Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1917-04-18

1 L oIdlSoy tAiC oNNa SSpAS
United States department of agricul-
Iture. and others who have at heart the
production of the food supplies nee
essary to sustain the armies OF the
limited States as we'll as of the Allied
Nations, have met a hearty response IN
at least one section of Georgia. 1t is
true that much is being said through
the press and by private individuals
by means of letters, but it renamed
for the section around Athens to get
down to business.
The Chamber of Commerce, backed
| by the business men as well as the
State College of Agriculture, has been
waging most vigorous campaign IN
five counties in Athens trade territory
during the last ten days.
| ]. G. Oliver, field agent of the ex-
tension division of the state College OF
| Agriculture, with headquarters at
Americas, was called to Athens to wit
ness this spirit for the public concern
during Saturday and Sunday. He states
their plans as follows:
The Chamber of Commerce of Athens
some ten days ago called together the
leading men of the community ana
with DR.. Soule and the professors OF
1.-THE college, Investigated thoroughly the
agitated reports as to the shortage Oh
food crops for the state last year. 1t
was found that Georgia shipped in
some sS5,OOO,OOO worth of food and
feed stuffs This was so alarming that
they set out Immediately to stimulate
in their territory greater production
for this year.
The campaign consisted in first or
ganizing the counties into food pro-
Junction and conservation societies"
with the leading men taking promfn-
ent part. Seeral committees were ap-
pointed, one among which is a pub
llic safety committee" for each coun-
Nv The duties of this particular COM
mittee are: First, to increase the pro-
duction of the food supply; Second, to
make a surrey of the food supply al
ready on hand; Third to act in an ad-
visory way between the land owner
and tenant, so as to encourage more
acres for food crops among this class.
Fspecially is this necessary, because in
a GOOD number of instances, 1t baS
been agreed that rent should be paid
in cotton this year, and these tenants,
while wanting to produce more food
stuffs for the present emergency, were
Handicapped with the idea that they
must grow more cotton.
1t is also the function of this COM
mittee to remain as a permanent booy
for future emergencies in case the
public safety of the community de-
mands it.
Public Safety Committee.
The first act of the Public Safety
COMMITTEE toward arousing interest in
the production of food crops. as well
as giving information necessary to
create the interest, was to call TO-
gether the white and colored minis
ters of the community for a conference
to get the matter placed before their
congregations as quickly as possible.
The colored people also organized and
are entering enthusiastically into the
4 effort
Saturday there was held big par
ade. one for the white people and one
tor the colored people in Athens, at
which good speakers were present and
much interest created.
Sunday. the Public Safety committee
headed by DR.. A. NJ. Soule, had pre-
pared an address, and every preacher,
both white and colored, either read or
had this read to their congregations,
i after which a few remarks by way OF
announcement were made by the min
listers.
4 During the day there were also
eighteen parties of men each, one a
business man--to tell how the business
men proposed to help-and the other
a man or woman experienced in food
crop production, visited three commun-
Titles each and spoke to the congrega~
Itions assembled at the different
churches.
In the afternoon and night mass
meetings were held at a number Oh
places by the people locally to put
into operation for definite action the
enthusiasm that had been created dur
ing the day.
COlOred Folks Interested.
Mr.. Oliver states that he was pres
ent at the two in Athens Sunday af-
ternoon. one for white and one for