Evening journal., 1923-01-05
FRIDAY, JANUARY s, 1923
OUR SLOGAN
The Evening Journai-the First
Paper of the First City of the First
State.
FARMERS AND Isolation"


ITEM l. The average price farm products is higher
today than the average for 1918. It is higher than
the average the veear period 1eos-1s, inclusive
This is a statement OF fact based upon comparison OF
current market quotations and the market quotations
Of pre-war years set forth In the United states
Statistical Abstract prepared annually by the United
states Department Commerce. and the report OF the
Joint Commission OF Agriculture Inquiry made last
year considered by all authorities to be the most au-
thenc and comprehensive review OF farm prices over
presented report covering prices OF all kinds OF
farm products from the year 1890
Item 2 The reports of the Bureau OF Foreign Com
rnerce show that the American farmer exported dur
ing the fiscal year ending June 80 1891 (Which in
Guided his 1920 harvest) twice the quantity OF
grain and grain products that he did for the fiscal year
ending June 20, 1913 (Which included his 1912 har-
ves The reports that for the fiscal ending
June 80 1922 (which Included his 1921 harvest) he
exported greater quantity of grain and grain products
than he did in 1921.
The same report shows that for the ending
June 80 1921 the American farmer exported SO per
cent more meats dairy products animal and vegetable
fats than did the fiscal year ending June 80
1913 1t shows he exported S5 per cent more meats
dairy products animal and vegetable fats during the
year ending 30 1922. than he did in the rs
cal year ending June 80. 1913.
These comparisons. Delawareans should understand.
are upon bushels for grain and grain products
and pounds of meats dairy products and fats.
Item 3. The farmer is not exporting as much this
year as he year the year before. Yet the
prices is receiving higher this year than they
were either OF the previous years
These three facts clearly demonstrste On the Anert
oan farmer exported since the during the
period Of Americas secaled Isolation than did
prier war; CD after four years OF this so-caed
Isolation" farm prices today higher than they
pre-wsr years; go the price the farmer re-
ceives for his products is determined much by
what he exports by the quantity OF domestic con-
sumption
The last-named conclusion Is that reached by the
Joint Commission Of Agricultural Inquiry. After
studying prices their relations exports and
domestic consumption a period OF nearly quar-
Of a century the commission sets forth that the
price products in this country is very little
by the quantity OF exports but very directly
appreciably affected by the quantity of domestic
consumption, which in is based upon industrial
prosperity.
Taken together these facts should demonstrate to
the that there ground whatever for the
oft-repeated that Americas Isolation"
proved injurious the agricultural this
country.
The plain truth is that from selfish standpoint the
American farmer has probably prohted by Europe's
condition This is borne by the that in pre-wsr
days Europe produced IS per cent. OF her needs
food products Today she is producing only 70 per
Of her food products requirements. large pro-
portion of the agricultural exports from this country
during the last three may be credited the
that Europe is not yet back to a condition OF
agricultural productivity The latest reports from
ropean representatives of the United Department
Of Commerce state that this year eastern European
countres-such Roumana and Southern Russia |
will supply Europe with only three per cent. It's
wheat requirements Normally they supply per cent
In this connection the Department OF Commerce
states: IF 1t had been for the elimination Rus
STA surplus country 1t would have been practically
impossible to have marketed than a small per
of the North American surplus in the four years
since the close of the war"
To sum 1t up % the American farmer has not suf-
fered by Of Americas Isolation" from Euro
pean affairs; CD and If with the aid thie country
Europe is restored to normal productivity will re-
the decrease Of American agricultural exports
rather than their increase.