The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-03-27

fective demand-that which can De
disposed of at fair profit.
He said the clothing manufacturer
did not take into consideration the
fact that there may be thousands Of
people without sufficient warm cloth
ing. The manufacturer says that he
will produce only what he can sell at
a profit, that he is sorry for the pco-
pie but he cannot produce at a loss. l
Don't confuse the situation with
that wherein everyone has what they
want" he said. "Wc've COS to play
the game according to the rules laid
down. We can't make the rule. And
the rule is that if you produce more
than the effective demand you will 60
broke"
He argued that it was necessary
that farming be on te same basis as
other industry, and that production
be according to that which can be
sold at a fair profit.
Farmers Far From Broke
"The farmers Of the northwest
| are far from BROKE" Curtis L. Mos
her, declared and he gave the fol-
lowing figures to back up his state
mcnt:
"In the Ninth federal reserve dis
trict half the bank deposits of the
district are owned by the farmers.
There is over $7OOO00,000 on deposit
in the district. In addition there is
a large amount of money in cash
! carried in the pockets of the farm
ers.
1.-THE farmers owe in mortgages
and bank indebtedness, $100,O00,000,
which seem like terrific amount,
until you learn that this debt is bal
anced by lands and improvements
| owned by the farmers of the district
amounting to eight times as much
as the debts.
"This proportion of Indebtedness
to property is not out of line with
the proportion carried in other lines.
a"There can be no sound argument
why the farmers of this country
should raise wheat and sell it at a
lower price than it costs to produce
the wheat" said Mr.. Mitchell. "If
we only grew as much wheat as our
domestic consumption requires,
there would not be any suffering
abroad.
at is claimed that Canada has
potential wheat producing possibili-
ties fficicnt to supply the require
ments of the world. 1t should be an
easy matter if such is the case for
Canada to increase her production
200. 900 900 bushels, if necessary. In
addition to Canada's potentialities
it is certain that Russia will sooner
or later again be competitor in the
raising of wheat.
ITO talk about government price
fixing for wheat or any other agri
cultural commodity is in my opinion
a waste of time. 1t is impractical
of operation, unsound in principle
and any attempt to bring abou
, such legislative action would be ;
dismal failure.
"Thc farmers must approach theil
problems as business problem ant
: solve it along business lines, mus
I organize to gain all the advantage
G that lie in cooperative marketin,
associations, but above all, seek t.
S plan their production with relation
:, to the demand.
5 at is just as important that tn
d business of farming be conducte'
= along sound, business lines as an,
other business. 1t is folly and
y sheer waste Of time even to try +
change economic laws by Legislative
/ action. The successful man, in an
n kind Of business, achieves his sue
y cess not by opposing economic law
y but by adapting the operations t
~ them.
4 Future is Bright
THAT the future Of agriculture j
bright seems to me certain. 1t j
estimated that in 10 years our pc
pulation will have increased to sue
an extent that our present whea
production which is said to hav
reached practically our full capaci
ty will not equal the demand.
"He also says: Some contend tina
there is no such thing as overpro
duction of farm products and car
not be as long as there arc pcopl
in the world who suffer for food an
clothing. On the same line of rca
scning it can be argued that tn
production of autom obilcs will be in
:. adequate until every man and VIC
man and every boy and girl of hig
school age owns one
Lower Freight Rates
"The matter of high freight rate
is most difficult obstacle to over
come, and it is absolutely neccs
sary for the welfare of the railroad
that agriculture is restored to il
"a prewar condition and reduction
- freight rates on agricultural con
) moditics is in my opinion one {
~ the prerequisites in getting til
of farmer back on his feet.
al "a lowHring Of freight ratt
n. should follow a substantial redu
I'd ton in operation costs and if sue
Id an economy AS has been representa-
-. will be effected by merger of tt
80 Northern Pacific, Great Northcl
=, and Burlington railroad system,
=. let US have it and as soon as poss
80 BILE. /.
ia 'Therc is no doubt but that G
=, operative marketing, association
10 when efficiently managed. are. hig1
us ~ beneficial to the farmer in brin,
ing. about an orderly marketing ar
ac grading of certain crops.
~ CO-opcrative Marketing
81 cannot see that it is practic
n for wheat. growers to organize G
or operative marketing associations u
=