The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1918-02-09
Farmers in Communication
to President Emphasize
Farm Importance.
SUGGEST ADVISORY
COMMITTEE OF NINE
Want Skilled Land Workers
Kept at Home to Assure
Ample Production.

Washington, Feb. S.-SpOkeSmen OF
lC national farm organizations and
many smaller ones who are holding
{, war time conference here at the call of
the Federal Board of Farm organiza-
tons. presented memorial to Presi-
dent Wilson today urging more definite
measures by the government in speed
ing up agricultural production.
Want Advisory Committee.
The delegation asked for the ap-
rointment of a special commission of
nine farmers to advise in agricultural
problems and represent the farming
view point; the furloughing of trained
farm workers now in the army SO long
as their services may be considered by
the government more useful in produce
tive agriculture than in the military
service: that the draft regulations be
interpreted SO as to stop the placing
OF skilled farm workers. foremen ami
bona fide farmers in class one; that
provision be made for furnishing farm
ers seed, feed, fertilizers and machin
cry; that steps be taken to promote
nggressively short time loans to fl
nance the production of crops. and that
if the policy OF price control is to pre-
vail. it Is applied to what a farmer
buys as well as what he sells.
After listening to the memorial
President Wilson made this reply:
Promises Best Attention.
II cannot, of course, offhand. answer
so important memorial as this and l
reed not tell you that it will receive
my most careful and respectful atten-
ton. Many of the questions that are
raised here have been matters OF very
deep and constant concern with us for
months past. and believe that many
of them are approaching as success
!ul a solution as we can work out fer
them. but just what those steps are l
cannot detail to you. You are probably
familiar with some of them.
II want to say that fully recog-
nize that you gentlemen do not mean
that your utmost effort will depend
upon the acceptance of these sugges-
tions. know you are going to do your
level best in any circumstances and
count on you with the utmost conf
dence in that. There never has been
time. gentlemen. which tested the
real quality OF folks as this time Is
going to test it; because. we are fight
ing for something bigger than any
mans imagination can grant.
The Final Contest.
This Is a final tackle between the
things that America always has beer
opposed to ana was organized to fight
and the things that she stands for. II
IS the final contest, and to lose il
would set the world back not a hun.
dred--perhaps several hundred-year.
in the development of human life. The
thing cannot be exaggerated in 1t.
Importance, and know that you mer
are ready as I am. to spend ever,
ounce of energy we have got In solv
ing this thing. II we canpot solve I
in the best way we win solve 1t II
the next best way and IL the next bes
way is not available, we will solve |
in the way next best to that, but W,
will, tackle II in some way and do |
rs well as We can.
IT am complimented by visit of s.
large a representation. and I thank yo'
for the capdid presentation Of this in
teresting memorial"
In recommending the creation OF
farmers commission to sit permanent
in Washington. with provision by tn
government for quarters and expense:
the memorial said
such a commission is needed frs
of all to give the farmers OF Americ
a. sense OF partnership in the condue
OF the war. to which they have
right. The occasional consuitatio
with farmers called to Washington G
the occasional appointment of farmt
to a subordinate place does not amour
to fitting participation in the condut
OF the war on the part OF one-third {
the population Of the United State
and all the more when that thir
produces the one form Of supple
which Is the most essential
"This; plan would be in harmony viii
the procedure already adopted by II
government in other essential indu'
tries. The creation Of such con
mission would convince all farme
that their viewpoint was fully repr
sented in Washington and always a
cessibie to the president and wou
Susnfre and eNcol,race them az not