The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-09-06
BREAD NEEDS OF COUNTRY

whether there is an emergency whick may require the stimulation of the pro. duction of wheat and authorizing hin to take steps, In case he determines that there is such an emergency, to assure the farmers of a reasonable price-of 8 guaranteed minimum-and authorizing him to make rules and regulations. Then Congress inserted the statement that the guaranty shall not be dependent on the action of the President, but shall be absolute. I do not know just what that means. It does not make it the duty of anybody to carry out this thought. It is not dependent on the action of the President. Nor does ii state what the price is, except that il shall not be less than g. But, taking the language as whole, it was clearly the intention of Congress that there should be for the 1918 crop a guaranteed price of not less than g bushel. am not prepared to speak for the food admins trator, who is to deal with this section and doubtless there will be forthcoming clear statement of his conclusions al the proper time.
 Tt is important, as I have said. thai we have an abundant supply of wheat te satisfy our own needs and large part of the need of Europe from this time al least to the end of the next wheat sea son. But it is also very important that the suggestions made shall be wise that we shall not interrupt our large agricul- tural enterprises in other directions un- duly unbalance our agriculture, or un- dertake to do things which are not de- sirable from physical point of view which are foreign to the habits of the people, and for which they do not pos sess the requisite facilities. So that oul nrnb1ap1 ic mi of bno production. It is of necessity in nc very small sense a problem of the entire agriculture of the nation. Doubtless this will be revealed fully as you proceed with the discussion.
 Tt has been cur thought that, after holding the wheat conferences, we should call conferences to consider live stock problems and those of general farming for which we shall have more time for reflection.
 Tt is very gratifying to those of us who are trying to render service here te witness on every hand the most patriotic and fine spirit of service on the part oi the people throughout the nation Thi. is not task that any one group o1 men, any set of government officers can do. Wars are no longer fought by a comparatively few groups of individ uals. They are fought by entire nation. and won by those nations with the larges resources most effectively organized anc directed. think this nation is giving z demonStration, and will continue to givs superb demonstration in the field oi organization, fyl the direction of grea resources and Is going to teach the peo- ples of the world that democracy is really what we claim it to be-the bes form of government.
 Leadership is as wide as the nation No man can say today from what guar ter the suggestion may come that may most adequately solve a particular prob lem whether it be civic or a military problem. It is one of the tremendous advantages of democracy that any per son, no matter how humble, may have the opportunity to serve the nation. | is stimulating to know that this is SC and 1t is encouraging to realize the prevalence of the spirit of service. know that you have come here in the spirit of service, in the spirit in which hundreds of thousands of men are com ing for different purposes from every corner of the union. It would be pre- sumptuous, almost impertinent, for me to thank you for coming here because you are simply gladly doing your duty ?