The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1918-04-25
SIEZE ALL HOARDED
WHEAT AFTER MAY Is
Food Administration to take Ac-
tiOn Against Farmers who
are Hoarding Wheat

Under an order issued by Charles
Hebberd, food administrator for WASH
ington, all wheat held on farms in this
state which is not necessary for home
use will be requisitioned after May Is.
The administrator is informed there is
considerable grain held in the state,
some of it under the impression that
a higher price may be obtained, and
some held by people from unpatriotic
motives.
The order which has been sent to all
county food administrators in this
state follows:
|. "The latter part Of March call
was issued to the farmers of Washing
ton in pursuance of the request of Mr..
Hoover, United States food admins
traitor, that they bring to market by
May Is all wheat in their possession
except their necessary reserves for
seed.
"Most Of the surplus wheat on the
farms has already gone to market.
There are, however, considerable guam
titles in some localities still retained
on the farms. In some cases holders
of this wheat have been influenced by
pro-German motives and in some in
stances by the erroneous expectation
of receiving higher price. The high
er price established for 1918 wheat in
the Pacific Northwest district, or any
high price that might be established
hereafter by congressional act, is for
1918 crop only. There is no way, there
fore, that any grower can benefit by
holding his grain after May Is, and in
case of such boarding it can only be
presumed that the hoarder is influenc-
ed by improper motives.
"The food administration, therefore
calls upon all grain producers, at q
patriotic service, that they bring ia
market by May 15 all surplus wheat
If the local miller is unable to buy al
of the wheat that is offered, it should
be marketed in the other customary
trade channels, thru which it will get
to the food administration grain cor
poration.
sThe county food administrators IL
the several counties are asked to Sc
cure at once all possible data as te
surplus stocks of grain remaining or
the farms in their respective counties
and to report to the federal food ad
ministrator of the state on May 18th
each case where surplus grain is still
held on farms, specifying name and ad
dress of owner and approximate guam
Titles held.
aAfter May Is surplus stocks hoard
ed from unpatriotic motives will be re
QUESTIONED under executive order, Al
provided in section 10 Of the fedora
food act. Mr.. Hoover, as United State
food administrator, has given the fed
leral food administrator Of the stat
special power of attorney to requisi
ltion and take possession Of such wheat
n 0In view of the need for wheat fo
the use of the army and navy and 70
other public uses connected with tn
common defense, no one has mora
or legal right to hoard wheat, an
power to requisition all wheat for tha
: purpose is expressly conferred by tn
|, food act. 1t is hoped that recourse {
requisitioning will be necessary in bu
!, few cases. However, if there are ]
4 the state any slackers who from pro
German or other unpatriotic purpose
t refuse to comply with the present n
l quest to bring all surplus wheat
: market by May Is, prompt action
: requisition such surplus will be take
y by the federal food administration
the state"