Mexico Missouri message., 1916-10-12


caused a loss Of not less than $1,000
600 to the fruit industry Of California
alone. This amount is probably much
too low.
The peach crop now going to mar
ket with value Of about S55, 00o, 900,
would have been practically a total
loss. The $500, 100000 apple crop
would have shrunk by half In value.
TIL. potato crop, OF value Of about
$22o,oo0,o0o would have involved q
further loss Of at least $50, 900 900. The
cabbage farmer of Northern Ohio, the
grower of tomatoes for the cannery,
and the celery grower of Michigan and
Florida would have kept mournful
company. Melons from Colorado, Call
fOrnla, Arizona and Delaware, grapes
from western New York, and from
Yakima and Wenatchee, prunes, pick
les. poultry, butter and eggs would
have gone down in the common cata-
clysm.
What would strike have meant to
the live stock market of the farmer?
And what would 1t have meant to the
consumer, with the cold storage facili-
ties in control OF the packers COM
bine?
Would Have Paralyzed Industry.
The direct and immediate loss which
the farmer would have sustained in
case of strike is but one phase of
the danger which threatened his inter-
ests. The depressing influence upon
market prices, resulting from the in
ability of consumers to buy because of
lack Of employment, would have been
felt in every item of this years farm
products. Take this single instance:
This telegram, sent to President Will
son on September I'd by Henry Ford,
the worlds greatest automobile manu-
facturer:
The President: The moment 1t
is positively known that a strike
will become effective on the rail
roads, the Ford Motor Company
will Of absolute necessity shut
down its factory and all of its as
Sembly plants throughout the
country, and every man of its more
than 5000 workers will have to
go off the pay roll.
Our business is so organized
that the supplies and products
must be kept moving constantly.
We cannot move a day without
railroad service. We are making
1900 cars every day. The materi-
ais must be moved in and cars
out. sincerely. hope something
can be done to avert the strike.
Your efforts are appreciated and
should be commended by every
citizen in the country.
HENRY FORD.
This telegram is typical OF what
would have happened to practically
every American industry had a strike
ensued. Millions of laborers would
have faced enforced idleneSs, poverty
and restitution. The strike would
have paralyzed every American indus
try and precipltRted a panic, such as
has never been witnessed.
Has not the farmer good reason TO
thank God that Woodrow Wilson was
IN the White House, with nerve and
sanity enough to stop such a national
Calamityf
WoodmSn Against Liquor.
Modern Woodmen of America,
through action of delegates at various
Head Camps, have taken firm stand
against the manufacture. sale and use
of intoxicating liquors. One engaged
in the manufacture or sale Of tntox-
eating liquors, as beverage, can not
hold membership in our Society," ana
one who drinks liquors to excess can
not legally retain his membership. The
whole liquor business, as now conduct
ed in the United States, is menace
not alone to morals and business pros
p2rity. but to the health of the indiVid-
ual as well.