The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1917-04-07
THE FOOD SITUATION
Governor Capper In Address to
Kansas People Again Ur-
ges Greatest Possible
Production of
Food Crops
AN APPEAL TO KANSAS PA
TRIOTISM.
Reiterates the Recopmendations of
the Kansas Food Conference.

To the People of Kansas:
On March 18th, upon the call of
your Governor, conference was held
in Topeka, to consider ways and
means OF meeting the food shortage
which threatens the nation and the
world. The conference was attend
ed by leading farmers, members of
farmers organizations and experts
from the State Agricultural College
and from the University The day
was spent in a thorough discussion
of the serious situation in which the
world finds itself owing to the rapid
disappearance of all surplus food sup
plies. The conference issued a pa
triOtic appeal to the people of Kan
sas to increase, IN every possible man
ner, the acreage of food crops, to util-
ize all waste tracts of ground and va
cant lots IN cities and towns; to en-
courage the youth of the state to cul-
tivate the soil; to preserve all sur
plus food grain this year by canning
or in storage; and the national gov
eminent was asked to create Fed
eral Food Commission clothed with
power to regulate and control the
storage, distribution and transporta-
ton of all food products whenever
necessary to prevent oppressive con-
centration and manipulation of food
products. The conference resulted
in fuller appreciation by the people
of the state of the gravity of the food
situation and there has been a prompt
and commendable response to its ap-
peal, further emphasized by the Ag-
| ricultural Department of the National
Government, which has since issued
| a statement urging the fullest posi-
| bic food production this year.
But In the two weeks that have in
tervened since the Kansas conference
crop conditions, especially in the win
| ter wheat belt, have grown steadily
worse, and the likelihood of the Unit
| ed States becoming involved in war
has rapidly increased.
I am constrained therefore, again
to urge upon our people that every eff
fort be made, both to increase the
| production this season and to con-
serve stocks of food on hand. The
great need which is certain to con-
| front US can not be overemphasized.
| The probabilities are that even
! larger acreage of winter wheat than
was feared will be a total. failure.
This land must be untitled for corn
or the sorghums- whatever crop is
best adapted TO the soil.
Both the Kansas State Agricultural
| College and Kansas State University.
throght their extension divisions ar
| doing good work in encouraging gar
| den clubs and similar projects. The
| commercial and civic organizations in
many cities have already rendered
| good service in encouraging the utili-
cation of vacant lots and waste pieces
of land. urge the press of the state
to continue agitation for the next
2 =
| thousands of acres in the cities and
towns which may yet be utilized, and
| there is hardly a farm in the state on
which there are utilized tracts
which can be proftably planted to po-
| potatoes Or other vegetables
1t it especially important that ade-
| quate arrangements be made, as sug-
gested at the conference to preserve
| by canning or in storage, all surplus
products for winter use. The organi-
zation of canning clubs, such as have
proven scessful under the direction
| of the Agricultural College, should be
encouraged in every county.
One Of the. main problems of con-
fronting the farmer of Kansas is the
question of labor. If there be a call
for troops in large numbers, this sit
uation will be still further complica-
ted; everything should be done, there
| fore to encourage our young men to
seek employment on farms this sea
son. There are thousands of high
school and college boys who could be
pressed into service. The nations
need for them IN the field where food
| IS grown is as great as the need in the
| trenches or on battleships.
l am glad to learn that the bankers
| of the state realize the gravity of the
situation and in many cases are CO.
| operating beyond their usual wont
with tenant farmers and with others
who need financial assistance in put
ting in their crops.
It is time for the people of Kan
sas to stand together and to cooperate
! in meeting the nations need. Pa
| triotism can be manifested In no more
| practical manner
ARTHUR CAPPER.
Governor.