The Press., 1917-10-18
FARMERS WILL BACK THE LIBERTY LOAN Secretary Houston Shows Why They Will Do All in
 Their Power. He Will Help Produce Food and Aid Soldiers to Achieve
 Victory.
By D. F. HOUSTON Secretary of Agriculture

It is every citizens duty to pur. chase a Liberty Bond if he is in a position to do so. Every patriot will regard it as a privilege to participate in the Liberty Loan. He will thereby contribute directly and effectively to the successful prosecution of the war which Germany has forced upon us.
 The nations task is a serious one.
 It intimately touches each of us. It faces you and me. If we do not win this war we must prepare ourselves for grave changes in our institutions and to lead a different sort of life from that which we had planned to Eve-from that which our forefathers died to give us the right to live. We shall indefinitely face the interference of the Prussian autocracy or bear permanently the intolerable burdens of militarism.
 To win this war we must have both men and money. know that every farmer wants to do all in his power for the nation in this day of trial. He will not only labor 10 produce the necessary foodstuffs but will also gen. erously contribute of his means to make 1t possible for the men at the front to achieve victory.
 I am confident that the farmers of the land will not permit any other class to take the leadership in sup porting the government in this crisis, financially or otherwise.
 We are at war with Germany be- cause Germany made war upon us, sank our ships, killed our citizens, nd sing friendship. We were patient till ofienses became so fragrant and insults so intolerab1e that it was merely question whether we would admit we were no longer a free ma tion Or accept the challenge of the war-mad, hypocritica1 and medieval Prussian militarists. There was one choice we could not make-we were incapable of making. We could not choose the path of submission and suffer the most sacred rights of our nation and our people to be ignored and violated"
 We are defending our rights as a free nation. We are resolved that there shall be an end of brute force in international affairs. What Ger manys victory would mean to the world is plain. There would be no right except might, no peace save at the price of humiliations too bitter to be borne. Small nations could not exist. l'
 There would be no sanctity to a pledge, no solemnity to a covenant With the dominance of Prussian mill tarlsm, the Anglo Saxon struggle for free institutions and liberty, persist ing from Runnymede to Yorktown, with its Magma Charta, its Bill of Rights, and it's Declaration of Inde- pendence, will have been in vain.
 It Is to prevent this, to defend our rights, and to make possible an or- derly and just peace in the world that we are at war. Fl
 The nation calls on its citizens for high and noble service. On some it calls for service in the field; on oth- CTS for service at home; on all, 1t calls for financial support. I am con- fldent that the farmers of the nation will eagerly respond to the call for subscriptions to the Liberty Loan.
 In spite of the advonce in wages and the price of everything he buys
 
 en dollar the farmer has made good money in the last two years, and has a larger bank account than ever be- fore. It has been estimated that his balance is greater than the entire | Liberty Loan.
 Now a new call comes to the Amer lean farmer. It is the call to support | his country with his money as we'll | as with his crops. To this call he will | respond as nobly as to the other.
 The farmers boy has now Joined | the coIors, and the nation calls on his | father to help equip, train and support | him while he fights for his country | The better we do this the safer it will | be for the boy and the sooner peace will come
 The ten million farmers of America produce more than one third of the wealth of the country. They can cas- fly take one-third of this loan. If svery farmer will take one hundred dollars in the three billion, the thing Ie done If steps are taken to bring he matter to the attention of all the 'armers in the country they will do it.
 The famous Tower of London is slow v sliding toward the Thames ocaord