Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-08-11
Large contracts have

:
Tor clothing, shoes, arms, ammuni-
tons, automobiles, steamers and YES
sells and many other things. We ex-
poet these manufacturers and owners
of plants will clear a profit above all
expenses in filling their contracts.
Now, for the farmer there is no in
surance against foods. potato bugs.
insects, grub worms, and-food specu
lators. What is our government do
| ing to insure the farmers fair pro-
fit above all expenses? Does our
government consider the farmers
more patriotic than our inanufactur-
ers. ship owners and food barons? It
! would seem that 1t does. And are
they not?
| Would it not be a matter of common
justice to assure the farmer that he
! shall receive at least good wages for
| his labors and that the food specula-
| tors shall not so manipulate the mar
ket that the products of the soil must
be sold at loss to the producer
Some of the United States senators
! fnot from Maine however, have pro-
posed that, if the Food Control Bill is
passed prohibiting the distillation of
hiskey, our government shall buy
/ the stock of whiskey on hand at the
distillers' prices as to cost plus pro-
fit of ten per cent or less. Our gov
eminent should do as much for the
farmers as for the whiskey men.
! The conscience of the average Aneri-
can is not aroused on this subject.
| Are We giving the farmers a fair
deal? The dailies of this week are
referring to the disconnected farmers
of North Dakota. They will soon be
counted on the banks of the Kenne-
bee The President declares that
! farmers are back of and essential to
the solution of the food problem of the
world. Their cooperation must be
secured and held if we are to avoid
starvation experiences. Let us be fair
to the farmers.
GEORGE MERRIAM,
in Somerset independents Reporter.
Mr.. Harry B. Hunt, staff writer Of
The Newspaper Enterprise Associa-
ton. writes from Washington:
One billion bushels of wheat must
! be produced in the United States in
1918 to guarantee sufficient foodstuffs
to this country and her allies through
another year of war.
ITO provide this volume of grain,
assuming a yield per acre equal to the
average for the past 10 years, the
winter wheat acreage of the country
must be increased IS per cent.
| The department of agriculture is
sending to each state estimates of the
acreage that must be planted to wheat
this fall if we are to meet next years
RI
bodies are to be enlisted in the cam
raign to win the fullest possible re-
turn.
THE problem of getting a maximum
crop OF winter wheat sown has been
complicated by the failure of congress
to pass the food control bill in time to
regulate the movement of this years
wheat crop A large percentage of the
crop already is threshold Farmers
nave hesitated whether to move their
wheat direct to market or to hold it
pending passage of the food bill.
Also, thousands of farmers in the
wheat belt who normally buy corn to
carry them through the late months of
summer find that the grain men who
are offering them around So per bushel
for their wheat have cornered the sur
plus of last years corn Crop and de-
nIand $3.50 per hundred puonds. or
about s1.74 per bushel, for it. The
feeding value of wheat for growing
pigs and young stock is so much
higher than that of corn that these
farmers are confronting the problem
OF selling wheat at from 50 to $3.50 per
bushel. which used as ground feed.
V ould go as far as at least SO worth of
the corn they would have to buv.
Because Of these conditions. in
when the farmer as usual, is getting
II in the neck the problem of increas-
ing wheat acreage sufficient to pro-
duce billion bushels next wear is
serious
The movement plans to assist
IN securing a sufficient supply of
| lertiilzers, farm machinery and good
seed. A fair minimum price and bet
Yer conditions for transportation and
! marketing are also to be held out as
Inducements. and every possible as
slstance is to be placed at the DISPOSAL
or farmers through the department of
agriculture. the food administration
state colleges of agriculture, and other
local agencies.
TO carry out the program laid
down, agricultural experts admit.
without disrupting correct farming
practice, will call for tremendous eff
fort on the part of Americas farmers.
Eut this effort they believe, will be
made gladly as necessary part of
var work.
We are confident that all the great
majority of farmers. small and large,
ask is fair play. They are sending
their sons off for military service with
= smile and assuming additional bur-
dens with characteristic fortitude. They
do not expect time and a half" for
every moments labor beyond eight
/ hours day. or Is hours a day. They
do not strike for shorter hours or in
creased pay--what is the use? They
overwork themselves. their wives, and
children in far too many cases, in or
der to grind out a bare existence.
/ Patriotic planting" has tremendously
increased the mortgage list on farms
and farm property. They accepted
/ the ursings Of government and con-