The Springdale news., 1917-04-20
FOOD ARMY FIRST
 IMPORTANCE hOW
AUTHORIZED STATEMENT OF CARL
 TARY OF AGRICULTURE.

The South needs to be agrieulturalIy prepared and mobifized at this critical moment in oNr history, because the South is dependent on the rest of the country for her food supply The SoHtH must develop her food resources and her system of food distribution to the highest point of efficiency. The South at this crisis must lead the way by feeding herself, thus releasing $6eo,- 000,6 6Qn or $1.000.000,000 worth of food to those who are fighting with Us for democracy and human liberty. War means that the present serious short age of freight cars will become even more serious and the South will suffer because of it's dependence on the North west for meat and flour.
 It is essential that every possible food resource of the Southern States De developed to it's fullest capacity this summer, and that reliance be not placed on the cotton crop alone. II may be that substitutes for staple foods will have to become part Of the Southern diet. Soy beans and eo8peas5 fof=example, would ease Up the neat situation. for both are excellent pro wheat flour is difficult to get bread can be made in conjunction with pota- toes. corn meal. rice, peanut meal. soy bean meal, etc
 Under normal conditions there would be at this time enough food in the country to feed the entire population and do big export business in addi- tion. But war Is not q normal eondt- tion. Our allies are hungry. and We must feed them. Our winter wheat crop is small, and the world wheat crop Is likewise small There is every req son for the strictest economy in the use of food. the strictest efficiency Tn ] = tributien of food. and the ut
 most use of seTentii if principles in the l production of food.
 The responsibility for adequate food 1 production lies with the individual cit l fZen Any planter or farmer who In l this national crisis. fails to put large percentage of his land in food crops fs
 lacking both in patriotism and in com
 mon prudence We can not win this
 war if We permit the boys at the front l te supply all the se1fzsaerffce= Taaav 1 the first duty Of the South and the na- l ton fs to get food. Every loyal man,
 woman and child must share in this
 common burden and privilege
 l am myself q landowner as well as a
 public official, and want to say per sonal word to the landowners of the 1 South.
 M landowners fn the South who live 1 In the cities and rent their lands te 1 tenants owe a duty to their country in this tii14e= of WAT necessity for food
 sthtfs. shea}d give their tenants i every facility for growing not only the 1 supplies needed on their farms hut 1 atso. they should urge every tenant to l grow surplus of food crops Local I fafess= =sa6a3a=he organized to furnish q l ma kef 8t reasonable prices for these l food crops. and thns insure q profit on l the crops produced.
 Any landowner Zwho. by exofbftant rents or hX pressure Of any sort causes l his tenants 10 plant on his lands 2 1 large crop Of cotton at the expense of 1 food production is not doing his part.
 and has signal1y failed to measure LID l to the requirements of good citizen. l have said before, and I say again. l her sci, and this can only be done when our city landowners and those who con 1 tfai lands actively support and use all
 their Influence to secure the production of food.
 Contracts for rents and for methods
 ef cropping may already be made but
 no landowner. true to his country, will stand in the way of production of food 1 stufts because of selfish considerations. Even from the selfish financial point of l View, to put all your land in cotton this year Is poor business judgment. In l all likelihood food crops will be more l Tn demand in the South than even cot
 ton, Much larger acreaces must be de l voted to corn. soy and velvet beans. po- #tafoeSs forage home gardens and tbfs 1 fall the grains-all of which is fmpos- l sihle if the land is in cotton.
 The responsibility of this crisis on 1 the individual landowner is as great g ahen the individual farmer the f7dfz =Af=#Ha4 banker. the individual merchant l ar the individual soldier in the trenches. l ff our nation is te exert her full iafeht l ln her splendid crusade for democracy l and liberty, the same inVineihla -rfrIf i a6 patriotism must animate a1ita all 1 ci9Sses of our citizens. Landowners a r l Fonnessee, the time has come for Vou l te sign Your pledges and do vonr bit" 1 for the South. for the nation. and for
 tho successful termination of this war.
 Carl Nroomau.