Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1918-03-01
Pays Tribute to Farmers.


President Wilson paid high tribute
to the patriotism of farmers, declar-
ing their work equally as important as
that of the soldiers in uniform. His
statement in part follows:
ITO increase the price of wheat
above the present figure, or to agitate
any increase of price, would have the
effect of very seriously hampering the
large operations of the nation and OF
the allies by causing the wheat of last
years crop to be withheld from the
market.
1T would, moreover, diSlocate all
the present wage levels that have been
established after much anxious dis
cuSSiOn and would therefore create an
industrial unrest which would be harm
full to every industry in the country.
II know the spirit of our farmers
loyalty with which they will accept
the present decision.
ut seems not to be generally under
stood why wheat is picked out for
price determination, and only wheat,
among the cereals. While normal dis
tribution of all of our farm products
has been subject to great disturbances
during the last three years because of
war conditions, only two important
commodities, namely wheat and sugar,
have been so seriously affected as to
require government intervention.
- TTY1it
ed States for foreign use is of so great
volume in comparison with the avail
able domestic supply that the price OF
wheat has been materially disturbed
and is became necessary in order to
protect both the producer and the con-
sumer to prevent speculation.
"It was necessary, Therefore, for the
government to exercise a measure of
direct supervision and as far as pos
sible to control purchases of wheat
and the processes of its expectation.
This supervision necessarily
amounted to price fixing and [ there
fore thought it fair and wise that
there should be a price stated that
should be at once liberal and equit-
able.
"Those peculiar circumstances gov
erning the handling and consumption
of wheat put the farmer at the very
center of war service. Next to the
soldier himself, he is serving the cOun-
try ard the world and serving it in a
way which is absolutely fundamental
to his own future safety and pros
perity He sees this and can be re-
lied upon as the soldier can.
"The farmer is also contributing
men to the army, and I am keenly
alive to the sacrifices involved.
Draft Favors Farmers.
SIN order to relieve the farming in
duStry as far as possible from further
drains of labor, the new draft regula-
tons have been drawn with view to
taking from the farms an even small
>er proportion of men, and it is my hope
that the local exemption boards will
make the new classification with
view of tightening the load upon the
farmers to the utmost extent.
National and local agencies are &C
lively at work besides in organizing
community help for the more efficient
distribution of available labor, and in
drawing upon new sources of labor.
'The federal railway administration
is cooperating in the most active, in
telligent and efficient way with the
food administration to remove the diff
fculties of transportation, and of the
active movement of the crops. Their
marketing is to be facilitated. and the
farmers given the opportunity TO real
.ze promptly upon their stocks.
'"The business of war touches every
body. 1t is a stern business, n coop
erative business, a business of energy
and sacrifice, business of Service in
the largest and best and most stirring
sense of that great word"