Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1923-03-30
THE DELUSI0N OF FOREIGN
MARKETS FOR FARMER.

There is the fear that unless
the European demand for our
surplus agricultural produce is
sustained the American farmer
will be ruined.
Well, but here appears at once
tn e unexpected circumstance
that while the farm bloc was sup
porting the Borah resolution
and was willing to support the
administration in almost any
thing it might think to do for the
purpose of saving Europe so that
Europe could buy Americas
grain surplus even then our ex-
ports Of grain and grain pro
ducts were running twice over
what they were before the war,
and had been running that way
through the year, with exports
of other food, like provisions,
running at the same time half
again as high as in normal times.
What is the explanation It'll
is simply that during the war
and ever since our exports of
food to Europe have been alb
normal; not subnormal = abnor-
NAL. Fix that fact. They were
abnormal during the war for OBJ
vious causes. They have been
abnormal since the war because
European agriculture is not yet
back to normal. American agri-
culture has continued to supply
the difference between normal
and subnormal food production
in Europe. Russia is still out.
We are filling her place as food
purveyor. But Russia presently
will come back. Agriculture all
over Europe is coming back
During the war EuEope's annual
grain production fell 1000, 000,-
600 bushels. The production in
North America increased in the
same amount. That keep a bal
ance. In the last four years
Europe's production has increas-
ed about 400, 600, 900 bushels. It.
is nearly half way back to norm
al. And just to that extent her
abnormal demand for North
American grain is reduced. In
the same way and for the same
reasons the European demand
for all American food products
is tending to fall naturally-that
is tending to become normal
again.
Instead of telling the American
farmer that the American Gov
eminent must settle things in
Europe, must get GermaIfrepar-
ations fixed if it has to fix them
itself, in order to sustain the
foreign market for his surplus,
the farm bloc ought to be telling
him this; Tranquility in Eu-
rope will be a human blessing,
though not for the reasons you
think. Prepare yourself for the
immediate effects. You will not
like them. You are supposing
that an abnormal postwar de-
mand for food will continue. -
1t will not. When Europe re-
turns to State of normal pro-
ductiyity she will be 95 per cent
selfsustaining in .foodstuffs, as
she was before, and American
exports therefore will fall to
what they were before the war,
which was much less than they
now are. You are over. produc-
ing to meet the aftermath of a
war demand which will tend to
disappear no matter what we do.
Therefore, govern your work ac-
cordingly, as industry does, and
let your. production down"
But, no. 1t talks to him of
food loan to Germany, and of con
tinuing to give our surplus away
of giving, forgiving and lend
ing Europe the money to buy our
things.
The thought of making a capital |
loan Of $500, 100000 to Ger
many, or a capital loan of any
sum, is fantastic. All that she |
can legitimately need is maybe
100000 bushels of wheat to |
take her into the next crop and |
raw materials on which to apply |
her labor, provided she is willing |
to begin to pay three or four
hundred million dollars at the
utmost. And that may all be
managed in the way of CONNER
cial bank credit. 1t ought not
TO be managed in any other way. |
She will buy the food in any |
event.
There is another thing the
farm bloc ought to tell the Amer
lean farmer and dosen't dare to
say. That is: Growing grain for
export is the most wasteful in
dustry we have. 1t is conducted |
and must be conducted in com
petition with Australia, Argen-
tina and India. The sooner we
stop it the better. Garet Gar
rett in SATURDAY. Evening Post.