American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1917-07-17

and Man Power on the Farms Vital
Factors In Economic crlsls-Appeal
for Government Action.
Government action ~ensuring the
farmers Of America ample supplies Of
farm implements and competent farm
labor Is virtually necessary to this
country's future participation In the
war, declare the manufacturers Of
farming tools and machinery in the
United States. This action must be i'm
mediate and radical, they say, or in
1913 the United States will fail to pro-
duce foodstuffs necessary to feed the
civil population of our allies and to
keep the allied armies in fighting trim.
This declaration is made In a public
statement by the National Implement
and Vehicle Association, whose men,
bers manufacture most of the farming
implements used In and exported from
the United States. 1t is the Associa-
TONS answer to an anxious inquiry
about reports of a prospective lmple-
ment shortage addressed to 1t in behalf
Of the country's farming interests by
Ex-Governor w d. Hoard of Wiscon-
sin, n of the leaders of American ag-
r%lculture and publisher of Hoard's
Dairyman. The statement, which Is
signed by Charles S. Birmingham,
Chairman Of the Associations Execu-
tive Committee, says:
Unless prompt action is taken by
the Government, our country will make
the same mistakes that have result
ed In compelling our allies to APP
peal TO us to ave them from famine.
Unless we protect the production Of
l~abor-saving farm machinery and the
supply Of skilled farm labor we, too,
must soon face a shrlnkage Of food
supplies.
Without such action as Is here sug-
gested and urged, the farmers Of
the United States will not have enough
machines or men in 1918 to meet the
demands upon them.
1--WE are now confronted by shortages
of raw material and factory labor that
will begin to be manifest In shortages
Of certain lines Of farm machinery this
fall and will result I'm serious shortages
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 a rapidly tighten
ing scarcity OF all raw materials.
Farmers have deferred during the
last three years the replacing Of old
and badly worn tools and machines.
Now, confronted by the practical GER
tainty that the war Is to continue in
definitely, with attendant assurance of
a heavy demand and high prices for all
their products, and by an inevitable
shortage of farm labor. they cannot put
of longer requirements OF worn out
machines and the additions to equip
men 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
p%ortation 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-
nltions factories, aud the withdrawal
Of many young men from productive
occupations, there is bound to be a
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
idle this summer, chiefly for lack Of
and partly through lack Of ma
to corn.