Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-02-22
FOOD BOARD UNDER.
fIREAT FARMERS
STATE INSTITUTE.
b. o IN ING TON CONVENTION
ADOPTS RESOLUTION IN WHICH
COMPLAINTS ARE REGISTERED
AGAINST ALLEGED INJUSTICE.

Bloomington, H.. Feb. 22.-Chare-
ing the attitude OF the food admins
tration is tending TO destroy conf
dcnce OF farmers, and seriously affect
ing the morale of the agricultural
population. the Illinois Farmers In
stitute, in It's closing session today,
adopted resolutions calling tho a,ten,
tion of President Wilson TO the facts.
Tho resolution cmhodics the follow.
ms charges;
That tho Hines food administration
signed an agreement 10 Tx price
for milk which would give producers
reasonable profit.
That this Was not done, rs cost oil
production was not considered
That Il set price that is sending
thousands OF good dairy cows to the
stock yards, and threatening the dairy
industry OF Illinois.
That the state food administration
has refused to cancel this action. thu
repudiating its agreement 10 fix a
price to insure reasonable profit
Bad Faith Charged.
That the national food administra.
ton last fall announced il would do
everything possible to maintain
minimum price Of $3.50 for this win
ier's run Of hogs and urged farmers
as patriotic duty to increase the
meat supply by feeding hogs to heay
Ter weights, AS there was a crying
need for fats. Yet, now that hogs
ara coming to market. packers are
heavily discounting such large ami.
mails.
That, as packers are under govern
nient control. farmers cannot help b.
question the action OF the food ad.
niniRtration in allowing them to take
advantage of men who put surplus
Weight upon hogs.
That farmers are appalled, over
suggestion Of Joseph r. Cotton. chief
Of the meat division Of the food ad.
ministratlon. that II would BE- per
fecily fair to withdraw the minimum
price Of 1890 for hogs. They are
having their faith shaken in good in
tentions OF the food administration.
That including mutton In meatless
Try rcgtaiiaailtioIiA-kas brought iRiaa ito
sheep feeders while tho government
has not purchased pound Of mutton
Tor army consumption.
Fear for Summer feed.
That meatless days have not re
duced the demand for prime beef,
and feeders have experienced heavy
losses With tho result 0, greatly cur
tailed feeding operations and meat
shortage a statement by Cotton that
tho price OF corn il al fictitious level
and that he hopes II will fall, does
not add 10 the confidence Of farmers.
That the greater portion Of last
yta'r's crop did not mature. while
corn that will keep thru this year is
10 scarce the problem OF net sum
mer's feed suppl. is serious.
Farmers, Il was yhown. did not
maize an excessive profit from their
corn last year, i, spite high prices
slree few have better grades to sell
On many farms the crop vas a total
lcss.
Resolutions also attacked classified
drat' rules and demanded skilled
farmers be not taken from vitality nee
cssary work until such time as need
II SO great az TO make such actor
imperative
Complain OF Drafting.
District boards, ii was pointed out
arc placing majority OF single far
mcrs OF draft age in class one, des
pite the fact that many are managers
and production Of their farms will SUI
for materially IL they are absent. Dis
couraged agriculture, the resolution
added cannot supply food in quaint
Is needed 10 win the war Moral
cannot be maintained Oh farm in fac'
Of uDcerisin policies.
The War Department Is asked Il
have district boards review all agri
cultural claims for deferred classic
cation; that the food administration
ibauo plain and uneanlvocal state
mcpt Of its policy toward agriculture
that il fix milk prices for the Chicago
district in accordance with Mr. Wheel
srs sinicd promise and that il civ,
assurance hat minimum ratio Of t
10 J for l9l crop OF hogs be main
tainod and that meailess days be cn
forced with more consideration 70
thor effect on future production. d
v II Il asserted tho administration /
accomplishing OF food saving an
overlooking the much greater import
anco OF food production, as no amour
OF saving can make III for partial fat