The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1920-12-31
ASSOCIATION PLAN TO HAVE
MIDWEST ORGANIZED
Campaign To induce Farmers
To Hold Wheat Until Prices
Are Higher
TAssociated Press DispatchI

Associated Press DispatchI
Wichita, Kan. December 26-The
Wheat Growers Association of Amer
lea, which has been conducting a
campaign to induce growers to with
hold their wheat from the market
until prices are higher. plans to
have midwestern states SO well or.
ganized within the next six months
that the growers will be able to con-
troll the price paid for the 1921
wheat crop. according to w. H. Nc
Greevy, secretary and treasurer.
The association now has q mem
bership OF, approximately 100000 in
the states of Texas, Oklahoma, Kan
sas and Nebraska, according to Mr..
McGreevy, who has his headquarters
here. The organization will be ex.
tended, he said, to Minnesota, North
Dakota and South Dakota. THE
Growers Association is to control the
distribution and marketing Of wheat
through financial and selling agen-
cies of its own selection at a price
based upon cost, plus q fair and rea-
sonable profit" said Secretary Nc
Greevy.
Growers Refuse To Sell Wheat
mot only the wheat growers Of
our association but the wheat grow
ers In general are refusing to sell
any wheat at present prices except
In cases where financial conditions
force the sale. For more than thirty
from the market until now a large
number Of -four mills are idle and
the local and terminal elevators are
nearly empty. The wheat grower
feels that he has practically accom-
plished what seemed at first impos-
sible, and Is now encouraged to con.
tinue withholding his wheat from
market in order that a price which
is fair and just snail be paid him
for his labor and money invested"
of the term wheat strike" in re-
ferring to the action OF tht wheat
growers. "Our growers are not strik-
ing as is commonly meant by< the
term" he said. eve are still SOW
ing and attending to the many ardu-
GUS duties of the farm. We are
only holding our wheat to be mar
keted at any time the producer may
think 1t at q fair price" The organ
ization was formed about year and
q half ago In southern Kansas and
northern Oklahoma. Mr.. A. Slaugh-
originator and early promoter. Ac-
cording to its promoters its growth
In the first six months was slow but
IN the last few months it has been
RAPID until the four states organized.
The four states now organized
Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma and
Texas in which a membership of
100000 is claimed have 220,306 wheat
growers, according to Kansas Board
Of agriculture statistics. Forty Ave
percent Of growers are members of
the association, according to this.
Mr.. McGreevy's statement Is that
about 40 percent of growers In the
wheat sections OF the states now or
ganized as members.
Production OF Four States
The four states produced this year
232, 955. 900 bushels out of the total
for United States Of 760.648.00O
bushels. The addition of Minnesota,
North Dakota and South Dakota
s wSu1d ia h bring the production up to
than one half that Of the entire
U. 8. The Kansas State board Of
recently issued a report
on the wheat In farmers hands in |
Kansas. It says:
This years Kansas wheat crop
amounted approximately TO $780,
300 bushels, according to a prelimin.
airy report. Growers now estimate
that Of the total production 53.4 per
cent, or 77,466,727 bushels, is still |
IN the farmers hands. At about the |
same date last year 35.5 percent, or
50, 100000 bushels was in possession |
Of producers. while in 1915, IL per-
cent, or 100000 bushels, was re-
ported as held by growers.
: Chief among the reason for the
large amount of wheat in
farmers hands are the drastic drop
n price and the car shortage. Re.
porters indicate that probably AZ
percent of the wheat unsold would /
have been marketed early had cars /
been available but that wheat is be-
ng held mainly in hopes Of such
IN upturn in price as will return a
,rofit--an exercise of business judg-
nent which should be as free from |
criticism or excite no more CON-
nent that the action of say, haber.
lashery who declines to sell hats /
costing $40 for which his customer
pliers S.,