100 FARMERS 1 UNION AND FEDERATION 



believe most farmers would be glad to turn over their farms 

 to the government on the above terms and move their fam- 

 ilies to town. But why couldn't the government be as lib- 

 eral with the farmers in taking over their farms as with the 

 railroads which were guaranteed a profit equaling their three 

 most prosperous years? 



The government could not be permitted to engage in 

 farming for the purpose of cheapening farm products for city 

 consumption, if it resulted in lowering their price at the 

 farms, without requiring the government to also take over 

 and operate the factories that produce what farmers need at 

 a correspondingly lower price. However, his plan would 

 further reduce the rural population and increase that of the 

 cities. Then, again, if the government did not do a more 

 economical business at farming than it did in most of its 

 war work it would more than quadruple the cost of its pro- 

 ducts instead of cheapening them. 



Everything considered, the unionizing of the farmers to 

 inaugurate the minimum price system is by far the best. 



Enormous Profits Allowed Food Dealers. 



The Merchants Journal of November 16, 1918, contains 

 the following "Weekly Bulletin of Government Food Regu- 

 lations" for the guidance of merchants : 



MAXIMUM MARGINS ON SALES BY RETAILERS TO CONSUMERS. 



(Issued by the U. S. Food Administration November 7, 1918.) 

 The Food Administration has determined that any sales of food 

 commodities at a gross margin above delivered cost in excess of those 

 indicated below are unreasonable, and will be regarded as prima facie 

 evidence of a violation of the statute and of the above regulation. Per- 

 centage may be calculated on the selling price. Delivered cost shall 

 mean the cost at the railroad, steamboat or other terminal in the re- 

 tailer's town. Where the retailer is not located in a railroad or steam- 

 boat town he may include any hauling charge in the delivered cost. 



The lesser margin indicated is not a minimum margin, but is a max- 

 imum margin for those whose cost of doing business is less, such as 

 stores which do not perform the services of credit and delivery. Any 



