La Junta tribune., 1917-09-06

- Alarm Among Manufacturing In.
tsrests-Amsriea Must Apply 9vsry
Rsseures y Msst Wesid's Demand
fsr feed-labss eaviRt Maehinss
aNd Man pe~er eN the Farms Vital
Factors N EesNemie csisis-Aeesai
See Government Action.
Government action ensuring the
farmers Of America ample supplies Of
farm implements and competent farm
labor Il virtually necessary to this
eountry's future participation In the
war, declare the manufacturers Of
farming tools and machinery In the
United States. This action must be I'm
mediate and radical. they say. or In
1918 the United States will fail to pro-
duce foodstuffx necessary to feed the
civil population OF our allies and TO
keep the allied armies In fighting trim
This declaration Is made In a public
statement BY the National Implement
and Vehicle Association. whose mem.
oers manufacture most Of the farming
implements used In and exported from
the United States. II II the Associa.
ions answer to an anxious Inquiry
about reports OF prospective imple-
ment shortage addressed to II In behalf
OF the c0untry's farming interests by
Ex-Governor W. D., Hoard OF Wlscou-
sin. one Of the leaders of American az
riculture and publisher Of Hoard's
Oairyman. The statement. which Is
signed by Charles 5. Brantingham.
Chairman Of the Associations E:xecu-
tive Committee. says:
Unless prompt action is taken by
the Government. our country will make
the same mistakes that have result
ed In compelling our allies to ap-
peal to US to save them from famine.
Unless we protect the production Of
iabor-saving farm machinery and the
supply Of skilled farm labor we. too.
must soon face q shrinkage Of food
supplies.
Without such action NJ Ii here xug.
gested and urged. the farmers Of
the United States will not have, enough
machines or men In 1918 to meet the
demands upon them.
I'VE are now confronted by shortages
Of raw material and factory labor that
will begin TO be manifest In shortages
Of certain lines of farm machinery this
fall and will result In serious shortages
In many vital lines next year. Stocks
has -
and machines are smaller than In nor
NAL years. because OF earlier scarcity
Of factory labor and rapidly tighten
Ing scarcity Of all raw materials.
Farmers have deferred during the
last three years the replacing Of old
and badly worn tools and machines.
Now. confrnatsd by the practical Ger.
.tninty that the war Is Ia continue In.
definitely. with attendant assurance of
u heavy demand and high prices for NIL
their -prusiucts. and by IN Inevitable
shortage of farm labor. they cannot put
on longer repiacements ~ worn out
machines aud the sddinons to equip
ment necessary to increase acreage
and production.
ut II ais" essential In meeting the
demand Of the farmers for implements
that there shnll be preference In trans
portation for raw materials 10 the fac
tories and for finished goods from the
factories 10 the firms.
For the last ten years farm labor
has been more aud more difiicult to
secure. and now With m enormous 10.
crease Ia the demand for labor Ia mu.
nitions factories. and the withdrawal
NJ many young men from productive
occupations. there Is bound to bc n
shortage of farm labor such ss this
cOuuiry has never known. In Kansas
alone q vast number 0f fertile acres on
which the wheat crop failed will lie
Idle this summer. chiefly for lack Of
labor snd partly Through lack of ma
chines To replsnt tn corn.
ave regard Il ~ vital to keep on the
farms the men now there who know
the bunineas. especially the msa
chinrry. Il would be wnstsful and
foolish 10 let them % md sfterwnrd
try To replace them with unskIlIed men.
I'VE ssek no advantage fur our iu'
dustry over nny other. but We realize
and VIZ want the public "a realize TINT
without this product and without suf'
ficlrnt labor the farmers II the United
States cannot increase ar even maIn'
tain their production of foodstvffs nexi
year. To avert the calamity hat such
. condition will surely produce. our 10
dustry and the farming Industry which
u chiefly supports must be put upoG
th~ same preferred basis ss the making
of war munitions. even II other lsss
vital indusgles suffer thereby for ma
terinls nnd men.
"Thsse nre the measures TINT We De
ciarv 10 be vital to the fcs.siias of thii
nation and It's allies next year:
II. Thut the manufacture of farm
snesesisls be given equal prrfcreucs
With the manufscturs NJ war mhnl'
iisua - 'rsgarsis Supplies of nsc~ssarJ
nv uates1ala.
=. That service 70 the country Il