The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-10-18
SELL WHEAT TO
CUT WAR DEBT,
NEST0S URGES


Creation of an emergency govern
mental agency to dispose OF our
wheat surplus abroad and granting
of power to this agency to sell wheat
to Eurpean nations indebted to the
United States, reducing their DEBT
in an amount equal to that invested
in our wheat in the next three to
five years, WAS urged by Governor
r. A. Nestos of North Dakota, speak
Ing before the national Governors
conference here tday, as one means
of lettering the condition OF the
wheat farmer.
"During the process of reducing
the American surplus, and while
there still is such surplus to sell
abroad, the agency should be en-
powered to sell our wheat to some
of the European nations, who are
now indebted to us almost beyond
their ability to repay, for whatever
price may be agreed upon and that
agency be authorized to grant such
nations a reduction in their indebt-
edness to US equivalent to the
amount invested by them in our
wheat during the next three to five
years." the North Dakota executive
told the governors Of other states
of the union
81 believe that this can be done
with such safeguards and under such
conditions as to insure the ready
disposition of our surplus and at
the same time help our European
neighbors restore the morale and the
working power Of their people, re-
build their industrial life, and leave
them in position where there will
be chance that in time they may
be able to pay the balance of their
indebtedness to u.s." he continued.
Whole Country's Problem.
The Governor told the other execu-
tives that while the people Of North
Dakota, South Dakota and Montana
feel the burden of the plight of the
wheat grower, "yet since it is con-
ceded that agriculture is our basic
industry and farming our largest
: business, the prosperity of the far
ber becomes so essential to the main
tenance Of the general prosperity OF
our country that it is with the ut
most confidence of a favorable hear
ing and serious and helpful con-
sidAration of this grave problem
that I appeal to you as Governors of
the various commonwealths to aid
in restoring and maintaining the
prosperity of the farmers"
The subject of the North Dakota
executives address of "Wheat In
the Nations Business" Governors
from most of the states of the union
we've in the West Baden Springs
hotel conference room today, and at
the conclusion of the conference to-
morrow they will 60 to Washington
{, to meet President Coolidge.
In opening his address Governor
Nestos declared that "those who
transact the nations business arc
too prone to forget the importance
of agricultural prosperity in the pro.
cess of establishing a lasting ma
tional prosperity"
He traced the course Of recen
agricultural history and the Difficult
ties of the wheat farmer, and >declar
ed that if the plight of the wheat
farmer is continued it will disas
trously affect the natioHs business
The farmer suffers, he said, because
the price of products he sells is fal
below the level of prices he pay
for products. Not only, he said, doe
the farmer find the purchasing pow
er Of his dollar low, but he is not re
ceiving anything near the cost O
producing his wheat, quoting the fig
ures Of Rex Willard, farm economis
of the North Dakota Agriculture
college, in support.
Freight Rates Too High.
He continued:
"This unfortunate condition is az
, gravated by the high freight. rate
on wheat. Northwestern Minnesots
North Dakota, South Dakota, an
" Montana raise . hard spring whea
rich in gluten and essential to- sue
ceasful -four making. But the chic
competitors in the production of thi
high grade wheat are right acros
h the line from these states in Canad
where the freight rates on wheat
the great mills ut Buffalo are niue
lower than they are on. the America
side; 30 much lower in fact that Il,
resulting advantage. together Wit
the much larger yield per acre. -hs
enabled the Canadian farmers I
:, - ~ u