Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-02-28
To The Farmers of North Dakota:
Editor The Herald:

To h Farmers OF North Dakota:
Editor The Herald:
One reason advanced by the cham
Der Of m for h fall in the
price of wheat is that last years sup
ply exceeded the demand. 1t is a
thing in this, but that is their argu-
ment, and If that were an element
| which determined the decline in the
market value of wheat, then limita-
ton of production is essential to our
own preservation.
In the papers we read that the
cotton and wooden mills of the east,
ators' Of coal mines have cut down
production from one-half to one-thlrd
Of their normal output.
Substantially the same practise is
carried on in the lumber industry and
especially in the manufacture Of ma
chinery. In other words. big business
cuts down production in order to keep
up prices. H.
Now l do not advocate that we so
as far as the. coal magnates in fleec-
ing the people of untold millions OF
profit. But I maintain that we, as
farmers, should. learn a lesson from
other industries with whom we have
to do business, II curtail production
on our. farms to conform to the needs
| ana u6lIldNuS VI l1lC P0DIAS 81 oo "
guard against overproduction and the
resulting low prices and losses to U
business.
The wheat gamblers say: Let the
farmers attend to their knitting and
produce more, leaving the marketing
business to u.s." I believe it is high
time to bring intelligence into our W
) business and look after the marketlng
! problem as we have never done. be-
fore. There is little use to ak about
increased production unless there is a
profitable market for the things pro-
duced.
Farm hands are, still looking for
high wages for the coming season;
machinery is as high as ever and
grain and live stock are far below
the cost of production.
In the face of..these facts it will
simply be suicidal to keep on and
go to the expense of putting all our
ground into crop this year. Let us
not sow any moro wheat than we
can take care of without hired help.
Let us adopt h method OF other in
dustries and u down our acreage
at least one third.
II the farmers of North Dakota
will do this 1t will be heralded all over
this country and -the result will be
more none for a two-thirds crop
than for a full crop besides our ex
penses will be. greatly
And more than this, we will have
a splendid opportunity of summer
following, resting, c~ultivating, and
cleaning up our wheat-sick, weedy
farms that have been over cropped
during these years when we have beer
urged to produce to Our utmost.
I believe I know something of the
feelings Of the average farmer. !
am thoroughly convinced that we viii
not stand the great injustice done
to us any longer. If something II
not done soon and effectively done tc
check this ruinous commercial piracy
that is we'll nigh reducing us tc
slavery, tho farmers will be driven
to his last recourse-the reduction Of
production and expenses, to the patch
ing Of his overall q little more, eatipa
what ne produces himself and buying
nothing.
Farmers, hold your grain in your
bins as long as possible. Curtail pro
duction next year to the minimum
and we will have better prices com
ing. ~
NAME WANTED.
A few weeks ago there was publish