Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1924-02-14
FARMERS WIRE
PRES. COOLIDGE


an animated discussion as to what
answer to make to the nine United
States Senator's who recently appeal
ed through the Associated Press
that farmers all over the country
meet and communicate directly 70
congress precisely what they most
wanted IA farm relief legislation. AS
a result, by unanimous vote the fol
lowing telegram offered by Sam w.
Teagarden was sent to President
Coolidge 1t was also decided that
copies be printed and sent by mail
to Senator B. K. Wheeler and Con-
gresham Scott Leavitt for distribu-
tion to the members Of their respect
i've houses The telegram read:
The President, Washington, D. C.
Wheat farmers of Tooie, Glacier,
Liberty, Hill and Pondera counties,
in meeting tonight have instructed
me to send you the following telegram
and also to mail copies hereof TO the
members Of congress at Washington:
We respectfully request that you
urge upon the congress for it's early
consideration repsal Of the clause in
the wheat tariff law that rebates to
Americap millers all but an incon-
sequential fraction Of the 80 cents
per bushel named therein. when such
millers export flour ground from 20
per centof foreign wheat mixed with
S0per cent ofAmeriean grown. Dur
ing last year and this tOdate a steady
stream Of lOw-priced Canadian wheat
in December last amounting to i've
million bushels, has been imported
By the large milling companies at
Portland, Seattle, Minneapolis, Du-
luth, Chicago, Cleveland and Buffalo,
as principal places, and by reason of
the rebate provision referred to, they
have paid only the low Canadian
price, plus transportation and other
charges. To illustrate. the Chicago
price Of wheat has averaged only
about seven cents above the Winni-
peg price. Had the theoretical 80
cents per bushel tariff been actually
effective the Chicago price must have
been the Winnipeg price, plus trans
portation and other usual charges,
plus again the 80 cents per bushel
named in the wheat tariff law. The
Importance of the wheat markets at
the points named preceding has been
great enough to make all interior
wheat markets conform substantially
to the same prices. So that, as
matter Of actual experience, there
has been no tariff protection what
ever for American grown wheat. ItI
is respectfully but urgently pointed
out that the plain duty Of the con-
gress is to amend the wheat tariff
law as to make the 80 cents per bu-
shel protection an actual fact and
not delusion; and that failure to do
80 in time to beneficially affect the
price of this years wheat crop, must
inevitably bring distress and insol-
vency to other multitudes Of wheat
farmers who have narrowly escaped
that fate by low priced wheat
American farmers must continue to
produce and market upon a free trade
basis, then all other great American
industries must in national honesty
and economic justice be placed ct
once upon an identical plane. It is
frankly admitted that you were alb
solutely correct IN the declaration in
your first message to congress that
Il American wheat farmers could not
meet world markets at q profit they
should cease to produce for export
But even should the wheat farmers /
follow that sound advice their own
wheat market would still be held at
below-eost levels by cheap imported
wheat unless the wheat tariff law
had meanwhile been amended IS pc
titiOned for preceding herein. 1t is
therefore urged that congress forth
with do it's indispensable part, so that
thereafter the responsibility Of CON-
pleting the solution Of the problem
would fairly fall upon the American
wheat farmers individually and col
bectively Within the memberships
Of the great national farmers or
carnations are the individual farm
ers who control the wheat acreage
which has yet to be determined for
thus year. The spring wheat plant
fng is jet 60 coms. and TIE acreage
can be rednced to safe proportions.
Tie winter wheat acreage Is also pet
70 be finally dstsrmiAed because
every spring the acreage a0wn the
preceding fan Is reducsd BY aband
onnaent ssne to conditions nnk prom
lsing suffleienf yield per azf2 Az
arnse abaadonment for tha past ten
ywwrm NmN asnes. sNss..s - ..sfxS-.