The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1917-04-19
PROGRAM FOR
FOOD ECONOMY
MOBILIZATION OF ARMY OF TWO
MILLION BOYS TO RAISE
FOODSTUFFS.
NEED S25,000,000
Representatives Of Thirty-two States
Plan Methods to Increase Produc-
tion, Economics and Secure Better
Distribution OF Produce.

Washington, April 19.-An emer.
gency appropriation of $2J,OOO,OOO to
be made available Immediately. for
the use Of the secretary OF agricul-
ture to meet the extraordinary needs
of agriculture; an urgent call to all
farmers to increase production and
to housewives to avoid all food
waste; the mobilization of over O.
100000 unemployed boys between the
ages of fifteen and nineteen years for
service on the farms and in the pro.
duCtion Of food supplies and muni-
tions; the enlistment OF men unfit
ted for military service as an Off
cially recognized force for the pro.
ductiOn Of necessities; a complete
survey of the food supply, national
systematic publicity of food prices
effective control Of agencies for the
manufacture and handling of foods.
and price fixing If necessary these
are among the leading recommended
tions Of siXty-two officials represent
ing state agricultural colleges and
commissions of thirty-two states, from
New York to the Rocky mountains
who met at the request of the secre-
tary Of agriculture to confer with rep
resentatiyes of the United States de-
partment of agriculture in st. Louis
April 10 and H.
The conference, after dealing with
the general problems of financing ag-
riculture and organizing the federal
and state agencies for effective CO.
operation, made a special appeal to
the patriotism of farmers and recon-
mended definite program particu.
larly looking to the increase OF ce.
real and leguminous food and meat and
animal products Home owners and
their children were urged to produce
as much food as possible in back
yards and vacant lots and to can or
preserve all surplus.
Farmers Responsibility.
Upon the farmer rests in large meas
ure the final responsibility of winning
the war in which we are now involved
The Importance to the nation of an
adequate food supply. especially for
the present year, can not be oyer-em.
phasized. The worlds food reserve f.
very low. Therefore, the man who
tills the soil and supports the soldier
in the field, and the family at home.
is rendering as noble and patriotic
a service as is the man who bears the
brunt of battle.
Within the next sixty days the H.
nal measure of crop acreage and food
production for this year will have been
established. We urge the importance
of the immediate mobilization of all
available service in performing the
patriotic duty of providing and con-
serving food.
Because of the world shortage OF
food, It is scarcely possible that the
production Of staple crops by the
farmer Of the United States can be
too great this year There is every
reason to believe that a generous
price will be paid for the harvest OF
their fields.
The situation which now confronts
our country is a great emergency
the greatest perhaps in its history.
lt.is strongly urged that congress and
state legislatures, in passing laws or
in making appropriations intended to
carry out these or other plans for
assuring an adequate food and cloth.
ing supply, should, so far as possible
be governed by the principle that
when the emergency ceases much per
manent reconstruction in agricultural
policies and plans may be necessary.
The recommendation in the main
call for federal action. but state gov
ernments can and should cooperate To
the fullest degree in considering and
executing plans Of cooperation and
of supplemental legislation and ap