Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1918-02-28

certain uliicSS tliGSG tOIIOittOHo al =
changed for the better
Shortage in production at the com
ing harvest cannot be met from any
surplus held in reserve Only three
crops of our six principal grains have
ever been as large as the amount by
which our reserve of these grains was
March, 1917. Since then our reserve
has been still further diminished, and
it has been said that we have now
reached the bottom of the granary.
Business confidence plays as large
a part in the production of food as it
does in the production of any other
commodity Nothing is SO fatal to
production as uncertainty. 1t is a
matter of national significance that the
great majority of farmers are today
uncertain to their business outlook.
A year ago our farmers produced
abundantly in patriotic response to
the request of the Government, but at
harvest labor was wanting Many
fields of potatoes were frozen in the
ground and much corn remained un-
gathered. There are farmers three
quarters of whose corn crop was still
in the field in February for want of
hands. To men of small resources
such blows are staggering. The prose
cutions of milk producers, very nu-
merous class of farmers, for seeking
prices high enough to meet the ris-
ing cost of production, have also had
their share in robbing the farmers
of confidence in the future.
Food is the first condition of pros
perity at home and success in the war
abroad. The food problem is first of
all question of production. The at
tention of the whole nation is at this
moment directed to the question of
building ships, but food is prior to
and more essential than the shops to
carry it. So also food is more essen
tial than munitions, for without it
munitions can neither be manufacture
ed nor used in fighting.
What we need most is an increase
in wheat and pork But the coming
crop Of winter wheat is more than five
million acres below the area officially
recommended to produce the crop de-
sired, and it's condition on December
LIST was the lowest ever known. The
British Food Administrator has warn
ed us officially that at now lies with
America to decide whether or not the
Allies in Europe shall have bread e.
nough to hold out until the United
States is able to throw it's forces into
the field" Yet because of its low
price in relation to corn, wheat so ur-
gently needed abroad is even now be-
ing fed to livestock in America. AS to
pork, the outlook for production is at
best uncertain because at the present
time and for some time past the price
of hogs has not been high enough to
cover the price of the corn fed to them.
AS Nation we have directed our
attention mainly to saving food al
ready produced instead of mainly to
producing more food,-which would
make rigid conservation unnecessary.
Surely it is better to produce in plenty
| than to consume our energy in the diff
ticult task of stretching short sup
ply. In Europe conservation measur-
IS have been difficult to apply. danger
Gus to the morale of the people, and
(short of actual rationing) ineffective
IN producing results. They are proper
ly the last measure against food short
age. Production is the first. How
some of the steps which are necessary
to Increase production may be taken
was indicated by the representatives
Of three millions of organized farmers,
acting through the Federal Board of
Farm Organizations, in their address
submitted to you on February 9Th.
If the foregoing is true, then the
LANCER is so pressing and the results
Of the threatened food shortage will
De so disastrous to US, to our Allies,
md to the neutrals who depend upon
US for food, that vigorous and imme-
date action for producing more food
IS the first thing needed for our own
safety and welfare, and for winning
the war.
There is only one power in America
able to meet this emergency, and that
bower is yourself. All Americans look
to the President Unless you inspire
the action needed, it will not be taken.
The time is short and the emergency
has passed beyond ordinary control.
Without your help the scourge of
food shortage will fall on our Allies
and on u.s.
Very respectfully,
CLIFFORD PINCHOT.