The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1917-08-04
KANSAS FARMERS
MAY HOLD WHEAT
Reports to Topeka Indicate thai
Bankers of State Would
Back Such Move.
NO ORGANIZED PLAN As YET
Talk Among Grain Growers of Estab-
fishing Mutual Agreements to
Boost Prices Again.

Boost Prices Again.
Topeka.-RepOrts sent to Topeka
during the last few days indicate that
farmers in the wheat belt may seek
to hoard their 1917 crop in an effort
to force an advance in prices beyond
the government guarantee of $500 a
bushel. Kansas bankers, with record
deposits and a desire for an increase
in the loan and discount column, are
said to be willing to provide credit
for holding the crop.
While no organized effort has been
made, a report sent to Topeka has
Indicated that the farmer organiza-
tons may establish a mutual agree
ment for holding crops to boost mar
ket prices. In spite of the fact that
the record crop Of 1914 sold for a
dollar a bushel and less, the govern
ment guarantee this year of 50 has
not aroused the enthusiasm of the
farmers. They recall the skyrocket-
ing in the wheat pit last spring, and
many crop producers are said to be-
lieVe that enormous increases in mar
ket values will be gained through
boarding grains and foodstuffs.
Just at this time wheat is the big
crop which concerns Kansas and the
world. The 1917 cutting is out of the
way and thousands of bushels OF the
Kansas grain has already found its
way to the market centers In many
Of the eastern and central counties the
crop was the largest on the record.
Top notch war prices and abnormal
production brought a new prosperity
to these communities, and the temp
tatiOn to sell the new crop and divide
the long profits was great. In the es-
tablished wheat counties, though, the
crop was shorter than usual. These
farmers had become accustomed to
higher prices and they merely winked
when bidders offered 81 for grain at
the nearest elevators
r + +
Farmers Are Hoardina Food.
Facts revealed in Topeka showed
that in many localities farmers are
taking advantage of the food situation |
in an effort to hoard supplies. Infor- |
nation concerning the so-called food |
hogs may be turned over to federal |
officials. If provision is made under |
the new food bill for government &C
ton against boarding, bins of Kansas |
farmers, as well as elevators of mill |
ers and spectators, will be seized. |
One Russian farmer in Ellis county |
was reported to have held 25 900 bush |
els of the 1916 wheat crop.
+ + +
Cut Down Topeka Deliveries.
Beginning August l. the Topeka |
merchants viii make only one free |
delivery OF packages day. Any 9TH
er deliveries will be charged for at /
special rates. The merchants have
all signed an agreement to cut down
their delivery expense and each will
be provided with small stickers for all |
packages delivered in person to the
customer.
John S. Dean Appointed.
President Wilson has appointed
John S. Dean, a lawyer of Topeka, as
a major in the Judge advocate gen
erals department, and ordered him to
report for physical examination i'm
mediately. If he gets past the sur
geons, he Will report to the Fort
Riley reserve officers camp.
r + +
EX-Sheriff Replaces Ladner.
Bert Kersey, former sheriff ct Pot
tawatomie county, will serve as q
member OF the exemption board of
that county, replacing c.. D. Ladner,
sheriff, who refused to serve without
pay. Kersey is a Democrat, Ladner
3 Republican
Ladner Resigns Draft Board.
Sheriff C. D. Ladner of Pottawato-
mic county is no longer q member of
a Kansas exemption board. His resig-
nation has been accepted by Governor
Capper. Sheriff Ladner was the only
sheriff in Kansas who refused to serve
on an exemption board unless he re-
ceived pay from the government. He
declared he did not owe his govern
ment cent and wanted pay for what
he did.
Railroad Demands Court Costs.
The Missouri Pacific Railway Com
pany has filed bill for $12.847.17 as
a claim against the Kaw Valley Drain
age District for the costs in the suit
Missouri Pacific-Northwestern Bridge
across the Kaw.
r + +
Boy Drowned While Wadino.
While wading with other compan-
ions in the Ksw river below Oakland.
northeast Of Topeka, Thomas Nun
son, 12-yearold son OF Mrs. Julia
Munson of Oakland, near here, was
drowned.
+ + +
To Open Hospital in Nome.
Bertha and Elsie Saville, sisters. OF
Topeka have left on important mis-
sions. Bertha goes to Alaska to open
q Methodist hospital at Nome. Elsie
goes to an Indian school in New Mex
leo to help educate Indian children.
+ r
Capper Wants Seed Fund.
Five thousand Kansans, including
individuals and firms, have been in
v1ted In letters sent out by Governor
Arthur Capper, to contribute to the
$2.0O0.000 seed wheat fund which is
fa<aS~a -