Cheraw chronicle. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, 1917-04-19

ing the present emergency, but for
some time after peace shall have come
both our own people and a large pro-
portion Of the people of Europa must
rely upon the harvests in America.
Upon the farmers Of this country,
therefore, in o 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 cooperation in the
sale and distribution of their products:
The time fs short. 1t is of the most
imperative Importance that everything
possible be done and done Immediate
ly to make sure Of large harvests. I
call upon young men and old alike.
and upon the able-bodied boys Of tho
land to accept and act upon this
duty. to turn in hosts to the farms
and make certain that no pains and
no labor is lacking in this great
matter.
Appeal to South.
IL particularly appeal to the farmers
of the South to plant abundant food.
show their patriotism in no better or
more convincing way than by resist
ing the great temptation of the present
price OF cotton and helping upon q
great scale. to feed the nation and
the peoples everywhere who are fight
ing for their librties and our own.
The variety Of their crops will be the
visible measure Of their comprehen.
sion OF their national duty.
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 adc-
quate supply OF seed. an adequate
force OF laborers when they are most
needed at harvest time and the
means Of expediting shipments OF fer
tilizers and farm machinery. as we'll
as the crops themselves, when har-
vested. The course Of trade shall bo
as unhampered as 1t is possible to
make it. and there shall be no unwar-
ranted manipulation Of the nations
food supply by those who handle 1t
on its way to the consumer This is
our opportunity to demonstrate the ef-
ficiency Of great democracy. and we
shall not fall short Of 1t.
This. let me say to the middlemen
OF every sort. whether they are hand
ling our foodstuffs or our raw mate
rials OF manufacture. or the products
Of our mills and factories. the eyes OF
the country will be especially upon
you. This is your opportunity for sig
nal service. efficient and disinteres;-
ed. The country expects you. as 1t
expects all others. to forego unusual
profits, to organize and expedite ship
ments 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 themselves.
I shall confidently expect you to de-
serve and win the confidence of peo-
pie Of every sort and station.
To the Railroads.
ITO the men who run the railways
Of the country, whether they be man.
ayers or operative employees, let mo
say that the railways are the arteries
Of the nations life and that upon
them rests the immense responsibility
Of seeing to 1t that those arteries suf-
fer no obstruction Of any kind. no in
efficiency or slackened power. To
the merchant. let me suggest the
motto: Small profits and quick ser.
vice; and to the shipbuilder. tho
thought that the life Of the war de.
pends upon him. The food and the war
supplies must be carried across the
seas, no matter how many ships are
sent to the bottom. The places of those
that god down must be supplied and
supplied at once. To the miner let me
say that he stands where the farmer
does; the work OF the world waits on
him. If he slackens or fails, armies
and statesmen are helpless. He also
Is enlisted in the great service army.
The manufacturer does not need to be
told. l hope. that the nation looks to
him to speed and perfect every pro-
cess. and I want only to remind his
employees that their service is abso-
lutely indispensable and is counted on
by every man who loves the country
and its liberties
Let me suggest. also. that every
one who creates or cultivates a gar.
den helps. and helps greatly. to solve
the problem Of the feeding Of the
nations: and that every housewife who
practices strict economy puts herself
in the ranks Of those who serve the ma
ton. This is the time for America to
correct her objectionable fault of
wastefulness and extravaganza. Let
every man and every woman assume
the duty OF careful. provident use and
expenditure as a public duty, as a die
tate Of patriotism which no one can
now expect ever to be excused or for
given 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 it comes
and remind all who need reminder of
the solemn duties of a time such as
the world has never seen before. l
beg that all editors and publishers
everywhere will give as prominent
publication and as wide circulation as
possible to this appeal I venture to
suggest. also. to all advertising agen-