American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1922-01-13
If The Buyer Is Broke And
Has No Credit The Farmer
Cannot Sell His Produce.

0C6E 44GS 4
We have been chasing economic wil-of-the-wisns
afoundtn globe and back again since the war ceased
IN an effort to solve. the agricultural problem. We
nave olamed big business, little business, surtaxes,
excess profits taxes, inheritance taxes and common
ordinary federal, state and municipal taxes for all
our troubles. In turn We have attacked the grain
gamblers at Chicago, the protective tariff, the duty
Tree hsts, the SPECTATORS and the grain buyers.
Our government officials have in. turn been
scape goats, honored public servants and betravers
OF the public confidence. We have asked for myriad
forms OF legislation, new cooperative marketing laws,
extension of financial credit to our friends and then
to our enemies, a four power treaty and agreement
TO reduce armament, and prevent future wars, a new
congress or no congress at all. So on and on, have we
floundered around trying to legislate correction of
economic evils that beset our greatest, industry, agri-
culture.
Out of the maze of reasons Offered as the cause
Of our present economic agricultural condition the
following figures and statistics arise, the Press be-
lleves, as the great reason for the ever flying signal
OF distress. Consider them.
Before the war in 1914 the Russian ruble was
worth approximately SOC. 1t is now worth nothing.
1t requires $4,000 rubles to purchase a SOC meal. The
German mark was worth 25c in 1914. 1t is now worth
10 OF a cent. French frank was worth zoe in 1914.
IL is now worth approximately 6 cents. An Italian
lire was worth zoe in 1914. 1t is now worth approx
lmately 5 cents. The English pound was worth S4.85
IN 1914. 1t is now worth 1888. In other words the
people OF Russia, nearly 200,000,00 0 of them, can buy
nothing, for their money is worth nothing. Every
time the German buys a dollars worth of goods of the
United States Farmer he must pay three hundred
dollars for it. His money is worth very little to any,
one. When France buys our wheat she must pay
1888 for every dollars worth she buys. Italy pays at
an even higher rate and even Great Britain must paw
us about $625 In her money for every five dollars
worth she buys of us.
The condition then is that the millions and mil
hons OF people who formerly bought the produce of
our farmers have nothing to pay with. They cannot
buy. We canot sell. And if we cannot sell we cannot
produce. In the face of these figures we cannot
blame any condition at home for our dilemma. It is
a condition that no doubt will take years to provide a
real remedy. Perhaps only a natural lengthy read
justment will repair the damage wrought by the de-
molition of a great part of the worlds resources.
Some financial wizard may happen ONO a solution.
The wholesale cancellation of debts might help. 1t is
a world problem.
Consider also the following figures:
An ounce of gold in the United States purchases
1922 hours of labor. In Great Britain it purchases
50.16 hours, in Japan $3.50 hours, in France 1871
peasant in present circumstances could afford to
work for six months for an ounce of gold and then
would probably be envied by his neighbors.
In these circumstances how are we to compete with
foreign production and labor on anything like equal
terms.
Before this exposition of figures, our woes melt
TO lnflnlty. Compared to the people of Europe we
are living IN health, wealth and happiness beyond
their conception. Like the man from Los Angeles we
should be prepared for either heaven or hades. We
are prepared for heaven because we have lived in the
great United States of America, We should not OBJ
Ject now If our spirit goes to hades for while on earth
we lived IN a heaven far beyond the dreams of mil
lions of our fellow beings.