The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1923-02-14

wheat farmer and other interests. We
understand from statistics that the
| farmers produce has advanced ter
| per cent above the pre- war price
and things the farmer has to buy
have advanced SO per cent making a
difference of SO per cent in favor OF
other interests. And when wheat had
advanced only seven per cent above
the 1913 level, freight rates from the
wheat belt to Kansas had increased
from Al to 80 per cent; and those
to Galveston, Texas, from 70 to SO
per cent. The average of all these
would be TAX per cent. Now by de-
Quoting seven per cent from 74A per
cent we have 67% per cent, which is
the difference in favor of the rail-
roads. Now, unless farmers had an
advantage of the railroads and other
interests in 1913 Ga thing which we
are satisfied no one believes) the
| farmers produce should be advanced
SO per cent with regard to what he
has to buy from manufacturers, and
67% per cent when compared with
freight rates. Let us call it 60 per
cent in both instances. Suppose the
Liverpool market will justify a price
of 80 cents at Viola, Idaho Now
| 60 per cent of 80 amounts to 81 cents
Add "a to 80 and we have $1.44, the
price which should be fixed on wheat
to insure him returns equal with other
people. And to find the government
fixed price at any point in the u S.
60 per cent would have to be added
to the export price. Now, unless the
statistics are wrong the price should
be fixed at "a cents above the export
price and remain as long as the tar
! iff the three per cent immigration
law, and the Esch-CumminS trans
portation act remain as they are But
if the government will reduce the
valuation of the railroads six billions
for watered stock and reduce the tar
iff on imports one half and amend
the immigration law SO that there will
be a little competition from laborers
from Europe, we will consent to a big
reduction in what the guaranteed
price should be. But there is no
prospect of a change in these laws
that have permitted the rifling of the
farmers pockets at every corner of
the street for several years. There
fore in order to give the wheat far
mer equal rights with the majority
of other interests and reimburse him
for what he lost during the war, Uncle
Sam must fix price on wheat at
81 cents plus 1878 cents, or 93N cents
above the export price. The 39%
cents should remain part of the
fixed price for eight years, counting
SOO,0OO,O00 bushels year. And the |
Sd cents should remain until Uncle |
Sam sees fit to change his special |
privileged laws. This looks pretty |
hard on the old man. Already in debt |
more than 20 billions and at the same
heirs asking that he be given his share
of the estate. Not to waste in "riot-
GUS living" but to prevent his almost
inevitable bankruptcy. People usu-
ally sympathize with anyone deeply
in debt, so, in order to meet the views
of those who think the farmers did
not lose more than so cents per bush
ell for two years of the war, and to
be charitable to Uncle Sam, we will
deduct 1873 cents or practically half
the war bonus, and IA cents from the
Sd cents and we have 40 cents plus
20 cents or a total of 60 cents per
bushel to be added to the export
price. So if the export price will
Justify 80 cents at Viola, the fixed
price would have to be $150. And it
can be easily seen that this is less
than what is justly due the wheat
farmer for the next eight years. In ,
order to maintain fixed price above
The export price a tariff would have
10 be fixed high enough to prohibit l
al importations of wheat 1t would |
oe necessary for the government to t
ose the difference between the export ]
price and the fixed price on all wheat |
IND Hour exported. Exports of wheat t
n the first ten months of 1922 a.
mounted to 144,00O,0O0 bushels. At
he same rate, shipments for the
Whole year would amount to 1853, O0O,- :
100 bushels. At go cents per bushel
his equals $1O0,S00,OO0. This would p
re the annual loss to the government u
provided exports were the same as e
922. The wheat farmers would re- "
ay this and more in income h
axes. AS to flour we have no C
tatistlcs at hand A fixed "
0 be fixed high enough. A fixed NJ
rice at $3.50 on wheat would be
clip to the dairy business, to the
oultry business, to the sugar indus -
~, to corn, oats, and barley grow :,
lg, since it would keep the wheat =
lrmer from engaging extensively in u
ny of these things, thus leaving the =
larket with a meagre supply, which nj
ould enhance the price sufficiently tt
more than offset the loss occas- e.
ned by the increase IN the price of in
'ead. 1t would create better home ST
arket for almost everything that is Ct
or manufactured under the
IN, with better price for labor on OF
q farm, and better price for school m
achers. Now if anyone knows any a,
ason why price should not be set ~
wheat, let him now speak, or else -
rever hereafter hold his peace. "
The editor of every paper in the Ia
nd is asked to publish this article. III
J. E. GRAY. W.
Viola Idaho in