New-York tribune., 1918-01-23
r.uand More Labor,
Credit, Seeds and Profits
Than Last Year
1918 Crops Likely To
peLess Than in 1917
, 2ooO,UU0 Producers Tell
President Shortage Will
Hamper Allies in War

:, President wilson 10 speed up gov
.,nental machinery in aid of produc
:, in such manner as to relieve the
.,;atv of farmers as to labor supply.
..d;t facilities, seed shortage and
..bsr vital questions was made to-day.
Ken the Federal Board OF Farm Or
.r;zstions presented a memorial to
-, in behalf Of more than 100000
0rsanissd farmers.
The board asks reply before farm
,..aars of America assemble here on
r.hruary 6. At that time representa-
.;,ss Of the seven national farm organ
;,.,jons comprising the board, together
Nth a number Of state masters Of the
Grange and heads of the Society Of
Sanity and other bodies. will seek an
audience with the President to discuss
instructive plans. The memorial says,
n part: r.soro, Roora of Farm ORGAN
,.tons. representing more than two
-illcn organized farmers, respectfully
.slls YOUR attention to a grave national
sanger.
we know that the world is short of
had, The crops now available are
bsrely sufficient to meet the urgent
,.sd and next year the world shortage
seertan to be worse. insufficient food
;,pplies involve most serious threat
. the early victorious conclusion of
he war, for & starving people cannot
:,ht Unless the farmers of the United
States can fill the mouths of our own
Deople and our allies they will not be
american food Will be we cannot yet
toretell, but we know already that a
larger crop is absolutely necessary.
III food is to win the war. as we are
assured on every side, the farmers Of
America mus produce more food in
1915 than they did in 1917. But un-
less present conditions are radically
changed, increased crops next year are
impossible. Under existing conditions
we cannot equal the production of 1917,
much less surpass it, and this for rea
sons over which the farmers have no
control.
THE chief causes which will inevi-
tably bring about a smaller crop next
year, unless promptly removed by ma
tional action, are six in number-the
shortage Of farm labor, shortage of
seed, prices often below the cost OF
production, lack Of reasonable credit,
exclusion of the farmer from his right
and necessary share in the conduct Of
the war, and deep-seated doubt whether
he can raise the increased crops de-
manded Of him and still support his
family and pay his debts.
"Slnce the war began in 1914 and be-
fore the first draft was made there is
reason to believe that more farm work
ers had left the farms than there are
men N our army and navy together.
These men were drawn away by the
high wages paid in munition plants and
ether war industries, and their places
remain untitled. In spite of the new
classification (Which was adopted i'm
medlately upon the presentation Of a
memorial by the Federal Board of
farm Organlzations) future drafts will
still further reduce the farm labor sup
ply.
The farmer does not realize large
returns, and especially he does not
iea!lze any such scale of profits as is
commonly granted to the great corpo-
fauons producing copper, steel, cloth,
'eeatner coal, lumber and many other
'nlhgs less necessary than food. How
Vver ourdensome the price charged by
me distributor to the consumer, what
'he farmer realizes is often below the
cost OF production. But he must get
"l'ihg prices for what he grows or
ABANDON the farm. Whether he will
VF no, What the farmer will plant next
NsSon Is decided mainly by the price
VI what he harvested last year. AL
'eady great numbers of farms near ex-
client markets lie idle for lack of a
Ayng return
Sustained or increased production
impossible without the assurance of
slr prices for farm products at least
''r the coming year.
interest rates to farmers for short
.he loans should not be higher, nor
s.Y"altiohs harder, than are customary
w w olher borrowers OF like RESPONSE
sa'y' Millions OF acres will be wholly
partly IDLE next summer because the
Ioney 10 buy seed and subsistence will
ss Vt iackng. Many Of the farmers thus
s"ec.ea are tenants, whom misfor-
NJ rynes Will compel to abandon the farm.
Ing 'oans OF the Federal Farm Loan
Ss"As are made for long periods, and
~ not meet the immediate need of the
.a'"ers IN raising crops, while we un-
tlefs'and that the Federal Reserve
0auas s..m have taken steps which make it
SUI harder for the farmers to get
'"ort-tlme credit.
i sustained or increased production
- , impossible without reasonable short
"e ,s. credit on fair and practicable
a. 1T is unwse to deny one-third Of
@e ,as, people of the United States any
hs' ,ha part IN handling the problems of
,o,, war. The farmers are constantly
fu foo, mat the war viii be won by the
ivuu they supply. Yet the farmers of
in q have to-day little voice. if any,
tSo oeeiding the great questions-even
Je ~S; 1000 and farm uestions-upon
ri "rh 'ne issue of the war depends.
will me farmers of America answered
,sn po.a nigh patriotism the appeal of the
ip,se'hment ip,s to raise larger crops in
i.h. ~ heavy cost in outlay and in
S'",i yor they added largely to their pro-
Isol ION. but in far too many cases the
ssnsoo s,S ot hands at harvest, with other
tm.sS' tassS' roobed the farmers of the
rb;os S,'s OF their labor, and the losses
ayssa a'sn followed hit them hard. With an
li,s,ilsse yearly cash income of but
Al .'l ~ more than S400 beyond expenses.
pnsiie; sne last census, they are naturally
,s"a ,s''ne TO repeat the same expe-
tho;s III the coming year. Comparing
iSca oN small earnings with the
lasS war profits they see on every
-N1' 'hey have lost confidence that
nj ssU,F,e4nmcnt s,, understands the needs
.sa, oiheulties OF the farmer Unless
,ssi V'h' .c~~. can be restored, it is
,sS - 70 none that we can maintain
s.s., o'o production of last year and
~, si'l'Siess to talk o. increasing it.