The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1917-06-29

be made to realize, tnat tne Napo-
leonic axiom that armies fight. on
their bellies was true when uttered,
and is even more true now. hungry
armies do not win victories. Men
who fight must be fed. Those who
send their loved ones into the ranks
must likewise be fed. The supreme
duty as we'll as the supreme necessity
Of this hour is to feed our fighting
forces, the fighting forces of our al
lies, and adequately to provide neces-
saries at living prices for our own
people and, as largely as We can, the
civilian population of our allies.
Agriculture becomes today the one
industry more important than all
others. The American farmer never
occupied such position Of response
bility. do not doubt how he will meet
it. It was the embattered farmer at
Lexington that set the flames of revo-
luton and liberty going. (Applause)
1t was the heroic farmer at Kings
Mountain that assured these liberties
we now enjoy, and for the preserva-
ton of which we are now fighting.
The American farmer today is no less
a patriot, no less equal to the dis
charge of his responsibilities placed
upon him than were his forebears at
Lexington and Kings Mountain. He
can and will furnish all food neces-
sary in this conflict. 1t is our
duty to see that those for whom
he works shall not be gouged and
robbed by heartless and unpatriotic
Intermediates it is our duty to
see that the results Of his patriotic
efforts shall not be made the foot
ball OF the gambler, the manipulation,
the hoarder, the unconscionable food
speculator and cormorant. 1t is equal
ly our duty to see that the products
of his labor shall reach the consumer
without the waste necessarily incident
to an uncontrolled and unorganized
system of distribution. (Applause.)
That some kind OF food and fuel
control is necessary to their most eff
cient mobilization is imperative
though men everywhere recos-
nize
Immediately upon the entrace OF
the United States into the war the
Secretary of Agriculture called con-
ference at st. Louis Of the agricultu-
raj leaders of the nation, including
the State agricultural officials, COM
missioners, representatives of the az
ricultural colleges of each of the
States and representatives of more
than hundred farm journals, with
a total circulation aggregating ap
proximately 100000. Later the
Secretary realizing the special impor-
tance of ascertaining the views of the
executive heads Of the great national
farm organizations, invited them to
confer with him. There were repre-
sented the Grange, the Farmers Un-
ion, the Cleaners am the Farmers
National Congress. Later the Amer
lean Society of Equity appeared be-
fore the house committee on agri-
culture. In general these agricultural
leaders endorsed the proposals con-
tanned in the food products bill, which
has already passed both houses OF
Congress, and the proposition con-
tanned in the bill which I now present
for your consideration.
The bill deals with foods, fuel ami
articles required for their production.
1t aims to facilitate and clear the
channels of distribution; 70 prevent
boarding; to prevent wilful destruc-
ton of necessaries in order to enhance
the price or restrict the supply there
of: to eliminate injurious speculation;
to regulate exchanges and boards Of
trade in order to prohibit undue fuc-
tuation of prices, unjust market ma
n;nu1ation or unfair or misleading
market quotations; to reduce waste
market manipulation, the gambler, the
completely to prohibit the use of &C.
rea,s in the manufacture of alcoholic
beverages. and - stimulate produc-
ton by assuring the. farmer reason