The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-10-11

and agricultural leaders assembled
Of the International Farm Congress
Urging diversified farming as a
permanent remedy for the evils Of
the wheat situation, and the adoption
Of better marketing system, the
building up Of consumption de-
msnds, the reorganization Of produc.
tion and the lowering Of transporta-
ton costs, President Coulter outlined
. policy which he declared to be one
that would put the wheat farmer
back on his feet and yet would not
be tearing down one industry in or
der to build up another.
The address as delivered at Kan.
sas City yesterday follows:
Problem Of Wheat Belt
Any attempt to analyze the pro-
blem Of the wheat growers of the
United States must necessarily
touch upon three phases Of the SUBJ
ject.
First: It is not enough to review
the wheat situation in the United
States alone. II 10 necessary to note
the general world situation because
wheat 10 non-perishable product
and moves easily from nation to ma
ton.
Second: It is not enough to re.
view the immediate situation,-ths
situation as it exists today. It is
necessary to review the movement
over q series Of years, because wheat
10 non-perishable and large surplus
amounts may be carried over from
one year to another. Also wheat and
wheat substitutes are 80 universally
grown over the world that the acre
age can be expanded or contracted
very rapidly il producers are in
formed and wish to expand or con-
tract. Finally, there are years Of
extraordinary yields both high and
low which may pile up SURPRISES
or wipe them out.
Third: II is not enough to review
the situation in the socalled special
wheat belt or areas. It is equally
necessary to review the situation
throughout the country on the mil.
lions Of diversified farms as we'll
- on the much smaller number Of
special wheat growing farms.
International Problem
Wheat being essentially non-per-
ishable and easy to measure, grade
and store, is a standard international
product, especially since people all
over the world give it q permanent
place in their diet. All people use
wheat or other cereal in the form Of
bread or other similar form. The
United States has almost from colon
ial days produced more than the re-
quirements Of the people at home
In other words, the, United States
has been an exporting nation. She
has therefore contributed to the
world supply. Her exported surplus
has had to compete with the cheap.
est wheat from any and all Of the
other countries and this in turn has
established the basic price for the
wheat consumed at home. While
there was still an abundance Of free
land and while immigration moved
without restraint and labor was cheap,
this country could compete with the
world in the markets Of the world
Tariff on imports 80 far - wheat
was concerned was merely IN express
sion Of policy and had no beneficial
effect, because grain was constantly
flowing out and down over the dam
and never trying to climb up and in.
No More Free Land
But now free land may be consid-
cred ~ = matter Of history and i'm
migration is now restricted. lmpor-
tant items Of rent or interest and
Of wages must now be counted in
the cost Of producing wheat. Furth.
ermors the wheat area has gradually
spread from the Atlantic Coast west
ward until now almost all parts OF
the country have tried wheat and
have run their course a. special
wheat areas. No longer are there
any great stretches within the Unit
ed States available to use for strict
~ wheat growing purposes. Lower
yields due to many causes must al
80 be considered in the Increased
cost Of production per bushel.
1t would seem quite definite that
there are NO longer any large special
wheat areas in the United States
which can compete with the world
market, on account Of such items ~
rent, interSst, wages, transportation
high cost Of all other items entering
into production and low, yields. II