Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1917-07-06
WILL DOUBLE BEAN
PRODUCTION WALTON SAYS

80 ~ ~ -
That New Mexico will double it's
production of beans the present year
is the prediction of Congressman Wal
ton in speech urging the passage of the
food bill in the house. Mr.. Walton
said:
How we'll their work has been done
may be gathered from a few figures
that / ask your indulgence to give you.
New Mexico has not been able in the
past to take high rank as an agri-
cultural state which her wonderful re-
sources merit. This HAS been due to
several causes, which time will not
permit me to discuss at present. Gov
eminent parsimony is one. But she is
now going forward in strides of agri-
cultural development that will one day
cause the nation to rub its eyes and
wonder how such things can be done.
Her people are now going ahead on
their own initiative and responsibility
and are retaining the waste places
and making them to bloom as the rose.
When ! say to you, Mr.. Speaker,
that in the present year the state of
New Mexico, stirred by the impulse of
patriotism, will increase her agricultu-
raj acreage more than 25 per cent,
some idea maybe gained of what /
mean. Last year New Mexico pro-
duced in round numbers 22,5O0,O0O.
pounds of beans. This year she will
more than double that production.
And, by the way, the New Mexico
bean is an article Of diet that is just
now beginning to come into it's own.
New Mexico will raise is per cent
more wheat this year than last, 20 per
cent more oats, 2R per cent more bar
ley, and 40 per cent more alfalfa-all
OF them in the fullest sense of the
term war crops. The state is going in
for farming more enthusiastically and
more intelligently than ever before
in her history. Her agricultural col
.lege, n of the best in the United
States, is doing a wonderful work
through the county agriculturists and
through extension methods of the
most improved sort, and better far
mers and better farming are found on
hand than have ever been known
before.
Mr.. Speaker, the men and women
who are doing this work demand the
passage of this bill. Speaking for my
own constituency, l say to you that
the people are asking that the BUSH
ness OF producing and conserving food
pc placed on a sound economic basis
They ask that steps be taken at once
to reduce the cost of living, and keep
it reduced, to the point where the wage
Garner of moderate means may at least
be enabled to exist according to Am
erican standards. They are unwilling
to see the patriotic work of their hands
and brains nullified by the continuance
Of a slipshod and u%nseientifc method
of food distribution to cay nothing
of the selfish and unpatriotic manipu-
lation of prices by food SPECTATORS.
They are not afraid that the powers
granted to the President of the United
States by this bill will be abused. The
prospect of a food dictatorship"
strikes no terror to their hearts. nor
do they anticipate a paralysis of bust
ness when this bill shall become a law.
They know that this legislation is nee
essary at this time-necessary for the
protection and welfare of the people
at home as we'll as for the success Of
the soldiers who will soon be fighting
in the trenches of France-and if we
will heed their voice and do the will Of
the people who sent us here we will
speedily enact this bill into law.