The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-02-01

that their supply of labor is very mucl
less seriously drawn upon than it wa.
under the first and initial draft, mad,
before we had had our present full expe
rience in these perplexing matters. Tn,
supply of labor in all industries is a
matter we must look to and are hook.
ing to with diligent care.
"And let me say that the stimulation
of the agencies | have enumerated has
been responded to by the farmers in
splendid fashion. | dare say that you
are aware that the farmers of this eoun-
try are as efficient as any other farmers
in the world. They do not produce more
| per acre than the farmers in Europe. II
is not necessary that they should do so.
Ii would perhaps be bad economy for
them to attempt it. But they do pro-
duce by two to three or four times more
per man, per unit of labor and capital
than the farmers of any European coun-
try. They are more alert and use more
labor saving devices than any other
farmers in the world. And their re-
spouse to the demands of the present
emergency has been in every way re-
markable. Last spring their planting
exceeded by 100000 acres the largest
planting of any previous year, and the
yields from the crops were record break
ing yields. In the fall of 1917 a wheat
acreage of 42,l70,000 was planted which
was 100000 acres larger than for any
preceding year, 100000 greater than
the next largest, and 100000 greater
than the preceding five.year average.
But | ought to say to you that it is
not only necessary that these achieve.
ments should be repeated, but that they
should be exceeded. / know what this
advance involves. II involves not only
labor, but sacrifice, the painstsking APP
plication of every bit Of scientific knowl- |
edge and every tested practice that is
available 1t means the utmost econ. |
omy. even to the point where the pinch |
comes. 1t means the kind of eoncen-
tration and self-sacrifice which is in |
volved in the field of battle itself, where I
the object always looms greater than the
individual. And yet the government will |
help, and help in every way that it is
possible.
THE impression which prevails in
some quarters that while the govern
ment has sought to fix the prices of
'oodstutfs, it has not sought to fix other
prices which determine the expenses of
he farmer is mistaken one. As a
natter of fact, the government has ac-
lively and successfully regulated the
,rices of many fundamental materials
Underlying all the industries of the coun-
ny and has regulated them, not only
or the purchases Of the government, but h
lso for the purchases of the general
ublic. And / have every reason to be- |
eve that the Congress will extend the :
overs of the government in this i'm
ortant and even essential matter, so
hat the tendency to profiteering which {
J showing itself in too many quarters,
lay be checked effectively. In fixing
he prices of foodstuffs, the government
merely has tried to keep the interests ,
the farmer as much in mind as the 4
lterests of the communities which are
, be served but it is serving mankind
) well as the farmer, and everything
these times of war takes on the rigid
spect of duty.
Il will not appeal to YOU to continue
nd renew and increase your efforts o
do not believe that it is necessary to Il
, so. | believe that You will do it a
ithout any word or appeal from me, be- 7
use you understand as well as | do the d
,eds and opportunities of this great SC
,ur, when the fortunes of mankind ev- &C
ywheTe seem about to be determined m
Id when America has the greatest OPP HI
'rtunity she has ever had to make d.
'od her own freedom and in making
good to lend helping hand to men or
for their freedom everywhere. W
"You remember that it was farmers ell
ON whom came the first shots at Lex re
gton that set aflame the Revolution
at made America free. hope and be-
We that the farmers of America will
llingly and eonspicuously stand by iC,
win this war also. The toll, the in
ligence, the energy, the foresight, the a;
4 sacrifice and devotion of the farm La
of America | believe, will bring to a
umphant conclusion this great last :
II for the emancipation of men from :
: control of arbitrary government and (
: selfishness of class legislation and I
ltrol and then, when the end has come. I
may look each other in the face and Z
glad that we are Americans and have s
the privilege to play such part" s