New Britain herald., 1926-06-21
INTERNATIONAL FARM
PRICES

CT in Europe than in the United States it would enable Europeans to live cheaper and on smaller wage. thus enabling them 10 cut prices on Europeak products sold in the United States. does not fare we'll under a cool analysis by farm bloc economists headed by MT. Dawes.
 American farm products in Eu- rope would sell al the regular world market prices, like they do now, IL is the plan of the farm bloc subsidists to make the Ameri- can cost Of farm products higher But there is much that comes be- tween farm prices on the farm and the price of completed rations in the industrial centers, and trans portation is an important factor.
 Even now the cost Of living is lower in Europe than in America, as every tourist knows, Relatively however. compared with the lower income of Europeans, it may be higher abroad. European goods cost less than American goods be- cause the monetary standard in Europe is lower than on this side. 4 British workman earning s15 q week looks cheap compared with an American. but he pays less for food and rent.
 America has been soaring upon artificial values, and the higher they get the more difficult it is for manufacturers to compete with countries lacking artificial stimula- ton in industry. The farm bloc in- sisis agriculture has not been en- toying this artificial stimulation. so that it buys in a high market and sells in a low market based upon international standards. The bloc wishes to enjoy some of this arti- fcial stimulation with industry or do away with it altogether,
 Congress has been grappling with this problem for several years and has made no headway, and prob ably will adjourn with no further advancement than at the begin ming.
 Meanwhile the word has gone forth that under present conditions agriculture does not provide q livelihood for soil-tilcrs if the price Of products is to be based upon the international market rather than upon an artiicially en- hancod American standard. The farmers wish to indulge in q "wc'lI tickle you if you will tickle us" system; but the industrial east aI- ready tickled, does not want to tickle back. Anyone who can solve this difficulty without handing the farmers a subsidy upon silver platter. either in the form Of an "equalization fee" or any other f. manner. will be welcomed with l brass bands in Washington. So far l there has been no cluttering of the | highways toward the capital by | those able 10 offer workable meth ods.
 Unless agriculture is 10 return to a firm foundation and become part Of the going industries Of the na- ton some way will need to be found to improve it's circumstances, 1 but whether the government can help is doubtful. Perhaps arricuI- ture will right itself in time. but this is an uncertain possibility. Ii is an industry that cannot control ifs output and surplus like other industries, and this year, through out the world as a whole, the crops will show large surplus, Even Russia as q wheat growing country is coming back 10 it's position be- fore the war. and the soviet repub- lie will be a big factor in feeding Europe. The more crops are raised throughout the world as whole, the lower the price on American farms. This is the cruX Of the situation the bloc wishes to change.