The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-04-12
Kansas Must Marshal Army of
Food Producers at Once.
Governor Calls Conference to
Cope With the Situation.
MEETING THIS AFTERNOON
Food Campaign Is To
Be Worked Out.
Even School Children May Be
Used in the Fields.

Intensified farming plans such as
Kansas has never seen in a food crisis.
are to be worked at a monster food
conference to be called late this after
noon by Governor Capper. Hundreds
of large crop producers are to parti-
cipate in the campaign. A thoro
organization is to be perfected in ev-
cry county in the state. Thousa nds of
school children are to be given credits
and schools in scores of districts are
to be dismissed to meet an appalling
la Dor situation.
Plans for the giant, state wide cam
paign for more food Stuffs, were work
ed out today by J. Q. Mohler, secre-
tary of the state board of agriculture.
His program was announced after a
conference with some of the best farm
experts in Kansas. This afternoon
Secretary Mohler's plan is to be laid
before Governor Capper. The gov
ernor will be asked to at once call a
state wide meeting of farm experts
Need Bankers Aid.
Thousands of dollars will be needed
to carry out the plan for greater crop
production in Kansas. Bankers in all
parts of the state are to be urged to
participate in the campaign. Under
program every man with desire to
become a producer as well as a con-
sumner, is to be placed on a strip of
soil and if necessary funds advanced
for seed and farm equipment. Men
without credit at the banks, but with
back the food crisis that faces the ma
ton and the world, will be provided
with adequate funds for their share
in the battle.
In a campaign to enlist every re-
source at the states command, corre-
spondents for the state board of
health, local representatives of the
state Agricultural college and promi-
nent farmers are to be made units III
concrete state wide organization.
Every grain of seed corn. kaffir and
other grains will be used in an effort
TO break the crop production records.
Corn will be one of the first crops
on which Kansas farmers will be
asked to center their efforts. Little
can be done at this time to advance
the production of wheat in Kansas
counties. Chances are excellent. tho,
for record corn crop.
IF the farmers of the state will
only use the cultivated soil available.
without trying to break new land, we
can do wonders in corn production
this year" said Mohler THE natural
corn land, and the land sown to wheat
and abandoned is sufficient to pro-
duce wonderful crop. If corn should
fail, then kafir and other crops may be
sown.'
Big Demand for Labor
Demands for farm labor have come
from all sections of the state. Without
available men for service in the fields.
Secretary Moh1er proposes to dismiss
schools in districts where boys may
enlist for farm service.
We can mobilize thousands OF
boys" said Mohler. Their services
would be of greatest value at this
time. Boys in both rural and city
schools who volunteer to work on the
farms, should be given their credits
and in scores of districts thruout the
state. it would probably be wise to
dismiss school for the term.''
Clyde w. Miller, owner of the giant
Miller ranch in Lyon county is in
hearty accord with the Mohler plan.
He went over the project today with
the secretary of agriculture and pfo-
posed to buck the corn game stronger
than ever. The big Miller ranch is
composed of more than 10000 acres
of land.
'I propose to plant nearly 1900
acres to corn this year" said Miller.
IF the corn does not show well, then
there will be time enough for sowing
kafir and sorghum"
Establish Canning Factory.
One of Miller's plans is for the es-
tablishment of a large private can
ming factory on his ranch. His
brother, w. NJ Miller, has gone east
to purchase machinery and equip
ment for the plant.
Il will raise forty acres of tomatoes
this year" said Miller "and will go
in for other garden cuff in propor-
ton. Instead of garden stuffs for tenn
porary spring and early summer use,
Kansans can relieve general condi-
tons thru establishment of community
canning factories"
The canning factory project sto
be urged before the meeting to be
called by Governor Capper. Other
plans for conserving products of the
farm will be considered. Messages to-
day from number of prominent
bankers indicated that ample funds
would be provided for adoption of tbs
intensified farming program and Kan