Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1917-04-19
NATIONAL DEFENSE.
THE FOOD PROBLEM.
b. r. Bush. Receiver, Missouri Pacific Iron
Mountain.

In the great crisis which now cenfronts
our country. more signal service can
be rendered than by the farmers OF the
country in united and earnest effort to
raise enough food products for the United
States ard her allies. This Is equally as
important as recruiting large army or
manning riore extensive navy 1t Is
as true now as when Marcus Cato proclaimed
to the Romans that you can not make speech
es 70 the belly which has no ears for the
stomach cannot be filled with fair words.
The nation. in time o. war. is entitled
from every man, rich POOR, to such
service as may be required subject te
the limitation imposed b. age or sickness
with reported slump Of more than fifty
million hushcl Of winter wheat. as compared
with last years crop, as recently reported
by the government. our country is brought
face to face with the first war feeding prob
lem.
To meet the increased demands for foot
products. caused by the war. additional pre-
parations would be necessary were it not fol
the present decrease in the wheat crop. but
on account of such decrease. the question o
supplying the food necessary for the fightin.
men presents II serious problem which the far
mers of our country must help to solve.
The government, anxious to profit BY tn
conditions which have been presented in Eu
rope, has appealed through the Secretary o
Agriculture. for an Increase in the food crop
necessary 10 feed our own people and thos
across the seas WHO must rely in larEe par
upon the American farmers.
The present war ard natural condition
have resulted In scarcity of food product
Throughout the whole world. and regardless o
the increased remuneration which this cond
ton guarantees for such products, It is appas
ent that every farmer should bend every ei
fort 10 increase the acreage md yield of al
kinds Of food stufs by obtaining the neccssar
feed. labor and implements tc do so.
Where the spring wheat crops are found
be impracticable. the land should be utilize
for oats. barley or other substituted crop
for which the soil Is adapted, and too man
acres of beans. peas and forage products cn
not be produced 10 meet the increased d.
mnnds that will lie made upon the middl
west.
The large army Of nbe.bodicd men. too ol
70 fight. can do their part by preparation
to help feed the men who Asht
In addition 10 the crops Of corn and whoa
thousands Of acres OF navy beans and slit
ilar crops that have the maximum amount {
nutrition 10 the hundred pounds should
raised. All kinds Of food stnfIs that can
prodtably canned or dried or prepared e
ocean TRANSPORTATION should be prepared
order that our soldics md those Of our alli'
can he provided with varied md wholcsor
diet.
with such men nt the head Of the Units
States Board ~ lion. Herbert c. Hoover. I
the Council Of National Defense. our count,
will have the satisfaction Of knowing that u
problem which bailied Europe on the supp
and price Of food products will be met NJ
properly solved In this country with the stin
ulus and patriotism with which the fsrme
Of our country will respond 10 the appeal I
thc general government.
mo compulsory tlllape Of the soil. SUI
a. England was compelled to ennct und
The power Of the Defense Of tha Rrcal
Act In ireland. will be necessary In u
United States.
The transportation lines OF The count
srs adopting all available revenue ~
svsry possible means 70 b prepared
serve The country and general public
tsansportatloa agencies. and. Through ths
ssvsssio ogrisultuss dspaftassnts, thsy ylll n