Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-04-18
Appeals Made to Farmers OF
Country to Increase Food
Stores.
ALL SMALL TRACTS
SHOULD BE TILED
Make Your Back Yards Contribute.
Wide Cooperation Is Deem
ed Necessary.


TX.
what can I do for my country?'
Production of Increasing food sup
plies is a vital need of the country,
and the message has gone forth 10
farmers in every state of the Union
that they will be performing patriotic
service by raising the largest possible
crops.
This may mean you. because the man
who has few acres planted in a home
garden in Brookland or the small farm
er in Cherrydale may be doing his
bit" effectively by raising foodstuffs
for his own family and his neighbors.
thus conserving the supply in whole
sale quantities from the larger produc-
ing areas of the west or south, which
can be shipped direct for military need
or to the great consuming cities.
1t is not necessary today to beat the
plowshares into swords Patriots of
other days saw the necessity of unyok-
ing the oxen and leaving the pillow 10
rust in the -furrow, but with increas-
ing population and the concentration
in large cities the lasting support of
the nation today requires efficient pa
triots to keep the plows going. The
ports the animal. Corn and animals
support an army and armies fight on
their bellies"
Care for the Goose Is Waning.
All agencies concerned in properly or.
Eanizing the nation for effective de-
Tense. including the administration. the
council of national defense, railroads
and institutions of learning, all give
warning that at this time proper care
should be given to the goose that lays
the golden egg.
Emphasizing this fact upon the mem
bers of Congress. a letter has been re-
ceived from the editor of one of the
largest farming journals in the coun-
try. pointing out that "a shortage of
food has proven the greatest danger
TO the countries of Europe in the pres
ent conflict, and would be so here in
case of war, If many farm laborers
should be drafted into the army and
navy and be drawn into munitions fac
tories"
He advises that the retaining of
lands. the conserving of forests. the
building of national roads and inter-
national waterways and the tilling of
the soil for its qualification are occu-
pations that reflect the highest honor
upon those engaged, and VIII hasten to
bring the war to an end.
For Agricultural Army.
A measure has been introduced in Con-
gress by Representative Mccormick OF
Illinois to provide a volunteer army for
increasing agricultural production during
the war, based on plan worked out by
the University of Illinois, approved by the
conference of agricultural experts at st
Louis last week and Endorsed BY Secre-
tary OF Agriculture Houston in a state
nent on the necessity for emergency legis-
lation dealing with the farm situation
The measure provides for the enlistment
of volunteers of three classes into an az
ricultural army. The classes are:
Men above military age.
2-Mea of military age, but physically
unfit for service.
8-Boys from fourteen TO military age
If physically fit for farm work.
These volunteers are to he organized
into agricultural army which is to dc
two kinds of work:
1-Service on private farms where the
volunteers are TO be paid the going wage
of the community.
Service on farms operated by ths
government. where the volunteers are Il
be paid the current wage of soldiers il
the military establishment.
Railroads Ready to Aid.
Ihe ATTITUDE OF the railroads or the
country in their desire to help solve the
food problem is expressed by the Bal
timore and Ohio railroad system, OF
which Daniel +. willard. chairman OF
the council of national defense, 1:
president. This road proposes to take
men from the cities who are not pre-,
pared TO give military service and 10.
cate them on fertile lands where they
can raise good crops All of the larg,
railroads of the country are ready L
cooperate in such q program.
In the meanwhile the iaterdepart
mental committee. which has a mem
bership including representatives from
all branches of the government. is con
centrating it's energies in support o
a program for food production and con
servation which it has worked out il
conference with DIR. b. T. Galloway
the Department of Agriculture repre-
sentative for the consideration of wa
problems
Provisions of Program.
In a general way this program pro
vides for:
Conferences OF agricultural represent
ntives from all the states with the Sec
rotary of Agriculture.
Providing labor for agricultural in
dustries and to secure better distribu
ton of food products.
Provides for mobilization of a
army of 100000 boys for food produc
ton.
Urges an emergency appropriation 0
SIS. 900, 600 to meet tho extraordinar
needs of agriculture.
Makes an urgent call to all farmer
to increase production and to house
wives to avoid all food waste
Comprehends a complete survey of tn
food supply and nationwide and sys
tematic publicity of food prices.
Provides for enlistment of men un
fitted for military service as an OF
ficially recognized force for the produc