STATUS OF AGRICULTURAL ENTERPRISE 235 



deal larger than it was. For instance, figures have 

 been given as to the prices on soap and other things 

 manufactured in Cincinnati. Then, with the in- 

 crease due to the higher freight rates, the spread 

 is entirely different from what it was before. The 

 basis was never fair anyhow, because the farmer 

 does not buy wholesale at all.' 



"Mr. McMaster: 'Mr. President ' 



"The President pro tempore: 'Does the Senator 

 from Idaho yield to the Senator from South 

 Dakota?' 



"Mr. Gooding: <I yield.' 



"Mr. McMaster: 'While the comparison of the 

 purchasing power of farm products in comparison 

 with the purchasing power of nonagricultural pro- 

 ducts is interesting, and has a certain bearing upon 

 the question, however, we must not overlook the 

 great central fact underlying this situation, that 

 according to the report of the industrial conference 

 board at New York, the cost of production of agri- 

 cultural products has been less than the wholesale 

 prices of those agricultural products since 1883.' 



"Mr. Fess: 'In accordance with that statement, 

 every farmer would be broke.' 



"Mr. Gooding: 'Most of them are broke.' 

 "Mr. McMaster: 'No: they are not.' 

 "Mr. Fess: 'The Senator from Idaho says they 

 are broke and the Senator from South Dakota says 

 they are not.' 



"Mr. Gooding: 'I am speaking generally.' 



