The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1917-04-20

young men and old alike and upon
the able-bodied boys of the land to
accept and act upon this dutv-to
turn IN hosts to the farms and make
certain that no pains and no labor is
lacking in this great matter.
particularly appeal to the farm
ers OF the South to plant abundant
foodstuffs as well as cotton. They
can show their patriotism in no bet
Ter or more convincing way than by
resisting the great temptation of the
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 our crops
Will be the visible measure of their
comprehension of their national
duty.
The government of the United
States and the government of the sew
eral states stand ready to cooperate.
They will do everything possible
to assist farmers in securing an ade-
puate supply of seed. an adequate
force Of laborers when they are most
needed, at harvest time, and the
means of expediting shipments of
fertilizers and farm machinery, as
well as of the cro IS themselves when
harvested. The course of trade
shall be as unhampered as it is possi-
bic to make it and there shall be no
unwarranted manipulation of the ma
tons food supply by those who ham
die it on its way to the consumer.
This is our oppol tunity to demon
strate the efficiency Of great democ-
racy and we shall not fall short of it,
This let me say to the biddlement
OF every sort. whe-hc:' they are hand
ling our foodstuTs or our rcw mater
ials of manufacture OF the products
of our mills and factories: The eyes
of the country will be especially up.
on you. This is your opportunity
FOR signal service, cGcicnt and disin-
terested. The country expects you
rs it expects all others. to foreco un-
usual profits, to organize and eXpe-
dite 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
inthe ranks, for their people. not fol
themselves. ! shall confidently ex-
pect you to deserve and win the con-
fidence Of people Of every sort and
station.
1b the men who run the railways
of the country. whether they be man.
ayers or operative employees. let me
say that the railways are the arter-
les of the nations life and that upon
them rests the immense responsible
ity of seeing to it that those arteries
suffer no obstruction of any kind. no
inefficiency or slackened power. To
the merchant let me suggest the mot
to small profits and quick service" "
and to the shiphuilder the thought
that the life of the war depends up
on him. The food and the war sur-
plies 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 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 and
statesmen are helpless. He is also
enlisted in the great service army.
The manufacturer does not need to
be told hope. that the nation looks
to him to speed and perfect every
process: and | want only TO remind
mis- employees that their service is alb
solutely Indispensable and is counted
upon by every man who loves the
country and its liberties
Let me suggest. also. that every
one who creates or cuitivateS gar
den helps, and helps greatly. to solve
the problem of the feeding Of the ra-
tions; and that every housewife who
practices strict economy puts herself
in the ranks of those who serve the
nation. This is the time for Ameri-
ca to correct her objectionable fault
of wastefulness and extravaganza.
Let every man and every woman as
sumo the duty of careful. provident
use and expenditure as public duty
as a dictate of patriotism which no
one can now expect ever TO be eNcus-
ed or forgiven for ignoring.
In the hope that his statement Of
the needs of the nation and of the
world. in this hour of supreme crisis
may stimulate those to whom II
comes and remind all who need re-
minder of the solemn duties of a
time such as the world has never seen
before. | beg that all editors and
everywhere will give as
prominent publication and as WIDE
as possible to this appeal.
| venture to suggest, also. to all ad-
vertising agencies chat they would
perhaps render very substantial
and timely service to the country if
they would give it widespread repe-
tition. And | hope that clergymen
will not think the theme of it an un-
worthy or inappropriate subject of
comment and homily from their pull
pits.
The supreme test of the nation
mas come. We must all speak. act
and serve together,
(Signed) WOODROW WILSON.
NADA