New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1917-05-04

all tnat We cOulQ pay 70 meet the
demands of the ruthless hands of
Germany.
We of New Mexico do not produce
al. that we consume and if we are
to meet our duty in this matter we
must strive to produce more and to
make known our necessities for so
doing by counselling with our neigh
bors who may not be awake to the
grave dangers before us. In addi-
tion we must be more prudent in
conserving what we have. If wheat
bread is to be a rare treat, and it
may be out of the reach of many
Of us as our crop for this year is
estimated to be ~250.0O0,000 bushels
short of normal, let us learn to eat
corn bread without complaint, better
still, we might hep correct the short
age in wheat by turning to substi-
tutes at once. We must eat less
meat, the "Paclcrs" tell us. In short
we must all help and this fight will
be won by the man who ills the
soil and the man and woman who
conserve the product of their labors.
Some of our people have been as
foolish as to think that because
everyone in New MeXico was pro-
posing t. raise beans this year, that
beans would be cheap and it would
not pay to put in a crop. This nan
must be told that all crops are short,
that last fall we shipped beans, many
car loads. as far as Boston. and could
have sold thousands of car loads
than we had. We can't hope to
raise enough this year to meet the
demand and prices viii go higher
than the present record breaking
figures, SO that patriotism will pay
in dollars and cents as well as in
the satisfaction 1t affords.
If the question of II duty as
loyal Americans to assist in main
tanning the food supply of our al
les. did not furnish a reason for
extra effort on our part for the
betterment of our agricultural con-
would seem to dictate that we put
forth our most strenuous efforts to
increase our stock of foods. This
arises by reason of the fact, and
it is well known in New Mexico,
that we do not produce here any
thing like a fair proportion of the
food that we consume. 1t is hard
to arrive at just what proportion
we do produce. But of the actual
food products it is perhaps safe to
say that we produce less than one
quarter of what we use. For ms
lance, we raise but a small. per cent
Of the wheat we consume, and in
like manner this is true of nearly al
food products. with perhaps the one
exception of meat. Therefore, should
the scarcity in food stocks and the
growing demand for the Allies pro-
duce the shortage which is anticipat-
ed, the price for the food stocks
this state may rise to such figures
that most of our people will be de-
MED the use of them, as a very
large percentage of our population
cannot find the money to pay much
more than existing prices. There
fore, -four and potatoes, as well as
many other staples, by reason of
their cost, may be beyond the reach
Of our poor people. This condition,
and it is a real one. and not based
on a false premise, making it doubly
necessary for us to greatly increase
the production of those things which
we can raise here, and which can
be used as a substitute for the staple
articles of food which we have Gus
tomarily had to buy outside of the
state. I
The point is, therefore, that while
we possibly could not hope to raise
enough food to supply Europe or to
contribute in any real measure to-
ward its supply, we can raise suf-
ficient to supply our people with
the substitutes which they will pro-
badly need to take the place of the
food which is increasing so in value
as now to be almost out of the reach
of most of us. Flour has increased
over one hundred per cent in cost,
and may increase yet another one
hundred per cent. If so. some sub
|etitutr must be found, and our peo-
nlc must raise corn and beans, either
OF which can in a large degree take
the place Of flour. This phase of
the matter cannot be given too much
consideration and too much import
ance cannot be attached to these
facts. They may prevent some OF
our people from facing the actual
danger of starvation during the COM
ing winter months, and they may
he rca', though now only apparent
dangers.
In conclusion, what Of the results ?
We are living UP to Our record of
never having waged a selfish war
for conquest. We realize that some
of our people may believe that this
was not entirely true in our Mex
lean war, but history records a far
different conclusion and the proof
of history's version is found in the
fact that though we conquered IL
neighbors, penetrating to their
city with our armies
we withdrew without indemnity
and were satisfied with a set
Element of the disputed boundary
and without quibbling paid many mi
lions of dollars for the territory
coded which included our beloved
state.
We therefore have already gained
the respect of many nations by our
present self sacrifice without hope of
reward to ourselves. save that COM
reward to al which lies in the
preservation of free government in
this world of ours. Our success will
insure this and we hope will Danish
all thought of future wars which
grow out of sordid self seek
ing on the part of nations. or insane
ambition on the part of monarchS.