Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-11-27
,owA,s War EMERGENCY.

NO.
loWA's WAR EMERGENCY.
Iowans are face to face with an
emergency which demands immediate
action of the most aggressive sort
There is not single resident OF Iowa
to whom the demand does not come
the demand for service to the ma
ton in an effort to shorten the PERIOD
Of the war and hasten the time when
victory shall reward the unified citi'
xenship of the United States.
Every man, woman and child can
and must participate in the program
of conservation which has for its Cd
ject the amassing OF food, clothing
and money in the form Of surplus
over the needs of our own people
this surplus to be sent to Europe Tor
the assistance of the nations and peo'
ples allied with us in the war against
German militarism.
Economy, always virtue, now pc
comes a patriotic achievement. II is
not to be practiced spasmodically nor
in a hit-or-miss fashion, but studlous'
". and with consciousness that
every act of thrift or conservation Is
a proof of loyalty and contribution
to the sum of service which has lot
its aim the destruction of the one au-
tocratic government which remains
from an age of barbarity to menace
the world of nations.
Because Iowa stands hrst among
the states as corn producing area,
the United States and just now the
whole world look to Iowa for much OF
the coming years supply OF corn, ana
for. an increasing supply next year
and as the years follow each other
until the world shall have readjusted
itself after the conclusion Of peace.
iowa farmers proved their loyalty
by planting an unprecedented acre
age to corn this year and the harvest
was an immense one. But the av'
erage quality Of the corn is so poor
that with the best possible care the
1917 crop In Iowa cannot attain the
marks set by the crops OF former
years. Weather conditions made IT
necessary to gather much corn oefore
It reached maturity, and almost every
Geld in Iowa produced a big proper
ton Of soft corn.
Common sense would dictate sep
aration of the good corn from the
soft corn to prevent contamination OF
the former, but investigation proves
that many Iowa farmers have stored
their crop without dividing the two.
A report from the state council OF
defense declares many corn cribs on
iowa farms are actually cooking.
eoft corn is rotting rapidly, resulting
IN IT'S own destruction along with that
az the good corn with which it Is
stored.
N ordinary times a.failure to sep
ante good corn from bad would be
merely an evidence of farmers IN
dividual smftlessness and lack OF BUSH
ness sense. In the present emergency
it becomes disloyal act which men
aces his country and its government.
Not only is he robbing himself of a
profit on his product but he is re-
ducing the actual yield of Iowa's corn
lands and Withholding food when the
whole world is threatened with the
greatest food shortage in modern his
tory.
The selection Of seed corn this
year is one Of the most important du-
ties Of the Iowa farmer. Because of
IL partial failure OF the crop there is
Q very small proportion which can be
used for seed next year. This should
. stored carefully after the most
Naanstaking selection. 1t should be
Suarded through the winter in the
knowledge that it holds the key to
the crop situation for next year and
to q very important phase OF the
world war.
At this time. too. the farmer should
recognize his duty to himself and also
to the nation by putting his property
into the best possible condition for
active and effective work next spring
and summer. No single piece of farm
machinery should be left in the fields
through the winter, exposed to the
elements. Hundreds Of valuable ma
chimes and implements lay neglected
and rusting on Iowa farms last win
ter, with the result that when they
should have been ready for imme-
Aiate use in last summers work sea.
son they were in need OF repairs and
much money was expended then to
balance the loss for which careless
ness and lack Of ordinary business
sense were responsible.
Always a poorly managed farm has
been a certificate of the owners per-
sonal shiftlessness. Now it becomes.
In addition. proof Of his lack of,pa-
triotism and failure to realize his duty
as an American citizen
-----s----
PLAIN BUSINESS.
II is an axiom of business that no
financial obligation should be con-
tracted unless the debtor is able to
make provision for its payment Some
times events transpire which prove
that rrnnor fnrnSiuhf has mt haan