Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-06-25
VITAL FOR ]. S. TO AVOID
IMPLEMENT SHORTAGE
Part Of Government Declared
to BE Necessary.
ONLY SALVATION FOR FARMERS
Unless Production OF Lsbor-Saving
Machinery and Supply of Skilled
Labor Is Protected, America, Too,
Will Face Shortage Of Food.

Il BY Associated Press.I
CHICAGO. June 2i.-Government &C
ton insuring Americas farmers ample
supplies Of farm implements and com
petent farm labor is vitality necessary
to this country's future participation
In tho war. declare the manufacturers
of .t,nerica farming tools and machtn-
cry. This action must be imm ediate
and radical. they say. or else in 1915
the United States will fail to produce
the surplus Of foodstufs absolutely re-
quired to feed the civil population of
armies in fighting trim.
This declaration is made In a pub
lie statement by the National Impleme Mt
and Vehicle Association. whose MEM
bcrs manufacture most OF the farming
Implements used in and exported from
the United States. It is the aSSocia-
tons answer TO an anxious inquiry
about reports of prospective nipple
ment shortage addressed TO il on be-
half of the country's farming interests
by Ex-Governor w. D. Hoard. of Wis
consin. one of the leaders of American
agriculture. The statement. which is
signed by Charles &. Birmingham.
chairman of the associations cxccu-
tive committee, says:
The truth is that unless prompt ac-
ton is taken by the government, our
country is headed straight toward the
self-same mistakes that have resulted
in compelling our allies to come to
us to save them from famine. Unless
we protect the production of labor
saving farm machinery and the supply
OF skilled farm labor. too. we must
soon face a shrinkagc Of food sup
plies. Anybody can realize how ca
lamitous that would be. in the mill
tary as we'll as the economic sense.
The trouble with the food produc-
ton of Europe is Ear from the battle
zones. in fields that lie idle for lack
of men and machinery to cultivate
them. The same trouble is due to over
take US soon. Without such action as
is here suggested and urged. the farm
ers Of the United States will not have
enough machines or men in 1915 to
meet the demands upon them.
SHORTAGE OF OUTPUT
SOON WILL ne SERIOUS
We are now confronted by short
ages of raw material and factory labor
that will begin TO be manifest in short
ages of certain lines OF farm machin-
cry this fall and will result in serious
shortages in many vital lines next year
Stocks on hand in important kinds of
tools and machines are smaller than
for a long while, because of earlier
scarcity OF factory labor and a rap
idly Tightening scarcity OF nearly all
raw materials. Present and prospec-
tive conditions as to both elements
make it certain that the shortage OF
our output will soon be serious
Farmers have deferred during the
last three years the replacing of old
and badly worn tools and machines
Now. confronted by the practical GER.
tainty that the war is to continue in
definitely. with attendant assurance OF
heavy demand and high prices for
all their products, and by an inevitable
shortage of farm labor. they cannot nut
off longer requirements of worn out
machines and the additions TO equip
mcnt necessary to increase acreage and
production.
1T IS also essential to meeting the
demand of the farmers for implements
that there shall be preference in trans
portation for raw materials to the fac
tories and for finished goods from the
factories TO the farms
For the last ten years farm labor
has been more and more difficult to
secure. Now. with nobody can saw how
many OF our young men about TO be
withdrawn from production for mill
tary service and with an enormous
increase in the demand for labor in
munition factories. there is bound to
be such 4 shortage of farm labor as
this country has never known. In Kan
sas alone vast number of fertile acres
on which the wheat crop failed will
lie idle this summer, chiefly for lack
of labor and partly through lack of
machines 10 replant TO corn.
we regard IT as vital to keen on
the farms the men now there who know
the business. especially the men trained
in the use of labor saving machinery.
1t would be wasteful and foolish to LET