The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1922-03-02
FOREIGN MARKETS DO. NOT
SPELL PROSPERITY FOR
THE AMERICAN FARMER


The argument that the low prices
of farm products are due to lack
OF foreign markets is knocked into
smithereens by the report just is
sued by the Department of Com
merce upon the exports of bread
stuffs, etc, for the calendar year
of 1921.
So also is a quietus put to the
propaganda which has been so not
iceable recently to the effect that
! the American farmers hope of re-
gaining prosperity depends upon his
aligning himself with that group of
international Dangers free traders,
, Wilson league Democrats and i'm
porters who twang the one refrain:
you cannot sell abroad unless you
permit a flood of foreign goods to
swamp the American markets."
II there were anything except the
veriest twaddle to the foreign
market high prices" theory the ag-
ricultural sections OF the United
States would be wallowing in
wealth right now, instead of only
half a ump ahead of the sheriff
with a foreclosure notice.
According TO the official report
of the Department of Commerce up
on 1921 exports, the American
farmer exported 279.94S.601 bush
els OF wheat last year-60 millions
more than in 1920, twice as much
as in 1919. five times as much as
the five year average for 1909-13.
inclusive, more than in any previous
year with one exception). in the
history of the American agriculture.
The American farmer exported
| 129,054, sos bushels of corn last
year. against only 23 millions in
1920 and % millions in 1919, and
an average of only Al 100000 for
the five year period of 1909-i3,
inclusive.
! The Southern rice painter exported
500. 100000 pounds of rice last
year. against only 392.612, 900 in
1920 more by 120 million pounds
! than the greatest export year in
| the history of the American rice
industry. and 32 times more than
the average exports for the five
year period 19O9-13-
To sum up the total exports of
American grain products (includ-
ing wheat, corn. rice, rye, barley
and oats), for the year 1921 were
far above the average of any five
year peace period in the history of
American agriculture. The Ameri-
can farmer undoubtedly had his for
eign markets to an unprecedented
degree. Why. then, didn't he have
top-notch prices?
The answer is simple. Because
the American farmers home market
in 1921 was poorer than for many
years. The American workingman
is the one workingman who eats
white bread and red meat and good
food every day, provided he has a
job at American wages. Last year
100000 American laborers were
out of work. They could not buy
the American farmers products as
in previous years. His home mar
ket his best market. his hlgh-grade
market was seriously affected and
all the exports he made couldn't
andsdidn't make up for the loss of
that market.
II is easy to see why the foreign
market for the farmer isn't worth
but a fraction of his home market.
With wheat at S1.10 a bushel, the
American common laborer VINO gets
only SIS a week. has buying pow
er OF nearly Il bushels OF wheat
HNi WIN AOiilAOU tdhbF III Nfi
many gets 500 marks a week. The
present value of the German mark
Is one-half cent, American money.
With wheat at S1.1O II takes 220
marks to buy one bushel. The Ger
man common laborer. then. has a
weekly buying power of less than
three bushels of wheat. --or one
fourth that Of the American laborer.
To put IL another way, one American
common laborer is a better customer
of the American farmer than four
German laborers.
II doesn't take any school child
| long TO figure out why the Ameri-
can workingman is the American
farmers best customer. why the
price of American farm products
are low when 5000, 100000 of
, these customers are out of work.
, and why 1t is TO the interest OF the
American farmer TO have the Amer
lean factories all running aud The
American workingmen all employed
which cannot be done II cheaply
made foreign goods are permitted
to flood American markets.