The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-11-13
BEL GA RELIEF
Kansans Ask Our Citizens for
100000 Barrels Of Flour.



It is planned tor Kansas to ship
100000 barrels of flour. One barrel
will sustain a family of four Belgians
for three months. The railroads have
agreed to forward the flour free to the
Atlantic seaboar6. Several thousand
tons Of ship transportation have been
arranged and paid for.
1t is believed that the mills of kan
sas will grind into flour any wheat con-
tributed by the farmers. 1t Is particu-
larly appropriate that Kansas should
lead in the contribution of foodstuffs to
the Belgians inflistress. 1t is estimated
that the war has brought to the Kansas
wheat farmer thirty cents per bushel on
more than one hundred million bushels
that were unsold at the time of the
breaking out of hostilities.
Thus the Kansas farmer has prof
tied $30.O0O.0O0 by the war and could
we'll afford to contribute a portion Of
this: and the city mar who prospers
as the farmer prospers. should con-
tribute literally to the purchase OF
flour, which the Belgians authorities
say is the most needed of all food
stuffs.
The meeting tonight will be presided
over by Governor Hodges.
The Movement Explained.
Governor Hodges has been asked to
become president of the Kansas branch
of the Belgian Relief fund.
Former Governor Stubs has taken
an active interest in this movement. He
will be at the meeting with a number
of representative people from Topeka
and from over the state
The American millerS are planning to
contribute $4,000 barrels of flour. The
plan is quite fully outlined in the fol-
lowing letter from H. E. Sterling, the
c. Edgar, editor OF the Northwestern
Miller and director nillers' Belgian re-
lief movement. Mr.. Edgar some years
ago collected ana sent to Russia, at
the time of food famine. ship load
of flour:
Kansas City. Mo-. Nov II. 1914
Mr.. A. Fassler. willis Norton & Co..
Topeka Kansas.
Referring to our telephone converse
tions of this morning to the appeal made
by Governor Hodges and the meeting
of the needy people of Belgium, have
the pleasure in giving you the following
particulars regarding the Millers' Bel
gian Relief movement:
This movement was organized last week
as a result of conferences between Mr..
Edgar, editor Of the Northwestern Miller
and a member Of the Belgian Central Re-
gian minister at washington. In consul
tation also. by cable, were AMBASSADOR
Page, Minister Brand Wh1t0ek ana the
Belgian government as also the General
Relief committee at Brussels. Essential
ly.ssits purpose-iss ~ e1pply flour 70 the
noncembatant PoRHastiona of a4e esn nv
other fo6dstuff and infinitely more than
money, sent as such. -
Arrangements already made provide TOT
the free transportation Of this flour over
any American railway from any point IN
the country to the Atlantic seaboard; this
is granted by the railways steamship
accommodations have been engaged Tor
1900 barrels of flour, special rates having
been granted by the steamship lines; and
money to pay this freight is already pro-
vided.
The net result of this is that those who
contribute through this movement are as
sured that every bag or barrel OF flour
without charge and distributed, directly
through the relief committee and under
direction of Minister Whitlock, to q Needy
Belgian noncOmbatant
It is certain that very large part of
the amount OF flour for which ocean
transportation has been arranged will be
contributed directly by the flour m11s ,ss
movement, however. offers to the genera!
public a particularly practical avenue of
having subscriptions go to where they
will be most effective and without one
cent of transportation or administration
expense. All that any individual need DO
is to go to his nearest miller. buy what
flour he is willing to contribute, and ac-
cept the assurance that the flour PUT
chased will be delivered direct to those in
dire need.
to present the matter to all the millers OF
Kansas, those to whom have talked are
ready and eager to supply this flour at
cost and to attend to its shipment A bar
re of flour, on the present market. IS
worth about $500, sacked. at Kansas City;
a quarter barrel sack is worth therefore,,
about 81 IS. A barrel will be sufficient to
feed Belgian family of four for three
months. while a sack will. OF course. take
care of single individual for an equal
time.
II seems to me that the Kansas sub
scription. through whatever channel col
lected, should be sent forward In the form
of flour. Kansas stands second in mill
ing among American states and first In
the production Of wheat. Money sent TOT
ward to the Central Relief committee or
through the Red Cross organization VIII.
| in due course, be spent for food at the
| Atlantic seaboard, where prices paid VIII
! be relatively very much higher than the
| cost of flour or other foodstuffs here in the
west where there is plenty and prices are
relative " cheap. A dollar invested in our
own Kansas flour will, Therefore equal
dollar and a quarter or no,,4 IA "a an ga !,
board. In all circumstances. All the Iunos
raised in the southwest should be ex-
pressed in the form Of flour.
Incidental to this, note in the papers
that an effort is under way to raise sub
| scriptions OF wheat. IT progress Is MADE
in this direction this wheat should not De
Forwarded in its raw state but should be
ground into flour; and I have no ooups
that arrangements can be made wnerepy
1 nillers of the state will undertake TINS
grinding. under suitable provisions, with
out cost.
fore every miller in the southwest plan
whereby he will offer for sale. directly 81
through merchants in his town. Iiouf ~
net price per sack and guarantee TO tne
purchaser that the flour so purchased VIII
he delivered in Belgium TINS same
movement will be inaugura!ed IN otnea
parts of the country.
assume that I have made 1t quite
clear that this Millers' Re'<ian Rshei
The governments concerned. by our own
state department. bv Minister Havenitt
and by the General Relief committee. =
rc.ar. who have actively interested
tbemseIves in the matter of Beleium re
lief wfth the movement described IN TINS
ietter 70 the end that every interest may