Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1920-10-21
BAER AND WHEAT PRICES.

Last June j. NJ. Baer, Mr.. Town
ley's congressman for the First
North Dakota district, was over-
whelmingly defeated for denomination
by o. b Burtness. 1t was decided
for MI. Baer that he should mako
the race Notwithstanding, and his
name appears on the ballot Al an in
dividual nomination, against the reg
ular nominee, Mr. Burtness. Just
now the Townley press is telling the
farmers that Baer is the man who
got the price Of wheat fixed in 1917.
Mr.. Baer's ignorance on the sub
ject Of wheat and wheat prices was
and is profound. When the minimum
price Of wheat was fixed by a gov
eminent committee in 1917, Mr.. Baer
didn't know how it was done, nor did
he give any evidence of knowledge
that it was being done. His activity
in the matter was confined to a state
ment in a Washington newspaper in
which he said: 1.-The farmers have
a saying. Well stick but if they
don't treat US right we'll strike"
When the announcement was made
In the hummer Of 1917 that the price
fixing committee was about to fix a
price which the government would
guarantee for wheat a committee
consisting of nine men from Pembina,
Grand Forks, Cass and Barnes coun-
ties. all engaged extensively In actual
farming, went to Washington to
state the position of the wheat grow
ers of the northwest, and to aid in
obtaining equitable treatment for
them. These men, by the way, left
their work at a busy time and paid
their own expenses. They wired to
DE-. Laid a member of the federal
committee, former Governor Burke.
then United States treasurer, and the
members of the North Dakota con-
zresstonal delegation, asking these
gentlemen to meet and confer with
them. All responded except Congress
man Norton, who was out of the city.
and Congressman Baer, who was in
Washington. but who failed to re-
spond and who failed to display in
terest at any time in the visit of the
committee or the task on which it
was engaged.
Inc North Dakota committee asked
Tor a hearing before the price fixing
committee. but a rule had been made
against such hearings. Eventually
Or. Garfield, chairman of the price
fixing committee, met with the farm
ers committee and he was 40 inn
pressed with the presentation Of the
cas- then made that he asked that a
brief on the subject be submit+ed.
I'M was done. Inc the government
committee became SO interested that
Y that the North Dakota men
send q representative to go into the
subject further. The farmers, rom.
mittee delegated this duty to J. n
Bacon, Of Grand Forks, who an
were numerous Questions and a,,p-
Piled further information. He re-
pudiated utterly on behalf OF hiroaah
and his associates and the fa,m.r.
GENERALLY the threat Of q farmers.
ssrike which had been made by Mr..
Haer. and said that the farmer. =,
northwest were prepared to do
s~everything within their power to
setrengthen the hands Of the nation
s1crsshes great wal, and to supply the,r
s1nii quota Of wheat, money and men.
He declared that they asked oniy for
A1tr, equitable treatment ON the basis
ate asesFFtained facts.
saarsntss va fixed 1t 500
$500 of the ,l.s4 which q ~
Z - favored IN the COMMITTEES.
ps1aAd. = : special representative
~ - prtcs-ftxlps committss, ap-