual convention here today
Mr.. Smith expressed the hope that
s'the congress of the United States
will indorse farmers in their refusal
to sell their products at loss"
It appeared the consensus of opin-
ion among speakers that the Ameri-
can Farm. Bureau Federation was, be-
cause Of its national scope, the organ
ization best fitted to protect the far
mer by seeing that he gets proper
return on his investment"
Endorses Our COngressman's Bill
Smith urged passage by congress
of the French bill, requiring labelling
of wooden goods as to virgin wool
content; the Kenyon bill to control
meat packers; urged restriction of
immigration; urged dismissal of
Louis F. Post, immigration commits
sioner, and praised the American Le-
gion for it's Americanization work
He condemned the Nolan bill, which
seeks to levy tax of l per cent on
farmers values in excess of $4,000.
Denies Combine Is Planned
CHICAGO-(By A. P.)-On behalf
of the farmers marketing committee
of II recently appointed by the Amer
lean Farm Bureau Federation, C. V.
Gregory, editor of a farm journal
here, today issued a statement deny
ing that the committee had ad-
opted any plan for marketing wheat.
Recent reports had said that the com
mittee, of which Mr. Gregory is a
member, was about to float a giant
wheat combine.
"The committee of II was appoint
ed to study grain marketing and work
out plans to prevent fluctuations in
prices, which are hardship both to
producer and consumer" he said.
Not Suggested
"No member of the committee has
suggested the formation of a grain
combine or trust The federal trade.
commission has not been asked for
advice as to the formation of any
combine
"The question of handling the grain
crop of 1921 through the Combine or
of contracting with growers to de-
liver their crops to such combine
for a period of five to seven years
has never been discussed by the COM
mittee, and no proposal that the gov
ernment be made a party to any
wheat combine has been made by
any member of the committee
Stable Prices Needed
Inc committee of II realizes the
public must not be asked to pay in
flated prices for grain, and in any
plans of grain marketing that may
be proposed. Unstable prices add to
the farmers expense of doing bust
ness and increase the cost of food to
the consumer. If some means can be
found to keep grain prices on fair
ly stable basis, both the producing
and handling costs will be reduced |
and both producer and consumer will
benefit.
Unrestricted speculation in grain
benefits no one but the speculator.
The elimination of undue speculation
will benefit the consumer as much
as the producer.
Drop Should Go to Consumer
"The committee of II believes, too,
that any drop in wheat prices should
be passed on to the consumer as
quickly as possible and that there is
something wrong in a distributing
system that compels Chicago con-
sumers to pay war prices for bread
when wheat is selling for more than
a dollar below war levels. It believes
there is something wrong, too, when
3 or cents worth, of wheat sells for
l3 cents in the form of bread.
s"The committee of IL is not trying
10 form a grain trust, but to find
some means of lowering the enormous
expense that is loaded on to the far
mer's products somewhere between
he farmers gate and the consumers
able"
Little American Wheat
Every bushel of wheat of contract
grade in chicago public elevators is
Canadian grown, except 1000 bushels,
according to official figures. The
;otal stock is only $4,000 bushels, Of I
which 1000 bushels is Canadian. The s
supply decreased 10000 bushels in I
he last week. y
Lack of accumulation of stocks of |
wheat, not only here but at other
connection the present small move L
nent from the hands Of farmers is H
special attention. t
Power Plant At Priest Rapids.