New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1917-04-13

heart of the greatest food-producin., |
region in the world. These riots are |
attributed to high prices, but high
prices mean something. They do not
come of themselves, nor when there is
an abundance of food. Therefore,
when the police are called out to put
down the riots, it is we'll that states
men and those in authority inquire
into the causes, particularly now as
we enter the greatest struggle in all
history.
people do not generally know that
q real shortage of food exists. They
do not know that the last two years
have been lean years upon the land,
and that us matters stand today, I'M
less the coming season should be ex-
tremely exceptional a serious situa-
ton would confront us. When the
food supply of Europe was cut down
by war. they-the allies at least
could look to importation, but no
such prospect is held out to America.
We are at the end OF the line, and if
we fail that ends it.
r. DISCRETION of the Farms.
'.People generally do not realize the
ing the land for the last half dozen
years and erecting conditions of en-
ployment that tend strongly to cut off
the food supply, for the farmer cam
not operate his farm on the eight
hour plan nor according to union
rules. BY the use of large and still
larger ma chinery, the farmer has done
the best he could to make good the
| loss. He has worked his boys early
and late and still he cannot work
! his acres for high yields. Some lands
| are being abandoned and turned into
cheap pasturage. The writer has
seen crops plowed under, while he
knows of harvests ungathered because
! labor could not be had for the gather
ing No wonder the farmer works
twelve to sixteen hours a day, and no
wonder considerable number are
| forced back into the self-sufhcing sys-
| tenn with no hope of working the land
! to the best advantage.
"As we go into the greatest war Of
all time, and as our mind is on enlist
ment for service at the front, let
every American citizen understand
and realize what it means if he can
that there is not enough labor left
upon the land to produce what we
ourselves should consume. What then
of Western Europe whose fields arc
devastated? Shall we then be driven
to importation? Very we'll, from
whom shall we import, and what?
Argentina has already placed an en-
barge upon wheat. The Canadian
yield must decline, for many man
that ran tractor on the plains of
Alberta and Saskatchewan two years
ago is now but bundle of bones on
the battlef1elds of France.
Shall we then limit the food sup
Y,1x- Of he Ia
expect to win, for energy and power
come only from food. A hungry peo-
Nle never has been and never can be
a victorious people. besides it would
require more men to enforce a re-
stricted diet than it would to produce
enough to turn a scarcity into an
abundance.
America has acres enough if
reasonably we'll worked to feed both
herself and western Europe. Here
lies her strength in the present
struggle if only she is wise enough to
know it before she throws away her
one great and peculiar opportunity.
But it will not take care of itself.
If enlistment for service at the from
is to be made indiscriminately and
without plans to definitely increase
labor on the land, then it is. inevit-
able that food will drop to a level that
may easily prove disastrous.
Get Down to Business.
But will not this cut off the sup
ply of labor for general manufac-
ture? Assuredly it will. but now is
time to cut out luxuries of dress
and display if necessary, and get
down to the serious business OF
meeting the exigencies involved in
war. In the times just ahead, the
man or the woman that INDUCES in
excessive luxury is helping by just
that much to defeat the country. That
he has the money to pay for it, has
nothing to do with the question
When men are needed not only at the
front but in the cornfields in order
that those fighting for liberty and
their little ones shall not starye, no