New-York tribune., 1922-10-26
Crop Situation
Paves Way for
Farm Aggitators
Wave of Discomfort Opens
Eyes Of Northwest to
the Nonpartisan League
and Socialissic Appeals
Primaries Show Reaction
Low Prices and No Cars May
Have Striking Results
in the Fall Elections
By Carter Field

By Carter Field
ST. PAUL, Oct. IS. oycrprodaetion
of wheat, oats and potatoes, and not
enough cars to move even Whist shs
rest of the world is willing to buy at
low prices, together spell the answer to
the wave OF discomfort which has swept
ever this whole country. From the
Canadian line down the farmers find
themselves with bumper crops, but
with prices offered, even when cars can
be provided, that in many instances do
not pay the cost Of production.
Up in the "Slope" country, west of
the Missouri Fiver in North Dakota,
for example, th .re is the first real crop
after four years of slim harvests. Low
prices for this crop mean virtually that
many of the farmers might almost as
we'll have taken a vacation for the last
Ave years.
Naturally enough, the farmers are
inclined to listen to every political agi-
tator who tells them that the fault Is
not theirs, bat with the governments.
both at Washington and at their state
capitals. That is what has brought the
Nonpartisan League up from it's low
water mark OF last year, after the
Harding landslide had swept it under
two years ago. and the recall Of
Frazier. III North Dakota, had deprived
them Of most of the Offices they had
obtained.
The cities of Minneapolis and St.
Paul, which together constitute the
metropolis Of this whole section, are
prosperous in themselves, but with q
full realization that the poor prices
being received by the farmers this year
mean poor buying throughout the mar
kets THESE cities reach.
Urge Long Term Credits
Even the most conservative candi-
dates for election this year are advo-
eating what would sound radical in
New York. There is unanimous agree
ment among them, for example, that
lcng-term credits in heavy amounts
must be provided for the farmers in
the future. This will not take care of
reproduction, of course, but it will
take care of the situation created by
the present car shortage, and it is con-
tended that it will be actually sounder
economics than to provide so much
IOIiltR SluCh IOE vie IuJTOduS lnuU JIle
crop-moving peak load can be met. This
last solution, it is admitted, would
leave the railroads of the country bur-
dened with capital charge for extra
equipment on which there would be
return only for very brief period each
year.
The whole situation, of course, is in
tensified now by the after effects Of the
coal strike. The East has monopolized
the supply of rolling stock, the Eastern
reads cheerfully paying the charge of
70 cents day for each box car held off
the lines of the railroad owning it, be-
cause the cars down-East are at pre-
MUM Incidentally it is charged up
here that thousands Of box cars are be-
ing used at Eastern terminals to-day
for storage.
Business men here insist that an
thraeite coal should be shipped to the
Northwest in through trains from
Pennsylvania. so that the cars would
get up here and could be used on their
return East to carry grain. They say
the ears now carrying coal to the lake
ports are being turned back after un-
leading and never get up here at all.
Drain Canada Of Cars
Not only is the East at the present
moment in possession OF thousands Of
box cars belonging to al the big rail-
roads up here, but Canada has been
drawn upon to an extent Of someth ing
like $4,000 cars in excess Of the United
States owned cars which are in the
Dominion.
The best preventive for the future,
1t is agreed by all concerned up here
aside from those hoping for political
changes rs the result of Socialstic
appeals-is low interest loans to the
farmers in order that they would not
potatoes and oats on the market the
moment they are harvested. 1t is this
rush to market. oceasioned by pressure
on the banks which have been carrying
the farmers and want to liquidate their
loans at the earliest possible moment,
that causes the terrible congestion in
transportation at this period every
year. and results usually in the farmer
/ getting the lowest price of the year
/ TOR his products, regardless of whether
there is coal strike or overproiuc-
| ton cuts prices. These two are simply
| additional factors which this year are
making the situation worse. The stu
alton is always bad.
1t is this sort Of thing which results
in the famous "middleman" taking SO
! nuch t"ti This in turn gives the
Nonpartisan League orator fertile soil
/ IN "hich to sow the seed of discomfort,
! Inc farmer knows something is wrong.
+ he Is sure he is yielding the sweat Of
ms brow for very inadequate price
inns year an absurd price for some of
ms products as compared with the
actual cost Of production. So he is
inclined to vote against every one who
3ls IN office, or tied up with q party
tnat Is in Office, feeling sure that q
change at least could do him little
narm, even il it does him no good
AND the agitators, of course, are prom
lsing him solemnly that a change will
no him a great deal Of good.
Price Hangs ON Overproduction
The overproduction angle, however
attracting much attention In the
cities; This year the wheat crop of
Sahaaa Is around 385,000,00o bushels
oI whieh about 2s5,00o.0oo bushels is
! asansple 1or export, being in excess Of
2s5,ooo 900 bushels OF Canadian whaas
IS being throw on the markets If ths
/ world chiefly Liverpool4ir compet;.
tion with Americas exportabie surnlns
/ This country, in addition. has nro.
\ duced about $4,000 600 bushels. wb;sh
is about 250,o0G,000 bushels. roughly
more than this country car cons,if,e
The price OF all wheat, nasurasJv. =
governed by what that additional go.
sNo,000 bushels Of wheat, which must
kets.
30 far as controlling the nrice Of
. wheat here is concerned. the high tar
liz imposed by the amerra,sey h;,i .rl