Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1917-04-19


without abundant food alike for
the armies and the peoples now at war,
the whole great enterprise on which
we have embarked will break down
and fail. The worlds food reserves
are low. Not only during the pres.
ent emergency, but for some time at
ter peace shall have como both our
own people and large proportion of
the people of Europe must rely on the
harvests in America. On the farmers
of this country therefore, in large mea.
sure rests the fate of the war and the
fate of the nations. May the nation
not count on them to omit no step that
will increase the production of their
land or that will bring about the most
effectual cooperation in the sale and
distribution of their products? The
time is short. 1t is Of the most imper-
alive Importance that everything pos
sible be done and done Immediately
to make sure Of large harvests.
II call on young men and old alike
and on the able-bodied boys of the
land to accept and act on this duty
to turn in hosts to the farms and
make certain that no pains and no
labor is lacking in this great matter.
Appeals to the South.
Il particularly appeal to the farm.
ers of the South to plant abundant
foodstuffs as we'll as cotton. They
can show their patriotism in no better
or more convincing way than by re.
sisting the great temptation of the
present price Of cotton and helping
helping on a great scale, to feed the
nation and the peoples everywhere
who are fighting for their liberties aud
for our own.
The government Of the United
States and the governments of the sew
eral states stand ready to cooperate.
They will do everything possible to
assist farmers in securing an adequate
supply of seed, an adequate force Of
laborers whec they are most needed
at harvest time and the means Of
expediting shipments of fertilizers
and farm machinery as we'll as of the
crops themselves when harvested. The
course of trade shall be as unhamper-
ed as 1t is possible to make it and
there shall be no unwarranted manip.
ulation of the nations food supply
by those who handle it on its way to
the consumer. This Is our opportunity
to demonstrate the efficiency of q
great democracy and We shall not fall
short Of it.
Middlemen Admonished.
This let me say to the middlemen
of every sort, whether they are han.
ding our foodstuffs or our raw mate
rails Of manufacture or the products
of our mills and factories: The eyes
Of the country will be especially on
you. This Is your opportunity for
signal service, efficient and disinter-
ested. The country expect you as it
expects all others, to forego unusual
profits, to organize and expedite ship
ments 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 in the ranks,
for their people, not for themselves.
II shall confidently expect you to
deserve and win the confidence of peo-
pie Of every sort and station.
ITO the men who run the railways Of
the country, whether they be manag-
ers or operative employees. let me say
that the railways are the arteries OF
the nations life and that on them rests
the immense responsibility of seeing to
It that these arteries suffer no obstruc.
ton Of any kind, no inefficiency or
slackened power.
ITO the merchant let me suggest
the motto small profits and quick ser.
vice: and to the shipbuilder the
thought that the life of the war de-.
ponds on him. The food and the war
supplies must be carried across the
seas no matter how many ships are
sent to the bottom. The places Of
those that 60 down must be supplied
and supplied at once.
Miner Stands With Farmer.
ITO the miner let me say that he
stands where the farmer does. Tho
work OF the world waits on him. II
he slackens or fails, armies and states
men are helpless. He also is enlisted
in the great service army. The manu-.
facturer does not need to be told, I
hope. that the nation looks to him to
speed and to perfect every process;
and want only to remind his EN-.
ployes that their service is absolutely
indispensable and is counted on by
every man who loves the country and
its liberties.
Let me suggest also that everyone
who creates or cultivates . garden
helps and helps greatly TO solve the
problem of the feeding Of the nations
and that every housewife who prac-
tees strict economy puts herself In
the ranks Of those who serve the ma
ton. This Is the time for America to
correct her objectionable fault Of
wastefulness and extravaganza. Let
every man and every woman assume
the duty Of careful. provident use and
expenditure a. q public duty and a.
. dictate Of patriotism which no one
can now expect ever to be excused or
forgiven for ignoring.
their pulpits.
A.