Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1918-06-05
FROM FOOD ADMINISTRATORS.
Information to Farmers Regarding
Wheat.

among farmers of its purpose and
authority for requisitioning wheat
the Food Administration outlines
the circumstances under which such
action has been taken.
By section 10 of the Food Control
Act, the President is authorized
ito requisition foods, feeds, fuels
and other supplies necessary to the
support of the army or the main
tainance of the navy or any other
public use connected with the COM
mon Defense" A just compensation
for such supplies is provided for.
With respect to foods and feeds,
the President has delegated his
who in turn has authorized the Fed
eral Food Administrators of the
various states to act in behalf.
Thus far the voluntary marketing
of wheat by patriotic farmers has
made any order for the requisition-
ing unnecessary. The pressing need
of the Allies for this important
cereal has received nationwide re-
cognition and farmers have respond
ed loyalty. They have not only
placed most of their wheat on the
market within the time specified
May l in the southern states and
May Is in the northern states
but they have brought in sur
plus -four for redistribution and in
many cased purchased substitute
cereals in its place.
In the relatively few instances
where wheat has been requisitioned,
the amounts withheld were con-
siderable and there was evidence of
disloyalty, ranging from indifference
to open defiance. In one case the
owner of the wheat challenged the
Food Administrator of his state to
come and get it'-which the Food
Administrator did the next day.
Although the power OF requisition
wheat is sweeping in its scope, the
Food Administration has preferred
to rely on the loyalty and human
ity of American wheat growers
rather than to use force. That con-
fidence in these elements of de-
mocracy has not been misplaced is
apparent from the gradual move
ment of wheat from farm to mar
ket.
In some localities where liberal
stocks of wheat were believed to
be still held, held, inventories have
been taken and the majority of
owners, to whom the great neces-
sity of the Allies was explained,
promptly responded by marketing
their wheat. The problem is some
what different in each state and
methods of procedure are conse-
quently varied.
In outlining these facts the Food
also expresses its
desire that farmers who still have
wheat on hand, including seed for
the next crop, place it on the mar
ket at once. Never before has there
been such urgent need for wheat
and with every indication of a good
harvest, scarcity of seed for the
succeeding crop is a remote con-
tingency.
Food Administrator Deems has
received the following telegram from
Mr.. Hoover:
Washington, D. c., May %,
1918, ]. F. Deems, U, S. Food Adj
Burlington, Iowa.
Reports have been circulated that
Food Administration officials state
that further wheat is not necessary.
mo statement of the character
ever has been issued. The actual
position is that our supply until
harvest will allow home consump-
tion of approximately one-third nor
NAL ii we are to maintain allied
supplies. 1
The actual position is that in the
farmers hands and stUrag: we had |
at the beginning OF May 75,0O0,e00
/ ushels Of wis to carry us for
approximately three months. Or with
az early harvest. pc laps two weeks
shorter.
"Our normal consumption for
three months would be 2Q,000.-
900 bushels, nor allowing the al
lies ANYTHING