Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-02-22
Education"

the secretary himself and presented as-
:%!cultural conditions as he knew them
t. exist IN his state. On return 10 MS
state capital this governor was inter
viewed - a newspaper editor concern
ing The possible results of his Visit.
1t Nae a very unsatisfactory ViSiI,'
said thu governor.
"Th" national department has no per-
spectIve Of Agricultural conditions and
PROSPECTS in l9iS"' suggester The editor.
mot a glimpse cmphaiitally au-
svered the governor.
What aid the secretary say"
why. lie said that the department
called upon the tanners Of the country
last spring II they responded nohls
and in a most satisfactory manner
that they would do 50 again this year.
and that conditions were actually oct
tor this year thar l~ast-inore labor,
cheaper seed. better promise"
We are reminded Of these things by
liIc lSSuIuc VI ii suppItlAIciitdi pEo-
aram for food production just at hand
from The United States Department OF
Agriculture. Here is q quotation en-
bodying precisely the utterancc Of the
secretary as reported by the visiting
governor.
The program discusses tho farm
ri-, --;,t <,,t tIa lirno az
effort for relief. and outlines the acti"-
itie- Of the Federal and State agencies
to furnish assistance. It indicates that,
while the labor situation still presents
difficulties and is especially acute in
the n~cighborhood OF great industrial
centers. the farmers succeeded III over
coming them last year. and that. with
better organization and especially with
deferred classification of skilled farm
labor. the difficulties again can be sur
mounted and production maintained
and increased in certain directions.'
This effort for relief is the claim a.
once amusing and exasperating to the
average tiller Of the soil. for the farm
ers are aware that the efforts Of the
Washington desk men have been OF the
advice and appeal variety. ninety-nIne
per cent. Of waste Of pulp wood con-
Nerted into bulletins And this ad-
Vice propaganda has been supplement-
ed BY fool orders of war-authori2ed
dictators. The hen order is a specimen.
In the spring Of 1911 northern farmers
,,ara ,l,serI q, ,Ioct ,,htnfr6c 10 t,n
limit. With seed az $40 a barrel and
fertilizer SEQ a ton they hesitatc1.
They knew the risk and many small
farmers were already near bankruptcy
from poor crops or bad markets. or
both, in the two preceding Yeas.
They were urged to go ahead; it was
a patriotic duty, and prices were bound
to be good. for the world needed food.
They planted beyond their Judgment
and prices HAVE been good" as com
pared with normal years, but not when
considered in these abnormal times.
Result, increase Of mortgages and fore
closure proceedings: many farmers
TUNED. aud millions of bushels of pota-
toes to be hauled out n dumped this
spring. Prices have held good" but
no live market. because buyers have
been afraid of the administration and
its 'butting in propensities for price
fixing and "regulations.'
Frcm time to time We have published
letters and statements Of authorities in
various sections of the country. from
California. Wisconsin. New York, rs
We'll as New England. Hundreds Of
communications show a feeling OF dis
engagement and uncertainty on the
rant Of farmers never felt before. .',!n.
o have been betrayed. cheated. discrim;-
mated against. not once but in number
'e,s cases.
Il Is not with a desire TO increase this
fcoirG ON the part of asricuralists, but
- bring 10 the Washington ~administra-
ton some recognition of a sentiment
and fear hat must be met before it is
too late. Next June will not do.
The Acricultural Department is. o.
q asly, Obvious to actual conditions
aud prospects. X has collected volumes
OF figures from usual sources. estimates
that mean about as much as did the
much-heraldcd corn crop that was to
ave us and the vorld-soft corn that
has not UP to this time saved us Il
penny in hen food or COW feed. And
they are paying Sc a bushel for seed
corn in Wisconsin.
Is y any wonder that poultry has
been slaughtered. or that cold storage
FOLDERS have loaded up and see oppor-
unity for a clean up? And so no more
hens or bullets may be put on the mar
>ei until the cold storage surplus is
LEANED up at fair profit" on capital
invested. or course cockerels were
slaughtered last fall and only breeding
males are in stock, No fear from them.
Is anybody guaranteeing fair
profits" 10 farmers?
TO be sure farmers have been guar.
anteed education" in bales and car
loads, from every department or rho