The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-08-15

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spontaneous origin published herein
All rights OF republication OF all other
matter herein are also reserved.
We Should Not Grow Blind
In the Peoples Forum column Of
this edition OF The Tribune, which
also might properly be labeled edi-
toriaS by the people, there appears q
communication which Is worth the
study Of every farmer and every indi-
vidual dependent upon farming.
either directly or indirectly, for his
support.
Study is justified, not only for the
sound common sense which much Of
the letter contains but because 1t
presents in new language the falla-
cious belief that the reduction Of the
surplus of grain is largely due to the
acreage reduction program Of the
government. Also, 1t develops the
idea that this reduction in the sur
plus is, in itself, bad thing.
To take this attitude without res
ervation is to display q short men,
DRY. 1t is only year since the cry
in agricultural America was against
the SURPRISES which weighed down
the market until prices were ruinous.
II we could only get rid OF the sur
plus, we were told and most Of us
believed, agriculture would have OPP
portunity to stage come back.
Now the surplus is vanishing, not
70 much because Of acreage agree
ments as because OF the drouth. In
much of Burleigh county, for EXAM
pie, it would have made little differ
ence If the curtailment were 90 per
cent instead OF the required 20, or II
none had been made at all. We
should have harvested as much wheat
one way as the other. In view OF
the crop failure, the acreage benefit
payment was merely q form of crop
insurance. It had little to do with
reducing the surplus. Old Mother
Nature took care OF that. We could
have doubled our acreage in the Mis-
souri, Slope country this year, had it
been possible to do SO. without ma
terially increasing the surplus. II
acres produce nothing it makes no
difference how many Of them are
planted.
It is true that acreage reduction In
some sections contributed to the re-
duction. The Red River Valley, for
example, would have yielded more
had the acreage been larger because
there they have . crop worth cut
ting, advices from Trail county plac-
ing the average yield in that section
at between 10 and 20 bushels per
acre. Optimistic, perhaps, but no
ticeably cheering.
The complaint that farmers this
winter will be forced to pay high
prices for wheat which they sold ct
low prices Is justified but inevitable
under our economy. The farmer who
this year has nothing to harvest can
not be blamed for seeing red when be
pays high prices for flour. yet THU
does not solve the problem OF what
to do about 1t.
Prioe-fixing without some sort OF
control at the source, was tried and
failed, as witness the Hoover expert.
ment Of 1880. On Z normal basis X
were planting too many acres and
harvesting too much wheat. Il maj
be true that the distribution system
IS and was out Of kilter, but that did
not prevent the ruinous effects o.
low prices from being visited upor
agricultural America.
Meanwhile, even though the out.
look for the western North Dakots
producer is not bright, It still Is much
too early to get excited about q pos
sible food shortage. There stu i
plenty Of grain and meat In tn
country to feed everyone and, Will,
we could wish that it still was in tn.
hands Of farmers in order that the,
might get the benefit Of the price, /
is something to know that it Is avail
able.
A cynic has remarked that this
the greatest next year" country /,
the world. II this Is true-and
probably k-it = good thing rattle
than ono 70 b ashamed Of. Hopefu
people are progressive people an
hope Is : sign Of courage. 90. throusl
the clouds, western North Dskot
looks forward 70 nsxt year. Our con
fidence = tempered By advsrstty bu
our hearts are unafraid.
Tho complaint against the rslte
administration Is . common one IN
1t may, IN many cases, b justifist
It i particularly hard upon youn
folks = 4 Farmer suggests, but hsrl
too. - are confronted with "a
problem Of what 70 10 about Il. =
point out the trouble y not AWAY
70 suggest . rsnedy and - I'll mua
recogniss that thsEs + . bottom :
- 1sdasA tssaGmz nen vhiah =
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