The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-04-11

and realize<what it means if he can that there is not now enough labor left upon the land to produce what we ourselves should consume. What then of Western Europe, whose fields are devastated? Shall we then be driven to importation? Very we'll, from whom shall we import? and what? Argentina has already placed an embargo upon wheat. The Cana dian yield must decline, for many man that ran tractor on the plains of Alberta and Saskatchewan two years ago is now but a bundle of bones on the battlefield of France.
 Shall we then limit the food sup ply of the people? How then can we expect, to win, for energy and power come only from food. A hungry peo- pie never has been and never can be 8 victorious people, besides it would require more men to enforce restric- ted diet than it would to produce enough to turn a scarcity into an abundance.
 America has acres enough if reas- onably well worked to feed both her self and western Europe. Here lies her strength in the present struggle, if only she is wise enough to know it before she throws away her one great and peculiar opportunity.
 But it will not take care of itself. If enlistment for service at the front is to be made indisdriminately and without plans to definitely increase labor on the land, then it is inevitable that food will drop to a level that may easily prove disastrous.
 "But will not this cut off the supply of labor for general manufacture? As suredly it will but now is a time to cut out luxuries of dress and display, if necessary, and get down to the seri- ous business of meeting the exigen- cies involved in war In the times just ahead, the man or the woman that indulges in excessive luxury is helping that much to defeat the coun- try. That he hasfthe money to pay for it. has nothing to do with the question. When men are needed not only at the front but in the cornfie1ds in order that those fighting for liber- ty and their little ones shall not starve no man or woman has right to ab- sorb the time and strength of doz- en able-bodied men in unnecessary service.
 '"This and all other service not needed in the serious business of war and the necessary business of living is needed on the land, and the Uni- versity of Illinois proposes definite enlistment, in what may be called the Civil-Military Service, of men who are permanently or temporarily dis qualified for military service at the front, and of boys fourteen to eigh- teen years of age, especially those looking to active service later on.
 These men and boys should all receive the regular military pay, be uniformed. organized, and in every way recognized as in the public ser vice., They should be quartered at agricultural camps located at, conven- tent points upon land rented by the government and suitable for the growth of small fruits, vegetables cotton and tobacco-crops that re- quire much hard labor under condi- t1nso that make supervision feasible
 Every attempt should be made to place as many of them as possible up- on actual farms. under furlough and off government pay, the workman soldier to be paid by the farmer the going wage of the locality, it being understood that if dissatisfaction arises, the man shall return to camb and the lower wage.
 The camp should be under mili- tary discipline and frequent but not exacting drill. for the first business is food production, and for this purpose the little army should be under ag- ricultural leaders skilled in the pro- auction of the special crops to be grown at the particular camp. There should also be located in connection with these camps facilities for drying and otherwise preparing food for pre- servation and transportation.