The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1917-04-09
HALL THE SOUTH
SUFFER FOR FOOD

xarting Facts Disclosed by the I'm
minence of War-The South is
HELPLESS Unless There is a Heavy
Increase of Food Crops at Once
Acting upon warnings received
Nom Washington as to the serious
lpndition which confronts the South
ern States, the committee of public
Iafetv appointed by the Atlanta, Ca,
Chamber of Commerce called a food
kpnferenee to be held in that city
April 5. The following report of the
eommittee reveals some startling
hcts that should arouse every citi>
Len Of the South:
I'VE call your attention to the ca
amity which threatens the South.
in war the problem is one not
plely of men and munitions, but of
bod supply. The South can furnish
len and, to a certain extent munit-
ms, but in the matter of food sup
We are helpless. unless there is
heavy increase of food crops at
bee. We do not even feed ourselves.
Is matters now stand, we are fed
fom the hog pens and the stock
arms and the granaries of the West.
Many people in the South have felt it
necessary to deny this or gloss it
Ner. This may be all very we'll in
Zines of peace, but when this war
bmes the truth will be exposed. We
Dill be face to face with absolute
Fant. Not only will we be unable to
british food for the armies, but we
bill be unable to feed our people at
home. We will become a burden up
p the nation, because the nation will
tnd it necessar-- to supply US with
pmething to eat.
ut has been estimated that $780,
100000 Of food stuffs, including an
enal products, are brought into the
Bcuth each year in addition to what
Re ourselves, produce. When all this
food is needed for the armies anc
|Or the civilian population in other
ectlOns Of the country, to say moth
hg Of the exports to Europe, how
Pre- We to be fed? There is but one
fnswer to this question. We mus
axe immediate steps to produce up
n our own farms something thai
Elll support man and beast, or VIZ
nall suffer. This issue can be avoid
= no longer. We must face it anC
ace it at once.
Every well-informed man know
nat food is scarce the world over
nd food crops under these conditions
fe sure to bring high prices. Corr
selling at the highest price eve
tnoWn in the history of this coun
ry
"A man in position to know pre-
IaS that no wheat will be availabl
y thlS country by July LIST for an,
purpose whatever. 1t will be well
gn criminal for our farmers, AM
gr me men who control the grea
PLANTATIONS, and for the bankers VIII
nance these men, and for the mer
D~hIS who have been accustomed t
,..pppIy them, to follow out their pres
u. plans and put every availabl
sne IN cotton. Our grain crops wer
Ee@eocaIiy destroyed by the cold
leE ", months AFRO.
II Is understood that farmers hav
u Ttsrnned to plant all this oat an
, jneGt land in cotton. Every mean
H. %uuI ~ be exerted to prevent this. TIL
4, Iarmer and the little farme
,J5uoughout the South ought to b
g, Ymn mat it IS his patriotic duty t
INV a." sufficient food stuffs upon hi
H. ,.' not only to feed his own fan
,o ~ anu ms own stock, but to Civ
s ,me assistance at least to the GOV
sHe IN taking care of the me
T se.5 army and the navy. Let it ne
4, S Sd that in these critical time
n . nouth has become a burden upo
and "dll91n, IS unable to sustain itse
fe unable unable to be Of any service t