The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1918-02-19

Washington, D. c., Feb. 14.-"If
the South neglects this year to pro-
vide her own food and feed, she is
likely to suffer serious privation, and
she will put burden upon the
Nation whcih may prolong the war
and even imperil our victory," says
Clarence Ousley,. Assistant Secre-
tary of Agriculture:
"I am aware that these are
strong words" continues Secretary
Ousley, "but they, are none too
strong. I am not expressing an
alarmist personal opinion. / am see
ing through the eyes of 48 agricul-
tural colleges and of county agents
in nearly every agricultural COUNTY.
I ave recently crossed the continent
from the Atlantic to the Pacific. l
have studied the reports gathered
by the departments $4,000 repre-
sentatives and as many more en-
plo:yees of the agricultural colleges.
1, have recently crossed the continent
the International Institute of Agri-
culture at Rome which has reports
from all the world. =.
''fhe plain, hard truth is that
with 40 million people withdrawn
from productive industries and en-
gagged in. the business of destruction,
it is not humanity possible for pro
duction' on the whole to exceed nor
mai demand. The question is wheth-
er production can equal .netessitous
demand: n.
england, France, and Italy must
be be: sustained or their populations
cannot stand the strain. They have
been on scanty rations for more
than three years. The chief cause
of. Russia's collapse was hunger. Sol
diers cannot fight when their wives
and. children. are starving.
"Secretary .McAdoo has given
warming that transportation may be
lacking in 1918, ,toShaul food anc
feed to. states and committees thai
4 do not provide for themselves. Many
cattle have been sacrificed in the
,drouth regions of the Northwest ane
the Southwest during the last few
months, because railroad cars coult
not be obtained as needed. Mill
tary movements must have first con
sideratfon, and military movement
will be greater in 1918 than in 1917
The prime question for the farme'
is not what product will bring tn!
:. highest price, but what products vii
: insure food for his family and fee'
for his live stock, and the answe
is: vegetable garden, a mill
cow, a brood sow, poultry flock
ample corn, oats, peanuts, etc., ap'
/, then as much cotton or tobacco a
he can cultivate. well. r.
"It is the highest demand of pat
riotism-it is the first Requirement
of living g-:;-that in 1918 every State
{ every county, every neighborhooe
every farmer, be as nearly seft-sus
tanning as possible.
, ."For the South to plunge on col
ton or tobacco or any other speculs
: tive, crop and to- depend upon tn
; corn belt for bread and meat WI
+ be for the: South to engage IN.
:. gamble which may cause prlvatlo
to it's people. and disaster to tn
e Nation. For any: man now to .df
: termine his business operations frol
;, the standpoint of profit alone, witt
; out regard to- the Nations needs
:; for him. wilfully. to profteer in tn
4 blood of. his fellows who are fightln
L in France for the preservation {
/, the republic. No man can. be. e.
l. cused for. not taking his share:
), the responsibility.
J. :."My whole life has been spent
y the South. l know the Souther