The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1917-07-14

NNNar~~MINA SaNAWH iWANHHHEH
and Man Power on the Farms Vital
Factors in Economic crisis-Appeai
for Government Action.
Government action ensuring the
farmers OF America ample supplies OF
farm implements and competent farm
labor Is virtually necessary 10 This
country's future participation 10 the
war, declare The manufacturers OF
farming tools and machinery in the
United States. This action must be im-
mediate and radical. they say, or in
l3lS The United States viii fail 10 pro-
duce foOdstuns necessary 10 feed the
civil population OF our allies and 10
keep the aiAed armies in fighting trim.
This declaration Is made In a public
statement by the National Implement
and Vehicle Association whose mem-
hcrs manufacture most Of the farming
implements used in and exported from
the United States. II is the Associa-
tons answer 10 an anxious Inquiry
about reports OF prospective lmple-
ment shortage addressed 10 1t in behalf
Of the country's farming interests by
Ex-Governor w. d. Hoard Of VISION
sin, one Of the leaders Of American az
rlculture and publisher Of Hoarl's
Dairymam The statement. which is
signed by Charles S. Brantingham,
Chairman Of the Associations Execu-
tive Committee, says
Unless prompt action is taken by
The Government, our country viii make
the same mistakes that have result
ed in compelling our allies to APP
peal 10 us to save them from famine.
Unless we protect the production OF
lnbor-saving farm machinery and the
supply Of skilled farm labor we, too
must soon face shrinkage Of food |
supplies.
Without such action as is here sug-
gested and urged. the farmers Of |
the United States win not have enough /
machines or men in 1913 to meet the /
demands upon them.
''We are now confronted By shortages
OF raw material and factory labor that
viii begin to be manifest IN shortages 4
Of certain lines Of farm machinery this
fall and VIII result in serious shortages I
in many vital lines next year. Stocks
on hand In important kinds Of tools
and machines are smaller than in nor
NAL years, because Of earlier scarcity
OF factory labor and n rapidly tighten
ing scarcity Of all raw materials.
Farmers have deferred during the
last three years the replacing Of old
md badly worn tools and machines.
Now, confronted by tAe practical cer-
tainty that the war is to continue in
definitely. with attendant assurance OF
Il heavy demand aud high prices for all
their products, and by an inevitable
shortage of farm labor, they cannot put
on longer replacements of worn out
and the additions to equip
ment necessary to increase acreage
and production.
1T is also essential in meeting the
demand Of the farmers for implements
that there shall be preference in trans
for raw materials to the fac
tories and for finished goods from the
factories to the farms.
For the last ten years farm labor
has been more and more difficult TO
secure, and now with an enormous in
crease IN the demand for labor in mu-
nitions factories, and the withdraYal
of many Young men from productive
occupations, there is bound to be
shortage Of farm labor such as this
country has never known. In Kansas
alone a vast number Of fertile acres on
which the wheat crop failed will lie
de this summer. chiefly for lack OF
abor and partly through lack Of ma
chimes 10 replant to corn.
we regard it as vital to keep on the
arms the men now there who know
he business, especially the men t
rained in the use Of labor.saving ma. :
,hlnery. It would be wasteful and !,
'oolish to let them go End afterward
ny TO replace them with unskilled men.
I'VE seek no advantage for our in D
lustry over any other, but we realize q
md We want the public to realize that o
Without this product and without suf- a
iiiftlA lNNNL tue lut AAAiAa VI tAAt lhiAEu 3,
states cannot increase or even main
ain their production of foodstuffs next
ear. To avert the calamity that such q
condition will surely produce. our in. il
Iustry and the farming industry which L
{ chiefly supports must be put upon v
he same preferred basis as the making n
II war munitions. even if other less
ital Industries suffer thereby fer ma "
erials and men.
These are the measures that we de-
lare to be vital to the feeding OF this Il
alton and its allies next year: a
Il. That the manufacture OF farm F
materials be given equal preference !,
With the manufacture OF war muni-
ions as regards supplies Of necessary
sw materials. u
80 That service TO the country in K
arm machinery factories be consid. a
red OF eQnal Importance with service
q munition making plants, Govern b
rent or private. 4,
"3 That labor on the farms be con-
ldered us Of equal importance with !"
be production OF war munitions.
"A. That the raw materials for farm 81
& machinery and the finished goods N
{ given equal preference hy the trans IA
ortation agencies Of the country with