The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-08-26
SOUTH MUST RAISE
ITS OWN SUPPLIES
Atlanta will Entertain a Big Food
Crop Congress Early i'm
October


Atlanta, Aug. 26.-The Georgia
chamber of commerce is arranging
to hold a big meeting in Atlanta in
the early part of October, which will
be known as the Southeastern Food
Crop Conference. The object OF the
conference will be to secure the
growing of a larger amount of all
foodstuffs, both for men and animals,
in the cotton producing states of the
southeast. At the same time the
cotton states lying west of the Miss
issippi will be requested to hold a
similar conference in some suitably
located city within easy reach of
their territory.
The plans, as outlined by the state
chamber, call for between 500 and
900 delegates. The commissioner of
agriculture in each state will be re-
quested to appoint delegate from
each county in his state, with alter
nate delegates in case of inability to
attend on part of the first one NAM
ed. These men will be selected by
reason of their influence among the
farmers of their home counties.
The Importance of raising suffic-
lent foodstuffs so that the southeast
will not have to import any next
year will be earnestly impressed upon
the meeting. Since the coming of
the European war. the entire South
is getting an object lesson on the
foolishness of depending too much
on any one crop, no matter how
strong that crop may be. 1t is neces-
sary that every county shall grow at
least enough to feed itself next year.
1t is impossible to say how long this
war may last. Earl Kitchener, the
British minister of war, who is prob
ably the most reliable source of In
formation, states that it will extend
over period of eighteen months. 1t
will mean two crops for US. 1t is Inn
perative that the South shall be abso-
lutely Independent of outside sources
of supply for the next year. Then,
no matter what price cotton may
bring, we shall be immune from the
effects of high prices for foodstuffs
in other parts of the world. The
South can do it. Before the civil wal
| it was practically an unknown thing
for a Southerner to buy any meats
grains or other staple foods from
any where outside the South.
The date of the conference will
probably be October 5, and 6. 1t Ii
possible that it will be found advisa
bic to change these dates little, bu
it will be held at about that time. II
order that the effect may be felt be
fore the fall crops of small grains
are planted. The meetings will follow
the same general plan of those dur
ing the boil weavil campaign las
lyear, when diversity OF crops was 81
strongly urged. They will be inspir
ational in character. At the close
each delegate will be asked to per
Isonally undertake to create an effect
live organization in his home county
These local organizations will max
a personal canvas of all farmers ans
Isecure their promise to plant largel
Increased acreage in food stuffs 70
next year.
In order to make campaign O
this nature bring results it is essen
tial that it be made wide enough 4
cover all the cotton growing states
The Georgia state chamber of com
merce in undertaking to call the con
ference is doing a work for the entir
South that compels the heartiest &C
operation from every individual VIII
calls himself son of Dixie.
II Careful plans are being made {
insure the attendance of at least on
delegate from each county in eac
state affected Therefore the effeC
will be such as to turn the presen
war scare into blessing and to set
date from which TO mark the pro.
Iperity of the Greater South.