The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1920-07-15
CALLS WILSON
FARMERS FOE.
Report Issued Today Says
President Was Unfair
with Farmers.
PRICE-FIXING DEADLY

That the Wilson administration has
! discouraged agricultural production
is the charge made by the Republican
Publicity Association in q statement
issued today through its President,
Hon. Jonathan Bourne, Jr., discussing
that plank Of the Republican platform
which promises:
"An end to price fixing and ill-con-
sidered efforts arbitrarily to reduce
prices Of farm products which invari-
ably rersult to the disadvantage Of both
/ the producer and consumer
AS every farmer knows, the state
ment continues, practically every one
move of the Wilson administration
during the war relative to agricultural
products and prices tended to discour-
age production. For instance, Con-
gross passed a law guaranteeing not
| less than a certain price for wheat
| There was a universal understanding
that this was minimum price guaran-
teed by the Government to insure the
farmer against very great loss. The
Wilson dministratinstration, how
ever, made this minimum price the
maximum price through the licensing
system which gave it practical mo-
nopoly of the marketing of grain. The
result was that in almost every state
there were farmers who produced and
sold grain at less than the cost of
production. Of course, there were
many who made money at the price
fixed by the administration, but the
records show that there were also
thousands of farmers who sold their
grain at less than the cost Of produc
tion.
Democrats Fixed Prices.
The Republican platform is correct
in the assertion that price fixing and
arbitrary reduction of prices of farm
products result to the disadvantage of
both the producer and consumer. The
consumer may reap a temporary bene-
fit from the reduction Of prices paid
to agricultural producers, but such
reduction of prices must inevitably re
suit in diminution of production
with consequent lessening Of supply
and the ultimate increase in price due
to a demand which cannot be filled.
Far better would it be for the consum-
er if he paid an excessive price in the
beginning and encourage production
which would bring about an adequate
supply and reduce the price competi
ton among the producers.
Disseminated Against Farmers.
in other lines of industry than ag
1oJ1lF h. J,,,.R 4
q course opposite to that which it fol-
lowed in determining the price of farm
products. In large proportion of the
contracts for the manufacture Of var
ious commodities needed by the Gov
eminent during the war, from NUM-
tions to environments and ships, q cost
plus plan of determining the compensa-
ton was adopted. Thus the producer
of those commodities was given alb
solute assurance that he could sustain
no loss, for in any event the cost of
production was guaranteed to him and
by adding to that certain per cent
Of profit the Government encouraged
him to make his cost of production as
high as practicable. The administra-
ton took over the railroads and guar
anteed return on the property; it 4
took over a large number Of Industrial
plants under similar guaranty It
raised the wages of all city employees.
At the same time that it was doing
this, it was restricting the price that
could be obtained by the farmer for
his food products and making it more
difficult for him to obtain help to
plant, cultivate, and harvest his crops. |
The only instance in which the adj
ministration has by its act aided the
farmer in securing an increased price
for his products was in the case of |
Louisiana sugar Even in that in
stance the ruling of the department |
of justice was made in such way that |
it not only enabled the Louisiana pro
Queer to get higher price but it pract-
ically enabled every owner of sugar
wherever produced or at whatever
cost to exact the same high price
which the department fixed for the
Louisiana product"