Jasper County Democrat, Volume 19, Number 73, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 December 1916 — GRANGE DEFENDS THE FARMER [ARTICLE]

GRANGE DEFENDS THE FARMER

Say Gamblers in Food Are Responsible for the High Prices. Washington, D. C., December 7. —ln defense of the farmer, the National Grange, recently in annual session here, issued a statement analyzing the higli cost of living and attributing the rising prices of farm products to poor crops and the increasing cost of what the farmer has to buy. If any embargoes are to be placed to help the situation, the statement says, they should be on manufactured products, particularly munitions of war. Prohibition of gambling in foodstuffs and provisions of more storage houses under control of the government is urged. “The high price of farm products is due to several causes. Some of the more important ones are: The climatic conditions of this country during the last year were, perhaps, one of the leading causes of crop shortage. “It must he borne in mind that the high prices have struck the farmer in whatever he buys, as much as it has the city consumer. Farm labor is scarcer and higher than ever before in this country. This is also true of taxation. “The fact that nearly one-half of the civilized world has left the field of production and entered upon work of destruction has increased the demand for all kinds of products and goods. “We believe that prices will he high for several years, especially for manufactured goods, As to the products of the farm, the fixing of prices is mainly by the law of supply and demand in the markets of the world. The farmer competes with the cheapest paid labor on earth. An embargo on wheat and other cereals would in the long run mean decreased acreage. But if embargoes are to he placed to help the situation it should he on manufactured goods, particularly on munitions of war. This would give the farmer more laborers and reduce the prices of what he buys. “We believe* that In some instances production has been restricted by trusts and monopolies. We further believe that while the crops have been short, yet there is plenty for all in this country and some to sell. But at the same time economy should he practiced along all lines. “Other causes might he enumerated thus: “The alarming increase of insect and fungus pests. “Gambling in food products, which should he prohibited. “There should be more storage houses in the country and under control of the farmers themselves. “The duplication in delivery service in the village, town and city, also the lack of marketing facilities in some towns and cities.”