The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1917-04-28
CONTRIBUTORS COLUMN
FOOD PANIC MUST &c AvsRTEo

ten concerning the existing shortage Of
food supplies, hut the subject is such a
vital one that too much cannot be- said
about IL. therefore, ! wish. through
your columns, to address these remarks
to the people Of West FeIiciana,
The war into which our great country
has finally been drawn will not cause
a money panic. America has. during
! the present war, sold so much 60 the
! European countries that che Is rolling
! ia wealth and the banks are overflow.
| ing with money But this war may
cause a food panic There II such a
thing as having your pockets full Of
money aud still not able 10 buy food
/ The possibility of such a condition con
/ fronts America today. and the South
! in particular. viii have TO grow more
food aud feed products than Il has ever
| dreamed Of growing before, If she does
not wish to face hunger.
! Unfortunately, rome of the great
riches spoken Of above have come in
/ the direction Of West Feliciana, be-.
cause West Feliciaua has not been pro
dueing what has been said the foreign
countries but the people Of West
! FcliCiana need not suffer for want Of
food They can not only feed them
selves In these times Of stress, but
! they are In an excellent position Go
help feed the world and get paid foF H.,
+ by putting In every available acre 20
raise products Of food that can be
/ shipped besides plenty TO eat at home,
| they can help their country win the
war and az the same time prosper by a.
! | do not like TO emphasize the question
Of making money Ia situations like the
one confronting us, as war profits have
never appealed 10 me. bat Il does APP.
pear to me that we have a most excel
lent opportunity To show our patriotism
and at the same time better ourselves
financially
Even should the war end this year,
which Ne all hope will be a fact, there
wiil be a shortage Of food for several
years 10 follow. aud with West Feiic.
/ lana being essentially a stock raising
and agricultural section, II her people
sill grasp the situation, they will be
able To- took back and say that at least
one var had benefited them During
/ the next four or FIVE years, If no longer.
/ West Feliciana people should have n
gold mine In the shape OF cattle, cotton,
corn, hay, potatoes, etc.
! In order TO get the full benefit of the
/ yield from mother earth, would urge
that every farmer have canning out
A.. These outfits can be bought nj very
low prices and should enable the
grower of vegetables 10 utilize every
thing In small or large quantities Not
one tomato, or bean, or pod Of okra
should go to waste II you have not a
canning outfit let your Reighbor have
the oser.plus of the field OF garden, SO
that ne can preserve il. As sweet Pc.
tatoes can most easily and economical
~ be raised | would urge that very
large crop Of thom be planted Every
acre. and more, that is now planted 10
Irish potatoes should De pui down In
sweets. OF course, as much corn as
possible should be planted and well
cultivated.
| one Of the great drawbacks 30 West
Felicana Is that 1t Is not we'll financed,
| the cause Of which need not be gone
into. To large extent this weak point
can be overcome by economy and hard
work, both Of which will be good quail.
ties TO acquire, A for the Bank OF
Commerce, with which | am connected,
! II is too small and new io be expected
TO meet all the requirements of the
entire parish, but am free 10 say that
We fully realize our position ir the
community aud viii do our part TO meet
the situation, always bearing IN mind
| that the first duty Of a bank, war cor no
war, is 20 the depositor. Another draw
back Is lack Of labor. which IL not So
/ plentiful rs Ina times past This ts a
| mighty good tine for some Of the white
people TO learn that working In the
field IN not a disgrace There is no
reason why the boys aud girls should
not help very materially In growing
this years crops Work In the open
fields viii be a benef, TO them as well
as add to the output
| | feel sure that the patriotic people
of West Feliciana. men, women and
children. will not fail To seize the op
portunity they have Of helping their
country NJ this time and al the same
! time helping themselves