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Show J" The Updike Proposal NO PARTICULAR good can come of the proposal of N. B. Updike, owner of an Omaha grain firm, to save the wheat farmer fcy compelling the baker to pay more for his flour. Updike claims that the bakers can pay $10 a barrel or flour, Instead of $6, and still make money without raising the price of bread to the consumer. This, he says, would give the farmer 50 cents more a bushel for his product, equalizing the profits accruing from the production of wheat. ' Does this condition exist? If it is possible for the bakers to do all that Updike says they can do we are and have been paying too much for bread .for some time. Granting that what he says is true, will the proposed remedy solve or ajgra-vate ajgra-vate the problem? The farmers' problem is not altogether one of not being paid enough for his wheat He would not be vitally affected affect-ed by the wheat price If he could buy the things he needs on a proportionate basis. ' The Updike proposal does not take Into consideration the need of readjustments in other lines. He would false the wheat price to the level of other products, rather than reduce the prices of other products and materials ma-terials to the level of wheat. In the end It amounts to the same thing, except the lower level Is better adapted to our economic system than the higher one. In ew of these facts It would seem that the Updike proposal does not provide solution for the farmers' problem, prob-lem, even If It were workable.. . He, however, has opened a question for the bakers to answer. The bakers must show . that he Is wrong In his conclusions on proportionate propor-tionate profits or readjust' bread prices to conform. We do not believe the bakers will admit the charges made by Updike and until ; the facts are determined the public must wait to hear what hey have to say. |