Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1920-12-31
Seeks To Control Wheat Price.

The Wheat Growers Association OF
America, which has been conducting a
campaign to induce growers to withhold
their wheat from the market until prices are
higher, plan to have mid-Western States
so well organized within the next six months
that the growers will be able to control the
price paid for the 1921 wheat crop, &C.
cording to W. H. McGreevy, secretary and
treasurer
The association now has a membership
of approximately 100000 in Texas Okla
homa, Kansas and Nebraska, according to
Mr.. McGreevy. who has his headquarters
at Wichita. Kansas. The organization will
be extended, he said, to Minnesota, North
Dakota and South Dakota.
THE purpose Of the National Wheat
Growers Association is to control the dis
tribution and marketing Of wheat through
financial and selling agencies of its own
selection at price based upon cost, plus a
fair and reasonable profit" said Secretary
McGreevy.
mot only the wheat growers of our as
ISOLATION, but the wheat growers in gen
eral are refusing to sell any wheat at
present prices except in cases where finan-
cial conditions force the sale. For more
than 80 days we have withheld our wheat
from the market until now large number
Of flour mills are idle and the local and
terminal elevators are nearly empty. The
wheat grower feels that he has practically
accomplished what seemed at first i'm
possible, and is now encouraged to continue
Withholding his wheat from market in
order that price which is fair and just
shall be paid him for his labor and money
invested"
Mr.. McGreevy objects to the use of the
term wheat strike" in referring to the
action of the wheat growers
Our growers are not striking, as is COM
monty meant by the term" he said. I'VE
are still sowing and attending to the many
arduous duties Of the farm. We are only
holding our wheat to be marketed at any
time the producer may think it at fair
price"
The organization was formed about a
year and half ago in Southern Kansas
and Northern Oklahoma. A. Slaughter, of
Manchester. Okla, was the originator and
early promoter. According to its promo
tiers. its growth in the first six months was
slow. but in the last few months 1t has
been rapid, until the membership has
spread to every wheat growing county in
the four States organized.
The States now organized in which a
membership Of 100000 is claimed, have
220.S06 wheat growers. according to Kan
sas Board Of Agriculture statistics Forty
five per cent Of the growers are members
of the association, according to this. MI
McGreevy's statement is that about 40
per cent Of growers in the wheat sections
Of the States now organized are members.
The four States produced this year 1884,
955.000 bushels out Of the total for United
States Of 750,648,000 bushels The ad :
dtion Of Minnesota. North Dakota and
South Dakota would bring the production
up to 359,003,000 bushels. or slightly
less than one-half of that Of the entire
United States.
The Kansas State Board of Agriculture
recently issued report on the wheat in
farmers hands in Kansas II says:
This years Kansas wheat crop amount
ed approximately to l45.000.000 bushels.
according to preliminary report Grow
ers now estimate that Of the total pro-
duction 53.4 per cent, or 77,466, 1877
bushels. is still in the farmers hands. At
about the same date last year 35.5 per
cent. or 50,000,000 bushels, was in pos
session Of producers, while in 1918. II pei
cent, or 100000 bushels, was reported
as held by growers.
"Chief among the reasons given for the
unusually large amount Of wheat in the
farmers hands are the drastic drop in price
and the car shortage.
Reports indicate that probably AZ per
cent Of the wheat unsold would have been
marketed early had cars been available,
but that now wheat is being held mainly
in hopes Of such an upturn in price as will
return proft-an exercise Of business
judgment which should be as free from
criticism or excite no more comment than
the action Of say. haberdasher who de-
clines to sell hats costing $40 for which
his customer offers S."