The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-04-16
Rich Pledges Support Of
Reserve Bank In Aiding the
Production Of Food Crop

of all is. that the problem of planting
financing and harvesting record
crops, from which very large supplies
will unquestionably be drawn for the
support of England and France, is g
problem not of future months but
now. The next three weeks will tel
the story. Unless the crop first goes
into the ground, we cannot expect the
production we hope for. The time is
extremely short between now and the
tenth day Of May. There are a number
of extremely important things which
we must accomplish, and if you will
permit me, / should like to suggest
them to you.
We must make sure that there is ar
ample supply Of high grade seed, that
this seed is properly distributed over
the grain territory, and that every
farmer who needs seed is not only in
formed where he can get it, but is
provided with money to pay for it il
he needs loan. $50
Personal Approach.
Many thousands of farmers in Wis
consin, Minnesota, the two Dakotas,
and Montana must be reached per-
sonally, if possible, and through their
and informed of the seriousness of
the situation, and of the part their
government expects of them.
Practical and effective steps must be
taken to increase the breeding stock
on the farms and to finance the farm
ers, who are able to care for stock, in
the purchase of hogs, sheep and cattle.
Hand in hand with increased stock
production, We must provide for more
corn and forage crops, or our efforts
to build up the stock production will
fail, because we have not the feed
with which to handle the stock.
Our farmers must know that we
want to work hand in hand with them,
and that those of us who know nothing
about running tractor or handling
a pillow can and will help them in other
things that are equally important,
notably in providing them with the
money they need, at reasonable rates,
and in cooperating with reference to
the labor supply.
Need Organization.
We must organize in a practical and
efficient way, mobilize and hold ready
a sufficient amount of farm labor. to
meet the demands that will begin to
appear at haying time, and prevent
what might otherwise develop into an
acute shortage at the beginning of
harvest. We must realize, and We must
make every farmer and business man
realize, that to the northwest, 1917,
lis a year Of golden opportunity. We
have enjoyed prosperity and prosper
tty will co5tinUe if we utilize the OPP
portunities that are before us. Prices
have been high and are going to re-
main high, even should the government
establish price control measures. We
live in region which produces, not
the luxuries, but the absolute essen
tails in the food supply of the nation.
of a1x 70 q
prices this fall is limited only by what
We can plant and cultivate. The de-
mands of the United States will be
large, and the farmer may feel an abb
solute certainty that every pound of
grain and every bushel o. corn that
he raises that is not needed for home
consumption, will be Immediately TAX
en- by the allies. The foreign market
will lean heavily upon the northwest
this year, and its demands for corn,
grain and livestock will absorb any ex-
cess that we are able to produce.
Northwest Never Fails.
The northwest has never yet failed
when the government has called on It
for service, nor will 1t fail this year!
have not come here to instruct, or
even to advise, but only to bring the
message that the next three weeks will
be an extremely critical period, during
States will look to the business men,
farmers and bankers Of the northwest
to do their full duty, and will expect
them to discharge the heavy obligation
of rendering immediate and effective
service in the same thorough and eff
Gent manner that has characterized
their action always before when they
have been called for federal service.
For every fighting man at the front,
seven men are needed at the rear to
provision and supply him and keep
him able to do his part. We must now
consider ourselves as a part of the
great reserve force behind the firing
lines and remember that fighting men
cannot fight on empty stomachs. Our
duty, therefore, is to confer, and to
here and now determine how we can
and apportion our energies in
such a way as to give agriculture the
best and most perfect assistance, and
bring to the aid of our government in
this crisis, such support from these
northwestern states as is BETTING
their rank and dignity.