The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-06-27
LEvEfr ONFOOD CONTROL.
South Carolina Congressman Tells
Why Radical Legislation Is Essen
tiaI.

The following statement of the
scope and general purpose of the
Lever bill for food control is from
Congressman Levers speech in the
house OF representatives opening de-
bate ON this measure:
Mr.. Chairman, whether the countrv
realizes 1t or not. we are now engaged
IN war with the most thoroughly or
ganized and autocratic military nation
on the face of the earth. Her people
are the most stubborn in thought,
tenacious in purpose, resourceful in
methods and for generations have
been 'schooled and trained with the
one predominant thought of world
dominance through industrial and mil
itary prowess. Their industries have
peen organized down to the minutest
detail to fit into the military ma
chine which is recognized to be the
most efficient and capable and DOW
erful ever brought together since the
beginning of time.
The contest between German au-
tocracy and, American democracy will
be determined in the end by the char
acter and strength Of the organization
which one can put against the other.
A loose-jointed. unorganized democ-
racy has no ghost of q chance in q
contest with such an autocracy as is
Germany. Organization is the only
weapon with which organization can
be overcome. Organization. as the
term Is used here. means not only
whipping into share the man power
of the nation, the money power of the
nation, but as we'll every resource of
the nation which may be used in the
contest.
That democracy can be organized
has been demonstrated repeatedly in
history. 1t is being demonstrated in
remarkable way at this very time
In this country.
In the short space of a few months
the foundation of a great army has
been laid, the expenditure Of $1,000
100000 has been authorized and the
machinery for the mobilization of this
stupendous sum Is we'll under way.
The enthusiastic reception by the
American people of the liberty bonds,
largely over-subscribing them, is the
best test of their willingness to get
together as one in the prosecution of
the task before them; order is being
worked out of chaos in the shipping
industry of the county; the railroads
are rapidly developing plans to meet
the strain upon them incident to the
enlarged and rather disorganized COM
merce Of the nation; the federal re-
serve system, with its power to as
semble quickly and at strategic points
the financial resources of the nation.
fortunately is already we'll established
and In operation; our munition facto
ries are highly efficient and our navy
yards are capable and ready.
Indispensable as are these, they do
not include all that is needed to win
this war.
Germany was ready with her great
army. her navy, her industrial ma
chinery, her State controlled shipping,
her State controlled transportation
facilities, her closely coordinated
banking system. her navy yards. her
great Krupp's establishment and her
warlike attitude of mind. All these
she had. but within five days after
the mobilization of her army on the
French front her food and fuel be-
came q matter also of the most rigid
State control.
In the light Of events 1t is easy
to understand the German govern
ment's solicitude in the past for ag-
riculture. She realized, as we must
be made to realize, that the Napo-
leOnic axiom that armies fight on
their bellies was true when uttered
and is even more true now. Hungry
armies do not win victories. Men
who fight must be fed. Those who
send their loved ones into the ranks
must likewise be fed. The supreme
duty as we'll as the supreme necessity
Of this hour Is to feed our fighting
forces. the fighting forces Of our al
lies, and adequately to provide neces-
saries at living prices for our own
civilian population of our allies.
Agriculture becomes today the one
-