Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-09-22
MAY SEIZE ALL WHEAT
Government Prepared to Commander
Grain Unless Growers Obey-Agit-
ators Urge North Dakotans To Re-
tain Crop.

Minneapolis, Sept. 21.-That the
United States government is prepared
to seize every bushel Of wheat in the
| northwes and go upon the farms and
get it, was the impression carried away
by Minneapolis grain commission men
from a special meeting called by Frank
L. Carey, head OF the Minneapolis
office Of the Food Administration Grain
Corporation.
Following receipts here Of only 237
cars spring wheat compared with 526
year ago, the clamoring Of the mills OF
zone No. for supplies and rumors
generally current that men in automo-
biles are travelling about in North
Dakota, telling farmers not to sell their
wheat, Mr.. Carey sent out call for an
emergency meeting. There were near
" 100 commission men present in the
rooms Of the Minneapolis traffic asso-
citation.
Last night 5000 letters embodS ing
changes in the grain movement went
out from the offices of commission
firms to their country correspondents.
These letters in the form of appeals,
to be followed. it was intimated, by &C
ton more drastic if they do not have
effect will ask:
Immediate shipments to Minneapolis
of all spring wheat in sight at country
stations.
No further shipments of corn, oats,
barley rye or flaxseed until further ad-
vised.
immediate loading and billing OF
every available freight car.
Instant notification of the Minne-
| apolis office of the Food Administra-
ton Grain Corporation. thru commits
| sion house or direct, If the railroads
are not furnishing cars.
| Notice to all farmers that spring
! wheat and not coarse grains should
| be brought into town if they expect &C
! ceptance.
Mr. Carey said the situation demands
| immediate action and that the farmers
are to be appealed to-
I'VE are making an appeal he SAID.
1--WE expect prompt response. We nave
no more announcements to make now.
| but it may properly be said that we
| have got to get the wheat movement
started, and that if this means fails we
will have to find other means
It was reported that in North Dakota
| men in automobiles are travelling thru
the state, telling the farmers not to
sell their wheat These reports say
that farmers who are dissatisfied with
the price and who oppose governmental
regulation, readily fall in with the sug-
| gestion Others are won over, say the
| reports, by calculations made in pencil
! on the backs of envelopes while the
| farmer and the agitator stand talking.
The farmer Is shown figures to fortify
the statements that the government
eventually will be compelled to reopen
the matter of price and make 1t higher
To hold the wheat on the farm, bor-
4 row money on 1t, and gamble the
| interest payment against the chance OF
price reopening. is the advice that Is
being given, these reports say. Thal
the government will have no alterna-
tive but to advance the price II 1T can
not get enough wheat to carry feed to
the allies, and that the federal grades
will be abolished in any case, is declar-
ed the argument of the agitators.
Money at or 10 per cent is gooe
gamble, say the agitators, ACCORDING
to statements made in Minneapolis to-
day. "You can afford to pay that in
terest and get money right now &c pay
your debts and wait for wheat to &c
so cents or 81 a bushel higher.
The law under which the government
is buying wheat prohibits the storage
OF wheat exccp. for seed purposes, FOL
longer time than thirty days. bu
does not affect the farmer. Nothing II
the law compels him to market MI
wheat at any specified time. Wheat OF
e the farm is always good collateral, AM
with the price guaranteed it is almos
| as good as government bonds for Dor
|