Evening star., 1923-11-07
SURPLUS OF WHEAT
|SFLATLY DENIED

Instead of there being an over
supply of wheat in the United States
and in the world there Is serious
question whether this country actual
ly has enough to supply the mills
and for feed and seed. says Repre-
sentative Edward c. Little of Kansas,
contributing another chapter to the
controversy over the wheat problem.
Eugene Meyer of the War Finance
CORPORATION, Frank w. Mondell, his
colleague. and Representative Syndey
Anderson. chairman OF the national
wheat conference, have presented
very interesting discussions of the
Little Unfortunately their value Is
nullified. by the fact, that they are
based on the fallacy that there is an
oVersupply of wheat in the United
States and In the world generally.
for either statement and 1t Is very
questionable whether the United
States actually has enough good
wheat to sdppy 1Sr the fsed mi1s and ss we
that is still a question.
Representative Anderson says we
should cut down 10 per cent of our
wheat, production. Secretary Wall
this year .5a7. 100000 bushels, which,
accotding to the figures mis-. depart
mont presents on past CONSUMPTION.
would leave US many millions behind
ordinary consumption. but If we
should accept his minimum estimate
and compare 1t with Representative
Anderson's stotement that we ought
to cut our wheat production down
from 7s1, 100000 bushels to 10 per
cent less, Mr.. Anderson would not
enough wheat for feed and seed and
we would make 1t impossible for our
farmers to sell wheat to Europe,
explains Representative Little.
. figures. in 1919 we exported 267 7.ooo.-
600 bushels; in 1920. 370,000,000; In
1921, 355.000.0o0, and in the first nine
months Of 1922. 172.000, 600 bushels. In
other words, during those three years
and nine months after the war. our
farmers sold to the outside world
1.164.000.oo0 bushels of wheat. which
probably brought them about 81 ,000,-
O00, 900 income. If Mr.. Anderson sue
ceeds in reducing our production so
farmers will never again sell billion
dollars worth OF wheat to the world.
Calls Plan Impossible.
His theory that we are going to
be swamped by an avalanche Of
South American wheat Is not war
ranted by any figures, and 1t would
be cruel injustice to limit produc-
iion as he suggests. Besides, 1t Is
impossible. Congress has no right
under the Constitution to tell the
farmers In this country what they
can raise and 1t Is quite impracttcable.
This talk Of q wheat surplus over the
world and here Is simply the propa-
ganda Of the wheat buyers, who have
succeeded in forcing the market
down, SO the farmer cannot get cost
for his wheat. II the newspapers
will spread the facts, the law of sup
ply and demand will go into opera
tion and the farmer will soon be get
ting q reasonable price for his wheat
Since July l wheat has gone up in
the west from 10 cents to over q dol
lar simply because the spectators
recognized the fact that there is no
pversupply anywhere. II the facts
can be given to the public, wheat will
soon bring S1.25 and the farmer will
begin to help the rest OF the country
to good business.
"This year North America, includ-
ing the United States and Canada.
produced 100000 bushels less than
it did last year. This year the United
States itself produced 81, 900, 900 BUSH
els less than 1t did last year. Last
year our farmers sold every single,
solitary bushel Of wheat, except 49,
100000 bushels, and they will this
yeas. Whenever the farmer sells all
his wheat there Is no surplus and no
oversupply."