The Green Forest tribune., 1917-04-20
FOOD ARMY FIRST
 IMPORTANCE NOW.
AUTHORIZED STATEMENT OF CARL VROOMAN, ASSISTANT SECRE-
 FAIRY OF AGRICULTURE.

The South needs to be agriculturally prepared and mobflized at this critical moment in our history, because the South is dependent on the rest of the country for her food supply. The South must develop her food resources and her system of food distribution to the highest point of efficiency. The South at this crisis must lead the way by feeding herself, thus releasing $600,- 000,00 or $1 000,000,000 worth of food to those who are fighting with us for democracy and human liberty. War means that the present serious short age of freight cars will become even more serious, and the South will suffer because of it's dependence on the North west for meat and four.
 It is essential that every possible food resource of the Southern States be developed to it's fullest capacity this summer, and that reliance be not placed on the cotton crop alone. It may be that substitutes for staple foods will have to become part of the Southern diet. Soy beans and cowpeas, for example. would ease up the meat situation, for both are excellent pro- tein sources for human food, and if wheat flour is difficult to get, bread can be made in conjunction with pota- toes, corn meal, rice, peanut meal, soy bean meal, etc.
 Under normal conditions there would be at this time enough food In the country to feed the entire population and do a big export business in addi- tion. But war is not a normal condi- ton. Our allies are hungry, and we must feed them. Our winter wheat crop Is small, and the world wheat crop Is likewise small. There is every req son for the strictest economy in the use of food the strictest efficiency Tn the distribution of food and the ut most use of scientific principles in the production of food.
 The responsibility for adequate food production lies with the individual cit fzen. Any planter or farmer who, in this national crisis, fails to put a large percentage of his land in food crops is lacking both in patriotism and in com mon prudence. We can not win this war if we permit the boys at the front to supply all the self sacrifice Today the first duty of the South and the na- tion is to get food. Every loyal man. woman and child must share in this common burden and privilege.
 I am myself a landowner as well as public official and I want to say per sonal word to the landowners of the South.
 All landowners in the South who live tenants owe duty to their country In this time of war necessity for food stuffs. They should give their tenants every facility for growing not only the supplies needed on their farms, but. also, they should urge every tenant to grow surplus of food crops. Local forces should be organized to furnish market at reasonable prices for these food crops, and thus insure a profit on the crops produced.
 Any landowner who, by eXorbitant rents or by pressure of any sort, causes his tenants to plant on his lands large crop of cotton at the expense of food production is not doing his part and has signa1ly failed to measure up to the requirements of a good citizen. I have said before. and I say again, that the South can and must feed her self. and this can only be done when our city landowners and those who con- trol lands actively support and use all their influence to secure the production of food.
 Contracts for rents and for methods or cropping may already be made, but no landowner, true to his country will stand in the way of production of food stuffs because of selfish considerations. Even from the selfish financial point of view. to put all your land in cotton this year is poor business judgment Tn all likelihood food crops will be more In demand in the South than even cot ton. Much larger acreages must be de- voted to corn, soy and velvet beans, po- tatoes. forage, home gardens. and this Tall the grafns-all of which is impos- sible if the land is in cotton.
 The responsibility of this crisis on the individual landowner is as great as upon the individual farmer, the indi- Niuuil pdHhtI, tue ifldlViQual merchant or the individual soldier in the trenches. If our nation is to exert her full might In her splendid crusade for democracy and liberty, the same invincible spirit or patriotism must animate alike all classes of our citizens. Landowners of Tennessee, the time has come for you to sign your pledges and "do your bit'' for the South, for the nation and for the successful termination of this war.
 Carl vrooman.