Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1917-05-18
P REDUCTION or DESTRUCTION

Amidst the excitement of these days
it will be we'll if we give attention to
the voice of wisdom.
Patriotism is one of the greatest
virtues. But patriotism is not always
armed with a rifle, neither is it's pos
SCISSOR always a target for bullet.
That this is peculiarly the case just at
this time is brought forcibly to our
minds when we begin to soberly study
Eour condition
When a state of war was declared by
congress this country was already fac
ing exorbitant food prices, and on top
diction of a fifty million bushel short
age in the 1917 wheat coop. We are
also threatened with shortage in the
potato crop, due to the almost pro
hibitive price of the seed.
Again, bear in mind that it is the
purpose to lend every possible support
to the allies, and if this policy is fol-
lowed there will be very little falling
off in exports.
President Wilson has said that he
does not want to disturb the indus
tries of the country where it can posi-
bly, be avoided Nevertheless, enlist
ments are sure to disturb them to a
considerable extent, especially the
agricultural interests, from which
field recruits are always largely drawn
in warfare.
Hence the Importance of the food
problem looms even greater than that
of fighting, and the man behind the
pillow is destined to be as great pa
triot as the man behind the gun.
!, Thousands of farmers in this coun-
try have for years followed policy of
limiting production. This has come
about gradually and from various
causes f,n scarcity of help was one
cause, but the greatest has been the
low prices heretofore prevailing for
farm products. The latter, however,
is at an end, and the policy of curtail-
ment should be abandoned. In fact,
our plain duty now is to provide food
| for the nation, as this is the founda-
ton of ala preparedness. Men and guns
are powerless without IL.
Spring planting is just opening over
much of the country and the truth
should be forcibly driven home to every
person who owns portion of the soil
that it is his bounden duty in
this emergency to make that soil
produce to the limit of it's capacity.
The Almighty has blessed us with a
fair land and wonderfully productive
one We are facing a struggle that
may tax our resources and our strength
to the utmost. We Will be criminally
negligent if we relax in the least our
efforts in food production.
And this applies to others besides
the farmer and gardener. The bankers
| and merchants, business men of all
lines, by standing shoulder to shoulder
| with the actual GlllSfS OF the SOIL, ISnu-
ing their helpin whatever way it is
needed, can advance the cause won
derfully. Many farmers, especially
| the smaller ones and the renters, will
need assistance. This should be forth
coming primarily for the sake Of
the individual, but that he may be a
unit in swelling our national produc-
! tion
Let us all bear in mind that in the
eventful year of 1917 PRODUCTION
will he as truly patriotic as DIES
! TRUCTION.
The man behind the pillow will be as
truly the savior of this country as the
mum behind the gun.
Our duty calls to us in clarion tones.
Let MS face it without an instant of
hesitation.
Let EVERYBODY produce SOME
! THING.