Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-06-27
Congress Should "Wake Up."

Mdlhe IL attempting TO raise the
largest human food crop in its history.
It's farmers have been handicapped by
late spring flooded fields. delay in Sc
curing fertilizer. scarcity OF some kinds
of seeds, high prices for all, AND A
PROSTITUTION OF UNSKILLED
LABOR FOR THOUSANDS OF EX-
PERIENCED HANDS.
Every branch of the military service
has been using every means of appeal
in its power and actively recruiting
where every man is needed at home
for the nations best interests. Hun
dreds of Maine boys have gone from
farms where badly needed. because
they feared being called "slackers" if
they did not respond to the strong ap-
peal sometimes questionable) of army
and navy recruiting forces. Their first
duty was to remain for service where
they are already trained" and where
they could serve in branch as i'm
portant to the country and its allies as
in the trenches. But patriotism" is a
misunderstood and misapplied word
that IL banded about by careless users,
and because of II hundreds of Names
= farm boys are now training" for
another service, and others are training
in farm work for their places. Meth
or can render full service this year, and
the country is the loser.
Maine is suffering from lack of help
on It's farms. Hoeing and haying come
together this year, and a great many
farmers have been urged into planting
and sowing more acres than they can
care for The result will show in low
cred average of product per acre at
the harvest. Many farmers have
planted more potatoes than they can
store. II even a fair crop is secured.
In consequence they must either mar
ket their crop from the field at what
ever price is offered, or store it
temporarily, in barns, silos, and SO
forth, largely increasing the expense.
Thus we arrive at the question that
10 directly demanded of the national
government: Are perishable crop pro-
ducsrs to be forced. ONCE MORE, into
rushing their crops to market" and
there stored by spectators and ware
housemsn for another drive to exorbi
tant prices, after the seasons crop is
sufficiently in hand to control?
An element in Congress seems deter
mined to bring that about.
A combination Of business interests
in Maine and other states NOW could
build store houses along the railways
and their feeders, and save the crops
from the hands Of the market manipu
lators. VIII II be done? We fear not
n that be pessin1istic, our pessimism
is based on years upon years of re-
peated conspiracy and chicanery that
rave robbed both producers and con-
.umers.
The war may go on Eve fear IT Wild
for another year or more. and we fear
the producer will be caught again next
-prine by some sort Of whoop and
hoorah. but some have come to a de-
gree Of understanding Of the situation
that bodies i'll for next years planting.
II the government does not act to
eliminate the gamblers and spectators
II is time for Congress to wake up"
not the farmer.
John J. Dillon Is commissioner Of
New Yorl; State department Of foods
and markets. Commissioner Dillon be-
lieves II is more important in this cris-
10 to give the farmer a fair price for
his products and to place food within
reach Of the people than to protect the
extortion privilege Of the food dealers.
In = statement given to the People 8
Newt Service. Mr.. Dillon said;
We have asked the farmers to pro-
duce more than ever before. They are
doing II. but what is the result Food
comes into the wholesale markets in
New York in abundant quantity and
Immediately passes into the hands of
dealers who enjoy a monopoly control
Of the distributing machinery. The
people pay the same high prices. The
farmer still gets but a small fraction
Of this price.
In addition to monopoly in the con-
troll Of food in the country by the men
who own the facilities to store and pre-
eervs and distribute food. there is the
monopoly Of privileges in the city OF
New York to bolster up food prices to
the consumer. Speculation in land has
its influence in the cost Of food. Every
advance In the cost Of real estate
means higher prices for food.
THE store tenant rents his sidewalk