Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1918-02-08

under the sinister influences Of foreign
control II we do not win. We must
win, therefore, and we shall win.
need not ask you to pledge your lives
and fortunes with those OF the rest Of
the nation to the accomplishment Of
that great end.
eliminating Crisis Has Come.
''You will realize. as think states
men on both sides Of the water real
ixe, that the eliminating crisis OF the
struggle has come and that the
achievements of this year on the one
side or the other must determine the
issue 1t has turned out that the
forces that fight for freedom, the free
dom OF men all over the world. as
we'll as our own, depend upon US In
an extraordinary and unexpected de-
gree for sustenance, for the supply Of
the materials by which men are to
live and to fight, and It will be our
glory when the war is over that We
have supplied those materials and
have supplied them abundantly, and
1t will be all the more glory because
In supplying them we have made our
supreme effort and sacrifice.
''In the field Of agriculture we have
agencies and instrumentalities, for
tunately, such as no other government
IN the world can show. The depart
ment of agriculture is undoubtedly
the greatest practical and scientific
agricultural organization in the
world. = The banking legisla-
ton OF the last two or three years
has given the farmers access to the
great lendable capital of the country.
|. !. Both by direct purchase of nj
trates and the establishment OF plants
to produce nitrates, the government is
doing its utmost to assist in the prob
lem OF fertilization. The department
of agriculture and other agencies are
actively assisting the farmers to To-
cate, safeguard and secure at cost an
adequate supply of sound seed. The
department has $2,500.000 available
for this purpose now, and has asked
the congress for $6,000,000 more.
Labor Problem Is Great.
"The labor problem is one of great
difficulty and some of the best agen-
cies of the nation are addressing
themselves to the task of solving it.
so far as it is possible to solve it.
Farmers have not been exempted from
the draft | know that they would
not wish to be. l take it for granted
they would not wish to be put in a
class by themselves in this respect.
But the attention of the war depart
ment has been very seriously centered
upon the task of interfering with the
labor of the farms as little rs pos-
sible.
And let me say that tho stimula-
tion- Of the agencies | have enumer-
ated has been responded to by the
farmers in splendid fashion.
Last spring the planting exceeded by
$4,000. 900 acres the largest planting
OF any previous year, and the yields
from the crops were recordlbreaking
yields. In the fall OF 1917 wheat
acreage of 42,17O,OO0 was planted,
which was 100000 larger than for
any preceding year. 100000 greater
than the next largest, and 10000
greater than the preceding five-year
average.
"But ought to say to you that it is
not only necessary Ia these achieve
ments should be iesated, but that
they should be exceeded
II will not appeal to you to con.
forts. l do not believe that it is nee
essary to do so. l believe that you
will do it without any word or appeal
from me, because you understand as
well as / do the needs and opportuni.
ties of this great hour when the for.
tunes of mankind everywhere seem
fabout to be determined and when
America has the greatest opportunity
she has ever had to make good her
own freedom and in making it good
to lend a helping hand to men .strug.
Cling for their freedom everywhere
You remember that 1t was farmers
from whom came the first shots al
Lexington, that set aflame the revo
luton that made America free.
hope and believe. that the. farmers OF
America will willingly and conspicu
ously stand by to win this war also
The toll. the intelligence. the energy
the foresight, the self-sacr4fice and
devotion of the farmers of America
win. believe. bring to Q triumphant
conclusion this great last war for the
emancipation Of men from the con
trpl of arbitrary government and the
selfishness Of class legislation and
control. and then. whom the end has
come. we may look each other In the
face and be glad that we ara. Ameri
cans and have had the privilege to
play such part"
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