Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-04-17
A BROAD ENLISTMENT.

ana OLnerS teCnnlcally ana prOIeSslOn'
ally Interested in agriculture and ami.
NAL husbandry, show the spirit Of CO.
operation with which these men are
going to meet the food problems fac.
ing the state and nation.
Dean Curtiss of Ames was chairman
of the committee which drew up the
resolutions. They are as follows
Whereas, the United States of
America Is entering upon war prac'
tically without food reserve, and
Whereas, the state Of war Is upon us
at the very opening of the crop season
and an emergency exists, and
Whereas, the limiting element OF
food production is labor on the farm,
and
Whereas, disregarding military en-
listment the labor supply was never
so short as now, and
Whereas, the indiscriminate enlist
ment from the farms with no plan for
labor replacement will reduce food pro-
duction below the level of absolute
need, and
Whereas, If an adequate food supply
is to be assured the plan for public
defense must include an enlistment
for food production as definite as for
service at the front;
Therefore, be II resolved, that the
enlistment be so broadened as to in
clude those who by reason of their age
or physical disability are incapacitat-
ed for active military service but who
are vet able to render to the govern
ment indispensable service in the pro-
duction of food, munitions, etc. This
enlistment should include three
classes:
/. Those beyond military age.
2. Those OF military age, but not
accepted for active military service.
3. Boys from Is to 10 years Of age.
All these enlistments should be a
part Of the national military plan OF
defense and shall receive the regular
soldiers pay and be uniformed and or
ganized in regular military units and
under the command of the war depart
ment, but the general policy governing
their distribution and assignment to
duty in public defense shall rest with
a commission consisting Of the secre-
tary Of war, secretary Of agriculture
and the secretary of labor; and be it
further
Resolved, that so far as these en-.
listments will be absorbed by farmers
actually upon the farm and paid at
the going wage Of the locality, such
employment shall be in every way en-.
couraged, the man being at the time
on furlough and off government pay.
and that so far as these enlistments
are not so absorbed or by assignments
to other industrial occupations con-
tributing to the national defense. they
should be gathered upon camp farms
located at convenient points for the
production Of small fruits. vegetables.
and other emergency crops requiring
a large amount of hand labor under
close supervision.
Resolved, that we recommend the
establishment in each state OF state
council Of defense that will cooperate
with the existing national council OF
defense in the mobilization of the CIV
ilian resources Of the state and nation.
Resolved, that 1t is the sense Of this
body that suitable Legislation be i'm
mediately enacted creating federal
food commission which shall have
authority and power to supervise, d.
rect and control the marketing and dis
tributing of all food and clothing sup
plies. including specifically the right
to determine and enforce. by actual
market operations. minimum and max
imum prices at which all staple food
products shall be purchased and sold.
Resolved, that we urge upon con.
gress the great necessity for the i'm.
mediate enactment Of this legislation
to the end that the commission herein
contemplated may at once announce
minimum and maxium prices for the
staple food crops Of 1917 with view
to insuring an equitable basis for the
Going season. In this connection we
heartily commend the action of the
National Wool Warehouse & Storage
Co. and the Wool Trades association Of
Boston. Chicago and st. Louis in plac-
Ing their stocks at the disposal of the
government at such price as the gov
eminent may determine.
Resolved, that it is the Judgment Of
the advisory board Of the National
Agricultural society that this is not the
time in which to experiment with new
and untried crops and processes. The
American farmer should be encour-
aged to devote his principal efforts to
the production of such crops and the
employment of such methods as are
well established in his community and
as are likely to yield the maximum re-
turn in food or clothing material.
Resolved, that there is yet time in
which to increase substantially the
bread supply of the nation by enlarg-
ing the area sown to spring wheat in
those regions where this crop has
proved to be staple. Attention is also
called to the fact that We are milling
our wheat wastefully. and that the
-four produced by the normal wheat
crop Of the United States may be In
creased liz or approximately 1s,00O,-
900 barrels by milling on the basis Of
81 per cent -four instead Of 70 per cent
flour as at present.
Resolved, that an important increase
in our food supply may be made by en-
larging the area planted to navy beans
in the north and west and to Mexican
and Tepary beans In the southwest, by
stimulating in every reasonable way
an increase in the area Of potatoes
planted and Of such crops as may be