Arizona republican., 1917-05-09

(Continued from Page One) gardine food production and food costs 1 was intensely interesting. Forty two l states were represented, quite q num- | Der of them by their governors, others bv the chairman of their state council of defense. while others were repre- sented by the presidents of their asrl- cultural colleges. The one outstand- ing fact which developed in this con- ference was that while every state is exerting itself to increase it's acreage of food products, the big problem is to obtain sufficient agricultural labor tn handle these crops satisfactorily. Another feature which developed is the need of devising ways and means to improve the transportation facilities of the country. to eliminate waste Tn transportation. and to work out some plan which, as Governor Frazier well phrased it. reduces the gap between the producer and the consumer Tl1e whole feeling of the conference seemed to be that it was just as necessary to safeguard the interests of the pro ducer in this important matter of food products as it was to protect the con sumer against manipulative and spec ulative prices
 This problem of food supply is a particularly serious one in some of the New England states. Massachusetts, for instance produces but 20 per cent of it's food consumed. New Hampshire but 25 per cent but both of these states i through their councils of defense which are backed with liberal appro- priations, are working out practical l plans for increasing production: Thou sands of additional garden plats are being started. Trained men are being i put in general charge to insure effi- | ciency in production. In some states ! the young men in the high schools 1 have been mobiized and are offering l their share of national service by ar ranging to work on the farms this summer.
 To Meet the Submarine
 As Secretary Lane said to us the first very memorable session of thf Council of Defense which was held in the secretary of wars office: The submarine is recognized as a serious menace, but our ship-building pro- gram is already under splendid head way; wonderful plans worked out under the direction of MT Edison, for combating the submarine which can not now be made public are under way; and the inventive and creative | genius of America is enlisting in this war that at the earliest possible mo- ment peace may be secured
 Tn all the talks before us there was a remarkable freedom from generality, and disposition to deal level l-headedly with the hard facts of the case Many definite, concrete suggestions have i been made for increased cooperation from Arizona which | shall present to the executive committee on next Friday.
 During the conference Secretary i Daniels was able to announce that that morning recruiting in the navy had brought it up to full strength, but that with the additional units now proposed recruiting would continue.
 After the general meeting of the conference l had special meetings with Secretary Houston of the department of agriculture and Secretary Wilson of the department of labor The former proposed, with the cooperation of the people of this state, to make com plete census of our food supplies. He appreciates the shortage of agricul- tural labor in this valley and is pre- pared to give us his best help in elim- mating this condition
 Department to Aid Valley
 "I also discussed with Secretary Wilson this problem of the shortage
 
 is now giving his very best attention toward definite plan for the inn provement of these conditions
 On Food Production
 At the conclusion of the conference on food production 1 was appointed one of the committee on resolutions, and as d result shall have some def mite. constructive suggestions to offer to the executive committee of the Arizona Council of Defense at it's meeting in Tucson next Friday.
 The work in connection with the meeting of the Council of National De fense. and the various state represen- tatives, which was held on last Wed nesday and Thursday was laid out SC that the. various specialists, many of them big business men like Daniel F. Willard, Howard F. Coffin and others. could present their particular subjects direct to the conference and answer such questions as might be de veloped. This made of the conference , a very constructive meeting so that every member was able to carry back to his own state some definite methods to enable his state to better do its share in national preparedness.
 Throughout the entire conference , from every state, whatever the politi- cal complexion of it's representative there was the most unanimous. vigor- , ous and thoroughgoing backing of tn, president in his war plans, and thor 7 ough recognition of the seriousness O. f the situation, but an unfaltering deter z imitation to give to our allies the un 5 limited cooperation of the nation, botl ? in men. money and supplies It wa s generally shown by all those in closes | touch with the situation, that this i
 no time for apprehension or uncer n tainty; that the business of the coun f try is naturally going right ahead il = it's accustomed channels, and that nat : urally, owing to war conditions busi s ness will be good; but at the same tim n that every man in business shoul | recognize that his first duty is to b
 ready to give promptly to his countr
 whatever service may be required o r, him.
 "One of the pleasantest features c r my eastern trip was the meeting wit
 General Joffre and the French com r. mission through the courtesy of Sec