Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1917-05-30
THE FOOD PROBLEM.
"I7le Work is Not Done, 1t is just
Iseg,n"-Tim,e!y Slogan.

Much Is Dcing written ana Salu
about the duty of the farmers to feed
the nation. Especial emphasis Is be-
ing laid upon the duty Of the farmers
OF the Southeast to feed our own
population.
This has been a hobby OF mine for
years. and no one can put 1t stronger
than | have done in the past. But
when all is said about It. this one
great fact must not be overlooked:
We should not be expected to feed
our non-iarming population at loss.
And every one should realize that it
costs us more this year to grow a
p0und of foodstuffs than ever before.
Our labor costs more, our mules cost
more, our implements lost more our
fertilizer costs more, our clothing
costs more, and 1t costs more to feed
our mules and labor with hay at $50
the ton, with meat 20 cents pound,
corn 50 a bushel, -four Sic a barrel.
But some one says: "'Fhe farmer
should raise all thccs things Yes.
even his mules and labor And should
make all his clothes and implements.
TOO. SO there Is a reductiO ad absur
dun. Under our modern life men
specialize and other men can make
our clothes and implements cheaper
than We can.
But the fact remains that even if
wo should grow our own labor, mule
power and food these things should
be worth to us whatever they are
worth in the worlds market for la
Dor, for mules, for corn, hay, wheat,
meat, etc, and like all manufactu-
Ters we should have n profit on the
cost Of the material and labor that
goes into the food that we put on the
market. Therefore do not see how
we are to cheaper the prices of food
except at loss TO ourselves. Why
should take my 20-cent meat and
$2-corn, to grow more meat and corn
TO sell for less to those who do not
farm? These are the fundamental
underlying principles. And until
this problem is solved we will be no
better off than we are now.
How can we cheaper food when
other occupations are calling the
hest labor Of the land to other work
shops? Farm labor has not been
adequately paid in the past, because
farm produce did not bring its right
full price. We can only cheaper food
in one way-by increased production.
We can increase production only by
more labor and more skill. And if
we do not get a profit skill is the
only increasing factor, for labor will
not stay on the farm, not to say come
back to the farm, unless adequately
paid.
Is the hclpraIIcsS OF chambers Of
commerce only temporary, As sug-
sested by President Barrett, or is the
business world and the government
big enough to see that they must en-
bark on Il permanent policy? ! give
them credit for patriotism as we'll as
self interest and a great work is be-
ing done now by such bodies all over
the land, my home county town,
Sumter. being in the forefront Of this
great cooperative effort. This arti-
Gle is not written to criticise nor to
condemn any one. but to try to make
the non-farming world see the prob
lens as we farmers see them and to
help all our farmers get a business
grasp on our field Of labor. We must
take a business-like view of these
things. Sentiment Is good, but must
be backed by business sense for per-
manent results.
The Sumter County Committee OF
Public Safety adopted the first slo-
gan. Grow Food or Go Hungry The
South Carolina State Committee on
Civic Preparedness adopted the next
slogan. "Scrvice for AL" Lee C0un-
tvs preparedness meeting, when
Is. 0. S. signal before that splendid
audience, adopted, Save or Starve"
as its slogan. But think the best
Of all that has come to my notice was
unconsciously uttered BY Farm Dem
onstration Agent Tillcr at Chester
field Court House in telling of the
work in that county when he said,
My friends, The Work is Not Done,
1t Is Just Begun"
GIRLS LEMON JUICE
Is SKIN WHTTENER.