The Washington times., 1917-04-16

/ N@AO Nho hDcENyg AhSASAOAOt -
dressing this word to the farmers OF
the country and to all who work on
the farms: The supreme need Of our
own nation and of the nations with
which we are cooperating II an
abundance of supplies, and especially
of foodstuffs. The importance OF an
adequate food supply, especially for
the present year, IL superlative. With
out abundant food, alike for the
armies and the peoples now at war,
the whole great enterprise upon
which we have embarked will break
down and fail The worlds food re-
serves are low. Not only during the
present emergency, but for some time
after peace shall have come both our
own people and large proportion Of
the people OF Europe must rely upon
the harvests in America. Upon the
farmers OF this country, therefore. In
large measure, rests the fate Of the
war and the fate OF the nations- May
the nation not count upon them to
omit no step that will increase the
production OF their land or that will
bring about the most effectual CO.
operation In the sale and distribu-
ton OF their pfoducts7 The time Il
short. It is OF the most Imperative
importance that. everything possible
be done and done. Immediately to
make sure of. large harvests. call
upon young men and old alike and
upon the ablebodied boys of the land
to accept and act upon this duty
to turn in hosts to the farms and
make certain that no pains and no
labor IL lacking In this great matter.
particularly appeal to the farm
srs of the South to plant abundant
foodstufs as well as cotton They
can show their patriotism in no bet
ter or more convincing way than by
resisting the great temptation of the
present price Of cotton and helping.
upon q great scale, to feed the
nation and the peoples every
where who are lighting for their lib-
critics and for our own. The variety
OF their crops will be the visible
measure OF their comprehension Of
their national duty.
Government VIII Cooperate.
The Government Of the United
States and the governments Of the
several States stand ready TO cooper
ate. They will do everything possible
to assist farmers in securing an ade-
Quate supply. OF seed. an adequate
force OF Iaborers when they are most
needed, at harvest time, and the
means OF expediting shipments Of fer
tiliaers and farm machinery, as well
as of the crops themselves when har-
vested. The course OF trade shall be
as unhampered as Il Is possible to
make IL and there shall be no unEar-
ranted manipulation OF the nations
food supply by those who handle IL
on its way to the consumer. This II
our opportunity to demonstrate the
efficiency Of q great. democracy and
we shall not fan short of IT!
This let me say to the mfddie-nien
Of every sort, whether they are hand
Ling our foodstuffs or our raw ma
terial Of manufacture or the products
Of our mills and factories: The eyes
OF the country win be especially upon
you. This Is your opportunity for
signal service, efficient and disinter-
ested. The country expects you, as
IL expects all others. to forego un-
usual profits, to organize and expedite
shipments OF supplies Of every kind,
but especially OF food, with an eye to
the service you are rendering and In
the spirit OF those who enlist In the
ranks, for their people, not for them
selves. / shall confidently expect you
to deserve and win the confidence Of
people Of every sort and station.
To the men who run the railways
Of the country, whether they be man
ayers or operative employees, let me
say that the railways are the Ar
teries of the nations life and, that
upon them rests the immense re-
sponsibility Of seeing to II that those
arteries suffer no obstruction OF any
kind, no inefficiency or slackened
power. To the merchant let me sug-
gest the motto, Small profits and
quick serviee;" and to the. shipbuild-
er the thought that the life of the
war depends upon him. The food
and the war supplies must be car
ried across the seas no matter how
many ships are sent to the bottom.
The places of those that go down
must be supplied at once. To the
miner let me say that he stands
where the farmer does; the work of
the world waits on him. VI he slack
ems or falls, armies and statesmen
are helpless. He also II enlisted in
the great service army. The manu-
facturer does not need to be told,
hope, that the nation lcShs to him to
speed and perfect every process; and
want only to remind his employees
that their service Is absolutely in
dispensable and Is counted on by ev-
cry man who loves the country and
its liberties. ...- -
Everyone Can Help.
Let me suggest, also that every.
one who creates or cultivates gar
den helps, and helps greatly. to
solve the problem of the feeding OF
the nations; and that every house,
wife who practices strict economy
puts herself in the ranks OF those who
serve the nation. This Is the time
for America to correct her unpardon-
able fault OF wastefulness and ex,
travagAnce. Let every man and ev-
cry woman assume the duty Of care
full, provident use and expenditure
as a public duty, as q dictate CT pa
triotism which no one can now ex-
pect ever to be excused or forgiven
for ignoring.
In the hope that this statement
of the needs of the nation and of
the world in this hour of supreme
crisis may stimulate those To whom
II comes and remind all who need
reminder of the solemn duties of u
tins such as the world has never
seen before, / beg that all editors
and publishers everywhere will give
as prominent publication and as
wide circulation as possible. to this
appeal. / venture to. suggest. also,
to all advertising agencies that thew