The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1917-05-04
GOVERNOR OF STATE LEADS
IN the FOOD MOVE
One Hundred Thousand Dollars Appro-
priated BY the Legislature to Push
Campaign; Vacant Lots in Old Des
Moines Will Be Put To Use; lncreas-
ing and Conserving Supplies: Impetus
Given Planting Seed Parts of Country
UNITED Press Dispatch.}
From Thursdays Daily.

From Thursdays Daily.
Des Moines, April 26.-Aroused to
the need Of increasing the nations
food supply as a war measure, Iowa
today is resounding to the greatest
farming campaign in its history.
Governor W. l.. Harding's special
message to the legislature, which
Immediately appropriated 100000 to
push the campaign, resulted in a
commission of farm experts being
appointed to lead the movement for
increasing and conserving the food
yield.
The commission at once announced
that labor shortage was the most
threatening sign. Among the steps it
took to mobilize farm labor was a
call upon high school boys to work
on farms. Farm labor bureaus are to
be established throughout the state.
Churches, schools, commercial bodies
and individual business men and
manufacturers are being urged to
cooperate by encouraging city dwell
lers to help on farms during rush
periods.
Vacant Lots In Des Moines.
Nearly two thousand vacant lots in
Des Moines are being planted under
the auspices of a city gardening
commission. Railroads are consider
ing seeding the soil along their right
of way while counties are taking up
the question of cultivating waste
places along public highways. The
home gardening movement is sweep
ing the state.
Women suffragists, inspired by a
special plea from Governor Harding
are planning to mobilize women for
farm labor and to engage in canning
and preserving on large scale. The
home economics movement, with
emphasis on using every table scrap
and cutting out the garbage waste,
has taken on new life.
The state commission is planning
to send a flying squadron of experts
through the state, urging farmers to
their utmost efforts as patriotic
duty.
Anticipating long war, the COM
mission called upon farmers to save
breeding animals, cut down losses
from animal diseases, put in more
poultry and more hogs and use better
seed.
Better marketing systems are to
receive the commissions closest
attention this summer.
Northwest Calls For Help.
UNITED Press Dispatchl
Minneapolis, April 26-Farmers OF
the Northwest are calling for help.
Many are hesitating to plant maxi
mum crop fearing labor will not be
available for harvesting them. John
H. Rich, of the Federal Reserve Bank
has compiled list of towns where
farm labor is needed and is giving it
wide publicity in the hope of attract
ing men to the farms. Pay ranges
from $50 to $50.
st. Paul, April 26-Four million
acres of land in Northern Wisconsin
and Minnesota will be offered free
for grazing to farmers and stockmen
of the middle west in the hope of re-
leasing farm land for raising war
crops.
The st. Paul association is COM
piling the list which will be given
widest publicity in an attempt to get
stockmen to use this land and release
more fertile land for crops.
Farmers owning only small herds
would organize, send a representa-
tive to select tract grazing land,
ship their herds to be cared for by a
herder. Community action of this
kind would be an economy to farmers
and would increase materially, it was
pointed out.
California Woman Calls For Service.
limited Press Dispatch.l
Los Angeles, April 26.-Women
should specialize in the line in which
they have the most natural ability
was the preparedness advice of Mrs
A S. C. Forbes, vice president of the
Women's Navy League of California
women today. Reduce the number
of club memberships you hold" she
said. Practice economy, get into the
uniform of war time, dress simply
and put your learning to some def
mite use for your country"