The daily commonwealth. (Greenwood, Leflore Co., Miss.) 1916-1919, 1917-04-02
ORR FL.tN DRY.

therefore, must ngnt.
But with the conflict a reality, it will he Wi
if we as a people are disposed to profit by the ex.
~perience of the nations across the water.
/ It seems like a prosaic matter for discussion
but really one of the creates factors that will
enter into the matter is our food supply. We are
already faced with prices as high as it would
seem we can possibly endure; with a pronounced
shortage in many lines of products; and if a large
army and navy is to be recruited from our indus
trial workers the ~sitaa.ioa il likely 70 yecome seri.
Gus.
1t is, however, fortunate that the crisis should
come at this season of the year, when the peop.e
can plan to meet the situation. Tie farming sea-
I son is just opening, and every man, woman and
child in the United STATES should be brought to
feel that on his or her shoulders resi- a very
tangible portion of the responsibility that faces
the nation.
OUR PEOPLE MUST BE FED. In an ordi-
nary year this matter would automatically take
care of itself. But not SO in this instance. Aside
from the fact that thousands and thousands will
be drawn from the ranks of the workers, we will
have also to reckon with the restlessness anu ex-
element that will inevitably prevail throughout
the country. This is not conducive to successful
work.
What our people must realize is that no calam-
ity can be allowed to touch us AS A WHOLE. An
army may be modified, and the navy strengthen
ed. but affairs will move along in the same grooves
i. al lines of industry, Hence, with ms increased
demand FOR food supplies that is sure to come,
the FIRST THOUGHT of ALL the people should
be to see that every available foot of tillable soil
is made to produce a crop.
And this should not only apply to farmers.
Millions of people in the cities am owns IAN con-
tribute largely to the result. Unused oack yards,
vacant lots, fallow fields, even railroad rights Of
way can be made to add their quota. Every
dweller in a city or tow who CA by any means
secure a plot of ground should do SO and devote
a portion of his or her time this season to pro-
ducing something to eat. None should evade
this duty, for a duty it is. %.
Let none delude themselves with he Felief
that there will be any material lowering Of the
prices Of foodstuffs unless there is an Increase
in production. The demaDa IL TOO great, here
are yawning markets The "prid over for every
bushel Of wheat, corn, potatoes, or any .<har
article of food that we can produce. aud even
should we escape a long war, at least as lon as
the conflict continues in Europe that demand will
be urgent.
We can, we should, we MUST make Of our
selves that which w glory in proclaiming-a ne
ton of farmers.
GG . = K El
You say, Mr.. Merchant, that you don't have to
advertise because you have been in business 50
long that everybody knows you. Well, there is a
certain mail order concern in Chicago that has
probably been in business as long as you have,
and we will bet a nickel to a ginger cake that ev-
ery person .ha.. read thesa lines can cal the name
of that firm. And we will bet, further, that over
half of your customers have catalogues of this
firm in their homes right now. They see the value
of advertising. Can't you?
n m IA n "a IA n
Just about the time an article of diet reaches a
sufficiently hieh price to be really toothsome and
brow and declares it fatal to one or more of the
pet ailments of mankind. Spgds are now declared
to have a special grudl:e against the little catarrh
devils and we are warned against eating them.
"a IA R "a ~ IA IA "a
The lawyers tell us that ignorance of the law
excuses no man. And then we are solemnly in
formed thai he law making dies Of the country,
state and national in the past five years have
passed no less than $3.50 laws. Well plead gull
ty to the charge, whatever it is.
NE "a N m "a ~ "a ~
American physicians who have been engaged
in hospital work in Germany contend that the
food shortage has operated to improve the hes.lth
of the people. They could have learned that much
at home. American newspaper men are noted for
health and longevity.
M a IA IA " ss w
We are not keen on seeking a scrap, but if an
ornery cuss punches us on the nose we are no.
going to wipe off the blood and invite him to punch
Arain, Bible or no Bible. Wen give him the
that is in US. On with he war!
"a "a M IA "a - ~
Cx+rovooonco and narsirnOnv arc hoth sins