Vilas County News

THE FARMER'S BURDEN

Committee Report Shows the Farmer Receives But Little Above 1913 Price.

A committee of the unemployment conference recently made public a table showing how far prices had declined in the various forms of production. The fact was brought out that the average price received by the producer of farm crops is now only 9 per cent above the price for 1913, and the price of live stock to the producer is only 13 per cent above 1913.

Meanwhile the lowest estimate of cost of living is given by the committee was 65 per cent above 1913. Furthermore, union wage scales are 8 per cent above 1913, and railroad wages which control transportation costs, are 126 per cent above 1913 figures.

The above shows how the farmers are to-day the great burden bearers of the nation. They are the goat upon which the rest of the country has slid the heaviest load. While prices of everything that the farmer has to buy are nearly 65 per cent higher than in 1913, yet the prices of the things he has to sell average only 11 per cent higher. Can any one question why business has recovered more slowly than we had hoped?

The farmer has met this situation in splendid spirit. If he had acted like some other elements of the population, he would quit work and refuse to produce any more food than he needed for personal support, unless he got the price he thought he ought to have. But the farmers know better than that. They understand perfectly that however much they suffer, production must be kept up. They have loyally to work to create just as ample a food supply as if they got good prices for it, determined that at least they should do their full share toward economic prosperity.

All that the farmer asks is that price deflation shall be somewhere near equal all around. If other elements are to have prices 65 per cent above the 1913 level, his prices should go up. But if his prices are to remain where they are, he feels that other costs should take an equal decline.

Reedsburg Times.