Jasper County Democrat, Volume 21, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 May 1918 — FACTS ABOUT REQUISITIONING WHEAT [ARTICLE]

FACTS ABOUT REQUISITIONING WHEAT

To secure a better understanding 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 Fo£»d Control Act, the President is authorized “to requisition foods, feeds, fuels and other supplies necessary to the support of the army or the maintenance of the nary or any other

public use connected with, the common defense.” A just compensation for such supplies Is provided for. With respect to foods and feeds, the President has delegated his powers to the Food Administrator, who in turn has authorized the Federal Food Administrators of the various states to act in his behalf. Thus far the voluntary marketing of wheat by patriotic farmers has made any order for general requisitioning unnecessary. The pressing need of the Allies for this important cereal has received nationwide recognition and farmers have responded loyally. They have not only placed most of their wheat on the market within the time specified —May 1 in the Southern states and May 15 in the Northern states —but they have brought in surplus flour for redistribution and in many cases purchased substitute cereals in its place. In the relatively few instances where wheat has been requisitioned, the amounts withheld were considerable and there was evidence of disloyalty, ranging from indifference to open defiance. In one case the owner J of wheat challenged the Food Administration of his state to ‘‘come and get it” —which the Food Administrator did the next day.

Although the power to requsition wheat is sweeping in its scope, the Food Administration has preferred to rely on the loyalty and humanity of American wheat growers rather than to use force. That confidence in these elements of democracy has not been misplaced is apparent from the gradual movement of wheat from farm to market. In some localities where liberal stocks or wheat were believed to be still held, inventories have been taken and the majority of owners, to whom the great necessity of t'he Allies was explained, promptly responded by marketing their wheat. The problem is somewhat different in each state and methods of procedure are consequently varied. In outlining these facts the Food Administration also expresses its desire that farmers who still have wheat on hand, including seed for the next crop, place it on the market at once. Never before has there begn such urgent need for wheat and with every indication of a good harvest, scarcity of se’ed for the succeeding crop is a remote contingency,—lndiana State Council of Defense. :