The daily commonwealth. (Greenwood, Leflore Co., Miss.) 1916-1919, 1917-05-03
PRODUCTION OR DESTRUCTION.

PRODUCTION OR DESTRUCTION.
Amidst the excitement of these days it will be
,vel, If we give attention to the voice OF wisdom.
Patriotism is one of the greatest virtues. But
is not always armed with a rne' neasn-
er is its possessor always a target for a Duaet.
That this is peculiarly the case just at TINS time Is
brought forcibly to our minds when we begin 70
soberly study our condition.
When a state of war was declared by congress
this country was already facing exorbitant 1000
prices. and on top of that comes the dlscouraglng
prediction of a fifty million bushel shortage in the
1917 wheat crop. We are also Threatened with q
shortage in the potato crop, due to the almost pro-
hibitiye price of the seed.
Again. bear in mind that it is the purpose 10
lend every possible support to the allies, and II
this policy is followed there will be very little fall
ing off in exports.
President Wilson has said that he does not
want to disturb the industries OF the country
where it can possibly be avoided. Nevertneless'
enl;stments are sure to disturb them to a consld-
cradle extent, especially tie agricultural interests,
from which field recruits are always largely
drawn in warfare.
Hence the Importance Of the food problem
looms even greater than that Of fighting, and tne
man behind the pillow is destined to be as great a
patriot as the man behind the gun.
Thousands of farmers in this country have Tor
wears followed a policy Of limiting proouctlon'
The scarcity of help was one cause, but the great
est has been the low prices heretofore prevailing
for farm products. The latter, however, Is at an
end, and the policy of curtailment should be apan'
doned. In fact, our plain duty now is to provide
food for the nation, as this is the foundation OF
al, nreparedness. Men and uns are powerless
without it. A.,
Spring planting is just opening up over muc1
If the country, and the truth should be forclbl!
driven home to every person who owns a portio'
of the soil that it is his bounden duty IN Uni
emergency to make that soil produce to the llml
of its capacity. The Almighty has blessed US witt
a fair land and a wonderfully productive one. w
are facing a struggle that may tax our resour
ces and our strength to the utmost. We Will b
!. criminally negligent if e relax in the least gu
efforts in food production.
And this applies to others besides the farm
err and the gardener. The bankers and mercnant
business men of all lines, by standing shoulder I
shoulder with the actual tillers Of the soil, lendln
their help in whatever way it is needed, can az
e vance the cause wonderfully. Many farmers, e
o pecially the smaller ones and the renters, w
need assistance. This should be Forthcoming
. not primarily for the sake of the individual, b
that he may be a unit in swelling our national pr
y duction. j.,
Let US all bear in mind that in the EVENT.
wear Of 1917 PRODUCTION will be as truly p
4 triotic as DESTRUCTION.
The man behind the pillow will be as truly t
8, savior of his country as the man behind the gu
n Our duty calls to US in clarion tones. Let
N fare It without an instant Of hesitation.
Let EVERYBODY produce SOMETHING.
IN N IN Ia IA IA "a