Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1918-04-03
AFTER WHEAT HOARDERS.
United States Food Administration
Considers il Desirable to Make
Example of These Cases.


Dear Sir:
1t is apparent that some pro-Ger-
man farmers in this state are hoard
struct the Government. There are
others who are boarding wheat for
other reasons and these men cannot
be considered patriotic in any sense
of the word. They should not be
permitted to prejudice the loyal and
decent members of their respective
communities. The Food Administra-
tion considers it desirable wherever
possible to make an example of
these cases by direct action.
| Whenever you can yourself, or
through your assistants, learn of
such instances, / would be glad if
you would direct a letter in each
(, instance of this kind instructing the
parties to bring their grain to the
nearest elevator within certain
short period.
| If they fail to respond, it will be
necessary for us to requisition the
wheat and when requisition Is done
! it will be done from this office on
lprice basis of the local elevator less
enough to pay the necessary charges
/ from the farm to the elevator. ii
cases of this character arise when
Transportation is necessary from the
| farm to the elevator we will make
arrangements through the Grain
Zone Vice President 1t will be nee
essary in cases of requisitioning for
our County Food Administrators,
or their representatives to act in
an official capacity in connection
with each case.
/ 1t is our impression that it will
not be necessary to requisition very
often but that sufficient response
will come from direct order to
bring the grain in. Publicity will be
given in every case when we find
it necessary to requisition grain. We
! feel that a few instances of this
kind would probably establish vol
untary marketing without our de-
filming any general policy with re-
gard to requisitioning.
I 1t is of the. highest Importance
that you undertake considering of
this matter Immediately as the sup
plies of grain are very badly need
ed.
|
portance that this be brought to the
attention of the farmers of your
county and that you make it a spe-
: cial business to urge them to take
their wheat to the mills and eleva-
tors. l would suggest that you call
special campaign committee for
this purpose, appointing some re-
sponsible citizen OF your county as
chairman and requesting him to Sc
! lect his committee with your APP
prevail, and make a general canvass
! of the situation for the purpose or
! giving the Government every posi-
BILE relief in this matter.
| 1t is very desirable too that you
ascertain the stocks of flour now in
the hands of individual customers,
which are in excess of their thirty
day requirements, and in every case
where you do not actually require
the flour returned to the dealers
from whom it was purchased, that
you do require the customers hold
ing it to keep it for future dispos-
al upon your order. We are ap-.
preaching a very threatening crisis
with reference to this commodity
and we depend upon you to give this
matter your best thought.
The winning of the war depends
to a greater extent than we have
hitherto believed upon tho proNer
conservation measures with refer
ence to -four and on the success we
meet in having all excess stocks OF
wheat brought to the mills.
The wheat and -four situation de-
serves your closest consideration
and as l suggested above with refer
ence to wheat, it is probable that
general committee created under
your direction to handle this matter
would aid materially in solving the
problem.
Faithfully yours,
limited States Food Administration,
j. F. Deems.
IC. j. Weiser, Food Administrator,
| Winneshiek County.