The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1917-11-21

Washington, Nov. 20.-"War, fam
Inc and pestilence are the oldest part
nership in the world, and they are
still doing business" said Herbert
Quick, Federal Farm Loan Commits
sioner. in reply to question about
economic conditions produced by the
war.
Lots of people have been deluded
by our long unoroken prosperity in
to a comfortable feeling that this
ancient partnership had been dis
solved, or at least had ceased to OPP
crate in this land of boundless re-
sources. But they are going to find
out before long that these three sin
lister partners are as deadly as ever. J"
Next winter will cost more lives
by starvation, cold and peStilsnce
than any other IN history.
I'VE have never known famine in
this country except TO rbrief periods
in localities cut off from the rest OF
the nation, but we arc soon going to
know something of what famine
means. When the price of fooo
reaches the present levels, which put
even the necessities of life out of the
reach of large part of the people,
those people are really famine
stricken just as much as if they were
in a country where there was no
food.
What do we mean by famine,
anyhow? We certainly don't mean
that country is famine-stricken on
~ when it is entirely bare of food.
If we do, then there never has been
famine in any country. The peo-
pie with plenty of money in every
country have always been able to get
food no matter now great the famine
1.-THE rich in Ireland not only had
food during the worst of the Irish
famine, but food was exported. In
dia also exported some food throu-
ghout all her famine periods. No,
all that is meant by famine is that
the price of food has reached such a
level as to put it out of the reach OF
the mass of the people.
I'VE Americans are dangerously
close to such famine now and a
very considerable number of our
at this very time.
TT will be famine for the entire
population, if during the next year
we do not mobilize armies just as
well-trained and disciplined as our
military forces, to take control OF
the lands of this country and cult
vate them.
"Our lands must be put to their
most productive use or we are going
to find ourselves unable to maintain
our armies and the civilian popula-
ton necessary for their support. Ii
OninO RI no clIannScf1I1 VIZ
must put into the problem of devel-
oping these lands some measure OF
the energy, foresight and careful
planning that we have given to rails
ing an army.
In putting our idle hands to
work we must consider two other
great factors, labor and transporta
ton. The land that is lying unused
near cities and great industrial cen
tres particularly ought to be put to
work, because it would relieve the
strain on our already overburdened
railways.
There is enough unused land
within 80 minutes ride from New
York City Hall to supply all the
vegetables and truck garden produce
for the entire city, and yet New York
QIdWS OQ r lOTlud anu California IOf
large part of it's fresh food. Why?
Because the land in the vicinity soI
New York is worth from $500 Ito
$4,000 an acre, which puts it out.of
the reach of the people in New York
who are capable of using it.
These high land values have been
created by no other cause than the
growth of New York and it's sur
rounding communities and the people
who own the land have only legal
title and not moral right to reap
the rich rewards of this population;
growth.
In the past we Americans have
been easy-going about the whole land
question, because there has been no
sharp necessity to drive US to solve
1t. But when we are brought face
to face with famine and really I'M
derstand the enormous burdens OF
taxation which we are shouldering,
there is going to be grave consiGcra-
ton of the problem of forcing land
to be used productivity