East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1918-04-02

This is the story of woman who
converted food Stacker into an ardent
missionary of food production and
conservation; it is the story of wo-
man who would not allow neighbor,
by Indifference or laziness or greed, to
hamper the food program of the Ma
tion and thus further imperil the life
of her son who is fighting in France.
1t is an example that can be followed
by "every woman-everywhe
Was on Tour of South
The experience was told to Assist
ant Secretary of Agriculture, Clar-
ence Ousley not long ago, when he was
touring the South to present the Gov
ernment's urgent message to the cot
ton country-a request, of vital inn
portance, that the South feed itself
this year, and be not lured by high
priced cotton into such increases of
teotton acreage as will, mean diminu-
tion of food-erop acreage. Mr.. GUS
ley explained that the Government Is
not asking the South to reduce its
cotton acreage; is not attempting to
suggest the amount of acreage to be
lplanted-but is only urging, with the
earnestness inspired by conviction
that this means much in winning the
war, that the South insure its own
| food and feed supply first. and then
plant such cotton acreage as it choos-
es. without food from us. he said,eu
allies must fail. If they fail all the
vast burden of the war falls upon us
and what that might mean no man
dares predict.
And so,'' added Mr.. Ousley, the
farmer who knows that. konws his
failure to produce food jeoparidizes
our cause, and yet for greed and self
ishness and in, order to fatten his own
pocketbook. plants all cotton and ex-
poets the rest of the Nation to send
him food--that man is 40 profiteer in
the blood of your sons!"
After that speech woman sought
Mr. Ousley. In her voice there was
quiet determination: in her face
supreme, sublime cnsIrage. subtitle
something in the soul--tfe same spirit
shown so gloriously by the women of
France--by the women of all the un~
Prussianized tand never-to-be-P Pruss'
ianized world. If the Hun had the
Imagination as well as the cruelty of
the savage, if he could lift his sordlo
eyes beyond the rigid mental horizon
of rules and formulae. he would see
here something he could not under
stand and therefore something he
would fear. He would see the adj
amantine answer to his hope OF world
subjugation-that look I'm the eyes of
the women of this land. For men of
such mothers will never be defeated,
they can not but be victorious
Has Con In Franco
"I am glad you said that" began
this woman in whose eyes was the
light that has always famed when war
is waged for freedom. 81 have a son
who is now in France. And 1 have a
neighbor who has not been following
the Governments requests either in
food production or in fod conserva-
tion. This family lives in fine farm.
and neither the woman in her kitchen
nor the husband In his fields has
changed the accustomed way of liv-
ing The man has been planning to
put most Of fis land in cotton. Their
table has had as much food as it ever
did, and upon all days. because they
seem to think that since they pro.
duced the food they need not con-
serve"
Finally I could stand it no longer.
Not long ago | went to this woman
for I knew If could make her under.
stand. the husband also would be
changed. you are trying your best
to kill my boy" / said to her. I'm
sure you haven't realized that this is
the eject Of what you and your hus-
band. are doing. but It Is the effect
and you must understand what 4
means. II my boy must be killed
want the enemy only to bear the bur-
den OF responsibility for his death. /
want to know that he died for his
country, truly. don't want my own
neighbors. the people who pretend to