Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1922-09-07

oats in Illinois; in 1921, 5,109 BUSH
els. In 1913, 5000 pounds Of butter
in Missouri; in 1921, 5,2S5 pounds.
In 1913 the freight revenue per ton
mile received by the railroads would
buy IA bushels of corn in Iowa; in
1921, this revenue per ton mile would
buy 3. bushels of corn in Iowa; in
1913, / bushel Of wheat in North Da-
kota; in 1921, IL bushel; in 1913, 81
pounds of cotton in Texas; in 1921,
lO.5 pounds; in 1913, 10 pounds Of
hogs in Nebraska; in 1921, Is
pounds; in 1913, bushel Of potatoes
in New York; in 1921, LIS bushel; in
1913, IA pounds Of sheep in Wyom-
ing; in 1921, % pounds; in 1913, 81
bushels Of oats in Illinois; in 1921,
% pounds; in 1913, 81 bushels of
oats in Illinois; in 1921, 3.9 bushels;
in 1921, 39 bushels; in 1918, 81
pounds of butter in Missouri; in 49,
p, A pounds.
In 1913 the price of ton of coal
{. o. b. the mine would buy "a BUSH
els of corn in Iowa; in 1921, 6.2
bushels; in July, 1922, 9.3 bushels.
1t would buy in 1913, II bushels Of
wheat in North Dakota; in 1921, %
bushels; in July 1922, "A bushels. In
1913 it would buy 1914 pounds of cot
ton in Texas; in 1921, 21.1 pounds;
in July, 1922, 22.9 pounds; in 1913,
Is pounds of hogs in Nebraska; in
1921, 36 pounds; in July, 1922, SO
pounds; in 1913, 1.S bushel of pota-
toes in New York; in 1921, 90 BUSH
els; in July, 1922, Al bushels. In
1913, "a pounds of sheep in Wyom-
ing; in 1921, As pounds; in July, 49,
%, 70 pounds; in 1913, 3.5 bushels Of
oats in Illinois; in 1921, II bushels;
in July, 1922, 14.2 bushels. In 1913,
"a pounds of butter in Missouri; in
1921, pounds; in July, 1922, 16.1
pounds.
In fairness it should be noted that
before the corn, wheat, hogs, sheep,
cotton, butter, or other farm pro-
ducts get to the consumers table a
good deal has been added to the
price the farmer receives. This mar
gin between the farmer and the con-
sumner has considerably increased
during the past eight years, but it
is also fair to note that a good deal
of this increase has been due TO the
increase in the wages paid the people
who handle these products. What
these figures show is that the wages
of the farmer, as represented by the
prices paid for his crops, are lower
than his wages were before the war,
measured in purchasing power, while
the wages of the workman, and es-
pecially in organized industries
are considerably higher than they
were before the war, whether meas
ured in dollars and cents or in pur-
chasing power. The purchasing pow
er of the wages Of rne railway en-
ployee in 1921 was 81 per cent great
err than in 1913. The purchasing
power of the wages of the soal min
err in 1921 was 30 per cent greater
than in 1913. The purchasing power
of the farm hand who works for
wages in 1921 was a per cent less
than in 1913, while the purchasing
| power of the farmer himself was, on
an average, from 20 to As per cent
less than in 1913.
In short, the farmers of the coun-
try, numbering almost one-third OF
our entire population, have borne al
together the heaviest burden of de-
flation. They have endeavored to ge,
relief by all lawful means. They have
appealed to the administration, tc
Congress, and to every other agency
which they thought might be able tic
help them, but while making these
efforts to avoid their heavy losses
they have not struck. They have not
created disorders. They have kept
on producing and in the face of ex-
traordinarily low prices have this
year grown one of the largest crops
in our entire history. The farmer
believes in law and order. He be-
lieves in government. He believes in
fairness between man to man. He
believes in working hard and produc-
ing efficiently.
If other groups would do as the
farmer has done, our economic
troubles would soon be over Prices
would soon be adjusted to their nor
NAL relationships. There would be
work for everybody and at jus:
wages.
But there are too many people who
seem to be thinking only of them
selves and how they can profit at the
expense Of the community at large
and especially at the expense of the
farmer The farmer is sick and tired
of this sort Of business. He is dis
gusted with these recurring disputes
between capital and labor, especially
as connected with the essential in
dustries. He sees no reason why such
disputes cannot and should not be
settled in an orderly and lawful way
and without the interruptions OF
service which cost han so dearly.
The farmer recognizes his obliga-
ton to produce food, for people must
eat 20 live. He demands that both
the owners Of the coal mines and the
coal miners recognize their equal OBJ