The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-07-09
RAILROADS AND
LII, C. WILL HELP
IN WHEAT DRIVE
Details of Plan for Seed Fund
Being Worked Out.
Defense Council and Farmers
VIII Cooperate.
ON STRICT BUSINESS BASIS
Part OF Crop viii Be Pledged
for Money Advanced.
Five Million Dollars Needed for
Fall Seed.
Defense Council and Farmers
viii Cooperate.
ON STRICT BUSINESS BASIS

Kansas, thru her defense council
will go into the food drive with fund
of two million dollars for seed wheat
for farmers unable to secure funds
thru ordinary commercial channels.
Seed wheat will be furnished Kansas
farmers on a basis of one-fifth of the
1918 crop yield. Details of the PLAZA
to utilize every available acre in crop
production next year, were worked out
today at a meeting of the financial
committee of the state council.
Men prominent in public and COM
mercial life in Kansas will head the
state wide wheat organization. Funds
are to be placed with farm srs in every
wheat producing county in the state.
The organization will be known as the
Seed Wheat Investment association.
No formal incorporation will be
made. but a thorough state and county
organization will be perfected
Sentiment will be promoted thruout
the state for not less than a ten mil
lion acre wheat crop next year. The
goal of the Kansas wheat belt will be
a 200 million bushel production. Five
million dollars, estimates chow will be
necessary to finance the farmers una
able to provide their own seed. Three
million dollars of the fund will come
from the bankers, who will make loans
to men able to provide security. Two
..
with, land but unable to buy seed or
borrow money at the banks, will be
furnished thru the state organization.
To Pool Interests.
Interests of the seed wheat organi-
cation will be pooled and extended to
every wheat producing county in the
state. No display of charity or aid
to farmers will enter the organiza-
ton. The work of financing the wheat
drive will be placed on a sound bust
ness basis. The funds will be raised
thru subscriptions from men and
women willing to invest on the propo-
sition that Kansas will deliver in the
wheat crusade this fall and will pro-
duce a maximum crop next year.
Funds adequate to meet every de-
mand will be available and will ne
carefully invested thru county organi-
cations familiar with local conditions,
according 10 reports before the COM
mittee in session in the office of Gov
ernor Capper. Reports today indi-
Gated that the International Harvester
company the Union Pacific and Santa
Fe railroads and other large corpora
tions interested in crop production in
Kansas, will invest heavily in the
wheat drive 1t was also reported
that many of the big milling and
elevator companies would furnish
funds.
Under the plan as worked out at
today's session of the finance commits
will contract to furnish one-fifth OF
their crop yield from the land sown-
The wheat will be delivered at the
elevator by the landowner not later
than November /, 1918. Under spe-
ciaI agreement-in event of unusual
conditions-the local committees and
county organizations may extend the
contract for delivery of wheat to
January !, 1913.
Gocbel to Head Committee.
p. w. Goebel of Kansas City, presi-
ent of the American Bankers Asso-
ciation. will probably head the finan-
cial advisory committee. Goebel has
extensive interests in Kansas and mas
a keen knowledge of conditions in this
state.
Governor Capper will be at the head
of the organization, with Walter l.
Payne, state treasurer, as treasurer
Henry ]. Waters. president of the state
agricultural college; Henry Lassen.
wealthy and widely known wichita
miller; Walter Roscoe Stubs, former
governor; and many other widely
known Kansars will be associated
with the organization.
Iassen will doubtless serve at the
cad of the advisory committee with
Goebel
campaign will be waged at once
for early soil preparation. In the
meantime the defense council VIII
provide the two million dollar fund
bankers. elevator men and merchants
will be placed in charge of local con-
ditions They will direct the distribu-
ton of seed, preparation of soil. har-
vcsting and movement of crops. In
der the plan as advanced by the conn
lnittee today. the interests of the seed
wheat organization will extend to
every county. If a complete or par
tial failure is encountered in one
county or district, the returns from
other districts will offset the loss.
Expect Favorable Year.
kansas has but twice in twenty
years suffered two crop failures in
succession said President Waters.
Records show we will win next year.
Every available acre should be utiI-
lied in this movement for maximum
crop production"
Several members of the defense
committee asserted today that returns
from their investment beyond a rea-
sonable interest rate would be turned
over to the Red Cross society or some
similar organization individuals in
vesting in the fund. however may
use their returns as they desire.
Permanent offices will be opened in
Topeka by the seed wheat association
and the campaign for funds will be
launched at once
Sharks Are Numerous.