Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1917-04-06
BREAD AND BULLETS EQUALLY ESSENTIAL
This Country Must Look to the Development of
Agriculture on d [ arge Scale

Therefore the mobilization Of our skilled
and nn>killed labor necessary To meet the
governments labor requirements 10 pros
lecute its enormous military task tends TO
lessen the number of food producers. while
no substantial plan j. offered to encour-
age increased food supply. Nothing will
be gained by becoming alarmed sixty days
from now. after il il too late to plan. Crops
are not like factories-they can only be
Started once in twelve months. Now j. the
time To act, or else face the consequences
Regardless of the final result of the war
IN Europe. II cannot now terminate in time
for that country To produce this year Suf-
~ticient to feed its population-it must draw
heavily from u. If we are compelled to
concentrate all our surplus energy on the
production of munitions of war. Ia the Diet
rment of our farm products, VI will have
to decide between food disturbances AT
home or the shutting off of supplies to the
allied nations. The latter would he shame
full while they struggle to maintain the
freedom Of the seas, a principle we UNI
e%quivucally STAN for.
For every man who must shoulder Il
rifle for military duty we had better fur
nish inducement for another To take up a
hoe for farm work. For every farm la
borer who leaves the farm for the ammnni-
ton factory to earn - Il day. we had bet
ter offer inducements To the farmers to
speed up their efforts 10 feed the people,
and show them how they will be justified in
going 10 the labor market and paying good
wages Tor the same class Of labor for farm
work H. the gun and battleship factories
pay labor to serve the government.
The suggestions made of turning golf
courses. polo grounds, vacant lots. etc. in
10 farms are largely theoretical. What
help comes from these sources will con
>ist of vegetable gardens during the sum
mer. II i bread, milk. meat, potatoes. etc,
for next winter we must look ahead to.
Only the farmers can feed the nation, and
that industry will increase or decrease only
A. it shows a good returns as other le-
ultimate enterprises in proportion TO cap
ital and labor employed.
There j. nothing to enthuse over in
farming, while manufacturing millions OF
rifles, cartridges, powder, launching great
battleshops, torpedo boats and submarines,
accompanied by patriotic speeches, Stir>
our blood to the fighting pitch. Looking AT
the other side of the picture, when ample
food j. not 10 be had. lis pangS are first
/ felt by the children and the decrepit in the
small homes where the cost of every meal
l. measured by the penny. Let us not for
get in our military preparations that we
should act in time to prevent what i now
taking place in proud old England, where
the private residences Of the rich and poor
alike are searched by officers of the gov
eminent and owners of the homes punish
ed when more articles OF food are found
than allowed under the food regulations
fixed by the government.
a comprehensive plan can be made which
will insure an ample supply of the sub
~stantial necessities of life if taken in time
and under q practicable. workable plan: d
plan sufficiently conservative 20 meet the
approval of the public. vet drastic enough
| to insure It's success.
II. +. YOAKUM.