Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-04-16

the farmers of this country, therefore,
in large measure rests the fate of the
war and the fate of the nations. May
the nation not count upon them to omit
no step that will increase the produc-
ton Of their LAM or that will bring
about the most effectual cooperation in
the sale and distribution of their pro-
ducts? The time is short. 1t is of
the most imperative Importance that ev-
erything possible be done and done i'm
mediately to make sure of large har-
vests. I call upon young men and old
alike and upon the able-bodied boys of
the land to accept and act upon this
duty-to turn in hosts to the farmers
and make certain that no pains and no
labor is lacking in this great matter.
Il particularly appeal to the farmers
of h South to plant abundant food
stuffs as well as cotton. They can
show their patriotism in no better or
more convincing way than by resisting
the great temptation Of the present
price of cotton and helping, upon a
great scale. to feed the nation and the
peoples everywhere who are fighting
for their liberties and for our own. The
variety of their rop will be the Wis
ible measure of their comprehension of
their national duty.
The government of the United
States and the governments of the sew
eral states stand ready to cooperate.
They will do everything possible to as
siSt farmers in securing an adequate
supply Of seed, an adequate force Of
laborerS when they are most needed. at
harvest time and the means of expedit-
ing shipments of fertilizers and farm
machinery as well as of the crops
themselves when harvested. The course
of trade shall be as unhampered as it
is possible to make it and there shall
be no unwarranted manipulation Of
the nations food supply by those who
handle it on its way to the
This is our opportunity to demonstrate
he efficiency of a great democracy and
we shall not fall short of it.
To the Middlemen
This, let me say to the middremen
of every sort, whether they are hand
ling our foodstuffs or our raw mate
rails of manufacture or the products
of our mills and factories: The eyes
- ttD StiiN VIII 'I SSDCtIdlIy uDolI
you. This is our opportunity for sig
nal service. efficient and disinterested.
The country expects you, as it expects
all others, to foregC unusual profits,
to organize and expedite shipments Of
supplies of every kind. but especially
Of food with an eye to the service you
are rendering and in the spirit Of those
who enlist in the ranks for their peo-
pie, not for themselves. l shall conf
IDENTIFY expect you TO deserve and win
the confidence of people Of every sort
and station.
ITO the men who run the railways of
the country. whether they be managers or
operative employees, let me say that the
railways are the arteries of the nations
life and that upon them rests the i'm
mense responsibility Of seeing to it that
those arteries suffer no obstruction Of
any kind, no ineff1ciency OF slackened
power. To the merchant let me suggest
the motto: Small profits and quick ser.
vice. and to the ship builder. the thought
that the life of the war depends upon him.
The food and the war supplies must be
carried across the seas no matter how
many ships are sent to the bottom. The
places OF those that go down must be
supplied and supplied at once. To the
miner let me say that he stands where
the farmer does: The work Of the world
waits on him. If he slackens or fails.
armies or statesmen are helpless. He also
is enlisted in the great service army. The
does not need to be told, I
hope. hat the nation looks to him to