This movement, toward what many call socialism, manifests itself almost exclusively in the regulation of railroads, public utilities, and trusts. We have had little experience in fixing prices except when placed under the stress of war. Obviously, no one, not even the government, can anticipate with any degree of accuracy the demand for a given article. And just as obviously, no one can estimate the probable future supply of such a product as corn or wheat or cotton. Since neither the demand nor the supply can be determined in advance, the fixing of a proper price is a difficult task. Not long ago a government official went to the heart of the matter when he said that the wisdom of fixing a wheat price at a certain point could be determined only after the new harvest had begun to come on the market. If the price had been too high, a surplus of the old crop would remain unsold; if too low, the old crop would have fallen short in supplying the demand. Allowing for other influences, there is much truth in the statement.