The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1920-10-21
THE FARMER AND WHEAT.

The farmer today is confronted by
serious problem that promises to-
drive him out of the wheat growing
end of game, if not ruin him entire
| ly, as is threatened in many instances.
During the period of the war, he was
urged to grow wheat for the starving
world and he did not fail US, altho-
the price he received for his wheat
was restricted. There is no question
but what he would have received q
much higher price for his wheat had
the restrictions not been placed on the
price. But he did what he considered
was his patriotic duty. The cotton
planters had no such restriction of
price and he made a nice profit dur
ing the war and since. No. l Dark
Northern wheat is $1.86 per bushel on
the Minot market today and it may go
even lower.
An appeal has been made to the
President to cause an investigation to
be made to ascertain the reason for
the sharp decline in the price of
wheat. It is believed that by heading
off the Canadian wheat, the matter
will be partially solved. Canada is
said to have 24O,O00,OOO bushels of
wheat for export, much Of which has
already been marketed in the states.
By reason of the difference in ex-
change, amounting to about Is per
cent, the Canadian farmer can afford
to accept less for his wheat than the
farmer from the States. 1t may be
that the big Armour interests have
had their hands in reducing the price
hn h0
dition is generally regretted by all
North Dakotans, businessmen as well
as farmers. The farmers had been
urged by McGovern and others to
hold their wheat for $500 which they
firmly believed that they would in
time receive. Many who could have
sold for IS or 70 cents more than they
can get today, have held their wheat
instead. North Dakota farmers stand
to lose millions Of dollars if the price
does not again advance.
Commenting on the situation, the
St. Louis Globe-Democrat says:
"The problem is not an easy one to
solve That the process of restor-
alton to stable conditions is bound to
bring losses of some extent in all
lines of production and industry, is
not to be doubted. We cannot get
back to normal prices without sacri-
flee, yet we must all realize that get
ting back is essential, and, indeed, in,
evitable There is no law of man
that can prevent it. And the return
is bound to be uneven, affecting some
lines of industry sooner than others,
and some more than others, according
s the currents Of supply and demand
may run. But granting all this, the
situation of the farmers demands SER
ious thought, and any action in their
behalf that is wise and right. AS
much of this condition arises from
the handicaps to foreign shipments, it
would seem to be Of primary import
ance that some remedy be found for
these impediments, some way to open
I'D the natural outlets for our surplus
products, and thereby respond to that
great demand that undoubtedly ex-
lists. This is the obvious remedy, yet
we know that to apply it is not easy.
How to establish workable basis
of foreign credit is deep and COM
plicated problem, but if we are to
maintain our export trade it must
somehow be done, or we shall be con-
fronted with grave disaster. 1t
brings home to US with emphasis the
fact that we cannot live within our
selves; that the prosperity of those
peoples in Europe is essential to our
prosperity; and we shall be forced by
our own needs, if no other influence
will suffica to holm them IN ropain