The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1917-05-11
URGtNCY.OF FOOD PRO-
DUCTION NOT EXAGGERATED
Mr.. Clifford PinChOt, Former Chief
Forester, Urges on Farmers the
Necessity of More Food Stuff

the forestry department unueI OuI BoN-
eminent. the most efficient and best
organized OF any Of the departments
today, about which there is the least
cause for complaint, puts so clearly and
forcibly the food problem before the
American people, now that our country
has actually engaged in the great war,
that we believe it should be read by
every man and woman in this country:
In this great time, when every
citizen must do his part, the President
has made his chief appeal to the men
who live on the land. He is right in
doing so, for the safety Of our country
Just now is in the hands of our farmers.
What mean is not merely our safety
and the safety OF our Allies in the
matter of food. I mean that the safety
Of the United States against foreign
invasion hangs on the decision of the
farmers OF the forty-eight states.
The two great weapons in this war
are arms and starvation. The war
against German arms will be won or
lost in France-the war against star
walton will be won or lost in America.
The Kaiser cannot whip the French
and English armies and the English
armies and the English navy while
England has food. But it is still
possible that the German submarines
may be able to keep food enough from
reaching England to starve her into
submission.
II the submarines win, the first item
in the Kaiser's terms OF peace will be
the English fleet. With the English
feet in his possession, the Kaiser will
be master of the world.
What will happen to US then? Every
man who stops to think knows the
answer. We shall have money, food,
labor, land, Everything that is de-
sirable in the world except the power
to. protect what we have. Experts
estimate that it will take US nine
months to get ready to meet German
army OF even 100000 men, with
modern artillery. Under such circum-
stances, would the Germans treat US
better than they have already treated
Belgium and France2
Even if the armies Of our Allies
should crush the German military
power this summer, before the shortage
Of food can reach the point Of want. the
world would still need vast quantities
Of American food. But if they do not,
only one course can make US safe, and
that is to grow food enough on our
farms for ourselves and our Allies, and
to put ships enough on the sea to
carry food, in spite Of the submarines,
to the men who are fighting our fight
II the war lasts beyond this summer,
it will be the American farmer who will
win or lose the war, who will overcome
militarism and autocracy, or allow them
to spread and control the world, our
selves included.
This is no fanciful picture, but sober
fact. Many man will make light of
it until he comes to think it over, but
I venture to say that few will treat it
lightly after careful thought. 1t is no
more impossible than the great war it
self appeared to be, only few days
before it began.
1t is true that we can greatly increase
the available food supply out Of grain
now used in making liquors, and by
reducing household waste. But when
these two things are done, and
thoroughly, they will not be enough.
The final decision will still rest in the
hands Of the men who raise our food in
the first place.
The clear duty Of the nation is to
guarantee the farmers a fair price
for their crops when grown, and a
reasonable supply Of labor at harvest
The clear duty OF the farmer is to raise
food enough to win this war for
democracy against Kaiserism.
No such responsibility has ever rested
on any class OF men since the world
began as rests today on the farmers of
America.
Sincerely yours,
Clifford Pinchot.