Jasper County Democrat, Volume 23, Number 62, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 October 1920 — PROBING INTO WHEAT PRICES [ARTICLE]

PROBING INTO WHEAT PRICES

Allen May Propose Prohibitive Law Against Future Trading. Topeka, Kas., Oct. 27. —Governor H. J. Allen has announced that he will propose a law to the next legislature to prohibit trading in grain futures in Kansas If the present investigations of boards of trade prove that the price of wheat and other farm’ products have been manlpu-

lated. The governor says that the Information now on hand indicates that bucket shops are operating in a large number of cities in Kansas in violation of the law. Governor Allen says he is now gathering information to show comparative fluctuations In wheat prices since trading in futures was resumed with figures for the same period in 1919, when wheat futures were not traded in. This information will be furnished in compliance with the request of President Wilson, who has ordered Investigations of boards of trade. “The figures will show,” Governor Allen says, “that comparatively

small quantities of wheat have been marketed this year and the decrease in prices could not have been the natural laws of supply and demand.” An investigation of grain trading in Kansas is under way, according to G. A. Stevens, special agent of the federal trade commission, who has arrived here from Washington and has held a conference with Governor Allen. The governor says he understands the federal trade commission is making an Investigation of grain trading in all the big midwest grain states.