The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-11-17

(By Richard II. Edmonds)


Many people prefer to avoid facing
realities, apparently believing that
II they can fool themselves and the
public long enough some change may
take place which will Obviate the ne
cessity of facing facts when these
facts are unpalatable.
This country faces a very serious
food situation, but the United States
Department of Agriculture has misled
the nation, and in doing so misled the
administration itself In President
Wilson'S appeal for sacrifice in order
to conserve food for our allies he said:
Our country, however, is blessed
with an abundance of foodstuffs
and if our people will economize in
their use, providently confining them
selves to the quantities required for
the maintenance of health anC
strength, etc." 81
President Wilson was thoroughly
honest in his own belief as to the cor
rectness of this statement, or he
would not have made it. But unfor-
tunately it is incorrect The country
is not abundantly supplied with food
stuffs, and it is a serious mistake
Viewed from every angle. to have
m nSCin n1
try should be convinced that there
was an abundance of foodstuffs fOl
realization Of the necessity of increas-
ed food production and increased food
could then be found for the high
prices prevailing. If these high prices
the gamblers and specul;l-
tors should be hung or shot But un
fortunately the facts are such as to
demand the most serious consideration
of the nation. We must face the is
sue with exactly the same spirit tha
we must face the realization of the
war, and prepare to meet the food
question with exactly the same de
gree of self-sacrifice with which tn,
soldier offers his life.
The man who wastes food, who
consumes more of wheat bread, beef
pork and mutton than is actually
needed for his sustenance, is a slack
er in this hour of world tragedy. He
is infinitely more Of a. Stacker thar
the man who because of cOwardicc
seeks to escape the war. The latte.
from cowardice may try to save hi;
life. The former. from selfish glut.
tony is unwilling to sacrifice ever
some Of his appetite. The hotel
the social club which furnishes on it
Dill OF fare n larger supply of food
stuffs than should be demanded a.
this hour, or which wastes by pgiyinl
too large portion, is worse than 8
Stacker. 1t cooperates with tn,
Stacker merely because it does not
want heroically to stand for what i.
right, and therefore it seeks to ap
pease the gluttonous appetite Of the
food Stacker. The time has Ions
since passed for mincing words il
the discussion of these problems. lie,
us face the facts as to the food ,aues-
tion.
This years wheat crop is 100000
900 bushels less than the averag,
yield of the last five years. 1t is owe
SS,0OO,OO0 bushels short of the crop
of 1901, or 16. years ago. though al
that time we had population of a
least 25,O00,000 less than we have to-
day. At the average rate of con
sumption. based on an increase O.
25.OOO,O00 people, we need at Ieas,
125. 100000 bushels more of whea
than we then needed for our domes
tic consumption alone. But instead
of that we have decrease of SS,.
100000 bushels short of that years
yield.
This years wheat crop is 10000.
600 bushels short of the yield OF
1912. 1t is 103,O0O,OOO bushels shor'
OF that of 1913. 1t is $4,000, 900
bushels less than that of 1915.
If this years yield of corn and
wheat had been increased in proper
ton to population as compared with
the yield of 1906, we would have $685.
100000 bushels more than the ag-
gregate yield Of these two crops in
that year.
The total production of wheat and
corn FOR the last two years is 49O,-
100000 bushels short of the tOta