The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1918-03-09
Resolutions Adopted at
Bismarck Meeting Ask
Aid as War Measure
TWO SUCCESSIVE
CROP FAILURES
Shorthill Tells Farmers
They Cannot Glut Mar
ket With Wheat
CRv Associated Press.l

Bismarck, y. D.. March 9.-Finding
that an emergency exists in NOrtn
Dakota that vitality affects the pro-
duction Of wheat and other articles
OF food by reason OF the fact that in
a large number of counties covering
about one-h half of the wheat pro-
ducing area OF North Dakota there
have been two crop failures, in sue
cession, the Farmer Grain Dealers
association in closing session Thurs
day afternoon adopted resolutions
expressing the belief that this en-
erEency should be met by the ma
tiouRl government
The resolutions ask that the sec
retary Of war should as a war meas
ure advance TO these people suf-
ncient funds to tide them over and to
enable them to seed their land to
wheat. taking in notes bearing q
reasonable rate Of interest, payable
TO the federal government. The
resolutions also express the belief
that the North Dakota council Of de-
fense should be employed by the fed
eraI government to distribute such
funds, not to exceed the amount Of
$500; that this money should be
loaned to such people who have not
sufficient means to obtain credit
through the local banks, or through
county funds raised under the bond
ing act and that the money so Rd-
vanCed shall be treated solely as a
war emergency measure.
Two Crop Failures.
The resolutions recite that Tn
1915 the wheat crops were almost a
total failure on account Of rust. In
1917 II was almost a total failure in
the same territory on account of
drouth, By reason Of these reverses,
considerable percentage Of the
farmers residing in this territory
are unable to obtain credit from
local banks or through the county
bonding arrangement and Conse-
uuently q large area Of ground will
not be seeded to wheat unless relief
can he extended to these stricken
people. They have all the necessary
equipment to go ahead and put in
their crops. providing a loan could
be extended to them, SUFFICIENT to-
buy necessary feed and seed and in
some instances groceries. If these
people can be furnished relief from
the national government the in
creased area Of ground seeded to
wheat this year will produce not
less than 100000 bushels Of wheat.
II a normal average crop is harvest
ed
There may he some things
wrong; probably all things neverI
will be exactly right, but right or
wrong, IL IL the duty now Of every
American citizen TO so conduct him
self that there cannot be the lea st
shadow Of a doubt as to whether he
stands back Of Kaiser Bill Of Berlin |
or. Woodrow Wilson Of Washington"
declared J. ". Shorthill Of the Uni |
ted States grain corpora ton. IN |
addressing the North Dakota Farm |
ers Grain Dealers association at the
auditorium Thursday morning.
Mr.. Shorthi1l was a member Of the
federal board which fixed the prIce |
Of wheat DR.. e. =. Ladd. prssi-
dent Of the North Dakota AEricui- |
tural college, served on the same
important committee, The speaker
was discussing wheat prices IN par
ticular when ne made the above as
sertion.
more Wheat" Says shertbiU
The price fixed was not Of nerss-
stty based upon equity and ius-
tice. IF the price fixed last August
had been exactly right then A.
would not be right now. It was sim