The people's voice., 1941-07-30
TheCO-OPTIMIST
of the F. u. t. A.
Partial Embargo's On
Meet Tantalus!
Blockade 1t Is!
Down on the Farm
Gradual Marketing

| DOWh OlI AAiC al Ia
Gradual Marketing
The opening moves of the threat
ened embargo on grain shipments
came at midnight on July 25-exact
time being 1901 am. At that mo-
ment a partial embargo ON shipment
of grain to the terminals went into
effect. 1t permits the shipment of
grain which is to be sold on the open
market for cash and 1t likewise per-
mits the shipment of grain owned by
the Commodity Credit Corporation on
its order, when terminal space is
available Al of this grain is, as yet,
that of the 1910 crop. The 1941 crop
has not yet begun to roll to the
market. When it does, that which is
now a partial embargo will probably
become a complete one, simply be-
cause-whether we like it or not
the terminal elevators and even the
local elevators are chockablock with
grain from last years crop.
The grain producer, unless he has
taken steps to protect himself by pro-
viding granaries or storage bins on
the farm, is going to know how the
old Greek of Hellenic mythology felt.
His name was Tantalus and we use
his name in the word "tantalize" and
scarce remember how we come to
use it. Tantalus was a wicked old
sinner and when he died and hit the
lower realms special form of torture
was provided for him. He was set
in the midst of a lake of clear, sweet
water but every time he stopped his
head to wet his parched lips, the wa
ter receded Likewise tempting fruits
hung above him, and each time he
tried to reach them, they eluded his
grasp.
The grain producer sees above him
and near him a chance to get dollar
price or better for his wheat. But
the "long green" keeps out of his
reach if he has no place to store his
wheat at home and cannot ship 1t
to the terminal for storage. The en-
barge will prevent him getting the
money that hangs so temptingly near.
We know a little of the British block
ade of Europe. We know that no
ship may carry food or munitions of
war to the continent of Europe with
out first having what the British call
a "Navicert," which is brief for naval
certificate, under which ship may
enter the prohibited areas. That sys-
tenn will apply to our shipment of
grain by railroad. We do not call 1t
a blockade-it's an embargo. But the
elevator or the producer wanting to
ship carload of the 1941 crop will be
required to get a permit to have
a car spotted ON the siding and to
move that car, when it is loaded to
the terminals. We do not call that
a "navicert'-it's a permit. But by
any name it smells as sweet
That may be and can be avoided by |
tho grain producer He can store the
grain on his farm until the blockade |
ends. Under such storage he can get
the government loan (Which is $1.15
on No. 1 Dark Northern Spring at
and, in addition be paid
for storing the grain. Situated like
that, the farmer can say with Robin
son Crusoe": I am master of all
For once, he can hold his
grain and have his money, too.
Fifty years ago farmers mourned
over having to rush their grain to
market and sell most of it within
period of three months. Such flood
Of grain beat down the price, which
rose after the grain had all been
shipped and sold. This year sees a
there are those who do
not like change! They will consider
the embargo an Infringement of their