The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1917-11-08
FARMERS FAIL OR REFUSE TO
HELP THE GOVERNMENT.

constitutes the most astounding as well
as the most disappointing spectacle
that has developed up to this period of
the war. We have been led to believe
for, 10, these many years that the pure
and unselfish patriotism, the kind that
counts not the sacrifice when the well
). fare Of the nation is at stake, the kind
that stands up to be counted as the
bulwark of our liberties after the
echoes of the noisy demonstrations of
pseudo patriots in the urban centers
| have died away, is found in its fullest
and most vigorous state of develop
/ ment in the quiet of the farm. There,
far from the madding crowds ig-
noble strife" we have been told that
the seed of loyalty and devotion to the
flag have sunk deep into the hearts of
the thrifty and Industrious husband
men, and that the call of the govern
ment for help would be answered by
the "embattled farmers moved by
the same spirit that fired the shot
heard round the world But the sale
Iof Liberty bonds throughout the
country has somewhat marred this
picture of patriotism on the farm, but
we trust that future government loans
will be taken by the farmer in a man
ner that will completely restore him
to his proud position as the mainstay
of the nation in war as well as in
peace.
But i'll all seriousness the farmers of
the country have placed themselves in
a very unenviable position through
their failure to make liberal subscrip-
tons to the Liberty bonds. They have
been extremely prosperous through
war prices for all their products and
have received more direct aid from the
government than any other element
of the population. And yet they were
the least responsive to the call for fin
ancial help, help that was just as es-
sential to the success of the govern
ment as the enlistment of men to fight
the battles in France. The attitude of
the farmers toward the Liberty loan
is described by President Hubert. of
the Merchants Loan & Trust COM
pany' of Chicago, in these words:
The one weak spot in the situation
is the attitude of farmers. They will
neither buy Liberty bonds, pay taxes,
sell their produce, nor fight. l have
learned of but one instance in which
farmer paid an income tax. They
nave profited throughout the entire |
period Of the war, but are unwilling
TO help the government. The comp !
troller of currency has estimated the |
gross income of the United tSates to |
be about $40,O00,0OO, 600. OF this he |
estimates farm produce and animals
to bring gross return of about ST.
'oo,ooo,OO0, The farmers, according to
ms estimate, are getting 42h per cent
of the country's income and giving
nothing out Of It,"
And this is not ALL The farmer not
'nly refused to come through with fin.
'ncial support, but it appears that he
$ also failing TO cooperate with tho
government in the conservation of
ood. We hope this does not apply to
armers in general, but evidently It
las reached proportions that give the
authorities considerable concern
While patriotic people everywhere are
Eliminating wheat from their bill of
are as far as possible for the bene-
L OF our soldiers and allies, farmers
south Idaho are feeding wheat to
helr hogs! This statement is made :.
the authority of r. F. Bicknell, the $
'od administrator for Idaho, who "
ays: G
Buying wheat and using II for feed -
hogs is startling thing in the II
resent crisis, and yet + know the .,
iines OF several persons In this state 9,
no are doing so. / won't publish n
eir names at this time, but unless .,
icy heed my requests to desist Ct a.
we written the offending parties per- .,
nally) ! shall publish their names 10
course, can not force them at this a,
ne not to do So but want the prac- ,,t
e stopped or otherwise will find 10,
me means of doing so. =,
1 do not refer to wheat that is not 90
Tor milling purposes, but any man -.
10 VIII feed other wheat to his hogs -.
Mite better than the things fed in,
zen he knows the great necessity q 3
saving wheat and that 'wheatless ~
was inaugurated because we must :,
p wheat and then more wheat to -
: allies" :"
VIC 49, DIES
ne man who feeds wheat to hogs !,
THIS time, or who fails or refuses to ~
perate with the government in the :.
Servation of food 10 an a,arv 80