The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-01-14
NOT CHARITY But
SOUND BUSINESS,
SAYS HELSTR0M
Farmers Of North Dakota Not
Asking Aims, Declares
E.@f Defense Council.
URGES SANE WAR MEASURE
Loan That Will Increase Yield Of
Grain by 100000 Bushels
Advised.

Secretary +. o. Helstrom Of the
North Dakota state council Of defense
has written Hon. Asbury T.. Lever
chairman of the house agricultural
committee, urging his support for a
bill introduced by Rep. Jonn NJ Baer
of the Third congressional district, APP
propriating So, 100000 for the relief of
drouth-stricken farmers in the north
west and in other sections of the Unit
ed States where aid may be required.
Mr. Helstrom says:
'The appropriation asked for may
be possibly out of line as to the
amount, but speaking for North Da-
kOta, | am satisfied it is necessary to
have $5,0O0,00O to assist the farmers
in the drouthstricken district, includ-
a large portion OF the western half of
our state:
"This is not to be considered as a
charity or as an appeal for aid. The
farmers in this state are amply able
to take care Of any usual and neces
sary requirement, and are not asking
for any assistance in order to enable
them to care for themselves, but if
they do not get cooperation from the
government .ney Wlll not ne aJle TO
seed their land so as to get the eX-
cess production, which I understand
is very urgently requested ny TIC
food administrator in order that addi-
tiOnal food can be furnished to our
country, for war purposes, and for
distribution to the countries with
whom we are associated in this war.
Therefore, this request is put on the
basis OF war measure, pure and
simple. .,-
III the government is willing to take
this step in cooperation it will mean
an excess production for next year OF
about 100000 bushels Of wheat, and
every dollar that the government may
advance now will come back with in
terest iwthin the next ten months, I'M
less there should be total failure Of
crops again.
1T seems to me that there should
be no hesitation on the part of the
congress Of the Unite1 States to make
this appropriation. The expenditure
involves a great zeal less, anu IS more
vital to the success or the failure OF
the war than hundreds of other ex-
penditures that we are making with
put any hesitation whatever.
A..vru4u5 ~ otaLlo.4Co, ne gu1ltlre
from our fleet has shown about, 2 IL
per cent of hits in actual combat and
there is no way to ascertain what per-
centage of efficient shots are ATTAINED
by our land batteries; but Judging
from the fact that so many million
shots have been fired without mater
+ tally changing the positions of the
armies facing each other, it is fair
to presume that the percentage OF
hits is even smaller on land than on
sea.
"To invest a few dollars at this
time with the hope of increasing the
production of food on the farms of
North Dakota, does not involve any
where near as great a hazard as the
Investment in other war material and
is certainly just as vital and neces-
sary to the success of our arms.
! II hope that you will be able to look
on this as war measure and not
charity The people in North Dakota
are not looking for charity. They are
ready and willing to do all the work
and take all the chances because they
stand ready to reimburse the govern
ment at the end of the crop season.
yours respectfully,
North Dakota State Council of
! Defense, l.... ...
+. o. HELsTROM, Secretary"