Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-09-25

eminent is not carried OUT. Inc organ
lied farmers of America look to you to
set this matter right. They await anxi-
ously the news, and they will consider
carefully the nature. Of your action
for their relief.
Respectfully submitted.
W. r Greasy. Chairman. Catawissa, Pa.
Cha res s. Barrett. Union City, Ga,
l. w. Shorthll, York. Nebr..
Clifford Pinchot. Milford. Pa,
Charles Mccarthy, Madison, Wis,
Members Of Executive Committee.
Charles ". Holman. General Secretary,
Washington. D. c.
The best crop grown in this country
in 1917 is the product of facts relative
TO the business OF farming. In Ave
months the seeds sown broadcast by
one little newspaper have sprouted ana
grown and ripened with amazing lux
, uriance. They have been attacked by
all the pests and bligh,s and ro.s In the
Aonc list of greed's resources, but the
Truth is tenacious and hardy. A
writer in weekly farm publication
recently said that the Kennehec Jour
nal is the ONLY daily newspaper
fighting for the farming interests and
pointing out the reasons for the sure
trend away from the farms.
BE that as 1t may. our readers know
that last Spring we so vigorously and
s:stently urged the government to
zee and realize the very things which
the Federal Board Of Farm Organi
Zations' is now presenting that we
were accused of attempting to create
class prejudice Today the country is
harvesting a crop or knowledge of TIL.
facts proving 10 millions that we five
months ago. pointed out an existing
class prejudice the growth of genera
ton of greed and specula ton on one
side, and lack of cooperation and or
ganization on the other. a prejudice
that had hocome so firmly fixed by
common acceptance that common sense
dealing with it at first caused an up
roar and cries of Glass prejudice"
Last Spring we gave the reasons
for safeguarding the years crops by
assurance Of at least normal sup
ply Of competent farm labor. But the
stones of fact hurled by one solitary
little newspaper up in the woods of
Maine failed to make dent in the
solid ivory Of the government dome of
wisdom.
The government and all it's toadies,
all the hangers-on and pretenders, all
tho branch offices of the gamblers and
spectators. all the seedsmen, fertilizer
makers and farm machinery trusts.
yowled in concert for the farmers to
plant "patrotically." TO save The ma
Iion and our allies. No matter how it
should be cared for (the good Lord
will provide, presumably only huy our
seed and our fertilizer and our ma,
chinery at eXhorbitant prices-and
plant, plant, plant and sow. sow, sow.
The government wanted to count the
acreage While the farmers were buying
/ poisons (also az exhorbitant prices)
and hiring labor wherever they could
get II at any price asked-because
/ prices for product would be sure to
he high" this fall (no other assurance
Than the governments guess, and
cuesses are not tangible assets for
I collectors.)
We urged that skilled farm labor be
exempt from draft, but wise public
p cat ptN ,iyot
/ the floating appropriations pooh
poohcd at the idea. Why, boys and
/ Girls. and men from idle shops could
! do the work-"ANY body can FARM
! for that occupation requires neither
/ brains nor capital"
And now this farm organization has
the audacity to say that farming is
a skilled occupation and that train
ed farm labor cannot be replaced to
advantage by unframed men, women
and boys" That Is the fact that has
been brought home by the war gar
dens' SO tina. today the declaration is
safe: last Spring it was deemed fac
tious.
In five months the country has seen
why live young men and women de-
sert the farm-because Of better wag-
es, shorter and easier hours, and
their rights by living wage protected
by united labor. The country mas seen
that no other business has so en-
/ suited in chances and so certain and
easy a prey for the gambler and the
combinations Of trade and transporta-
! ton
But in the face Of all this, in spite
II the daily proof in the farmers diff
] fcult!es, the government and various
irresponsible groups organized TO save
the public" have gone on giving cut
the!r statistics proving" that there is
+ mo shortage OF farm labor" And what
is even mere vital, not a blessed one Of
these-the government OF any of the
referred to committees-has yet re-
ceived glimpse Of the fact that ag-
ricultural work OF the year is far be-
Mind tho Shn,tI6 he status Thoy do