The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1918-02-20
HELP FEED THE PEOPLE

"Tf the South neglects this year to
provide her own food and feed, she is
likely to suffer serious privation, and
she. will put burden upon hte nation
which may prolong the war and even
1nmpsril npp our victory" says Clarence
culture
II am aware that these are strong
Words" continues Secretary Ousley,
but they are none too strong. I am
not expressing an alarmist personal
opinion. | am seeing through the
eyes of 4S agricultural colleges and
OF county agents in nearly every ag-
rlculturai county. have recently
crossed the continent from the At
iantic to the Pacific. have studied
the reports gathered by the depart
ments $4,000 representatives and as
many more employees of the agricul
tural colleges. have considered the
conclusions of the International In
stitute of Agriculture at Rome which
has reports from all the world.
The plain, hard truth is that with
4O million people withdrawn from pro-
ductive Industries and engaged in the,
business of destruction, it is not hu-
manly possible for production on the
whole to exceed normal demand. The
|
| equal necessitous demand.
England, France and Italy must be
sustained or their population can not
stand the strain. They have been
on scanty rations for more ethan
three years. The chief cause of Rus
sla's collapse was hunger. Soldiers
cannot fight when their wives and
children are starving.
"Secretary McAdoo has given warn
ing that transportation may be lack
ing in 1918, to haul food and feed to
states and communities that do not
provide for themselves. Many cattle
have been sacrificed in the drouth re-
gions of the Northwest and the South
west during the last few months, be-
cause. railroad cars could not be OBJ
tanned as needed. Military move
ments must have first consideration,
and military movements will be
greater in 1918 than IN 1917. The
prime question for the farmer is not
what product will bring the highest
price, but what products will insure
food for his family and feed for his
i've stock, and the answer is: a vegc-
table garden, a milk COW, a brood sow,
a poultry flock, ample corn, oats, pea
nuts, etc., and then as much cotton or
tobacco as he can cultivate well.
"lt is the highest demand of patri-
0tism--it is the first Requirement of
lliving-that in 1918 every state, every
county, every neighborhood, every
farmer, be as nearly self sustaining
as possible.
"For the South to plunge on cotton
or tobacco or any other speculative
crop and to depend upon the corn belt
Tor bread and meat will be for the
South to engage in gamble which
may cause privation to it's people and
disaster to the Nation. For any man
now o determine his business opera.
tions from the standpoint of profit
alone, without regard to the nations
needs, 81 for him wilfully to profitecr
IN hte blood of his fellows who are
fighting in France for the preserva-
tlon of the republic. No man can be
excused for not taking his share of
the responsibility.
my whole life has been spent in
the South. | know the Southern farm
er He will do his duty as he sees it.
am apepaling to every man in the
South to make known these facts to
considr it his business to make them
known-and | shall have no doubt of
the results. If they are not made
known in way to impress the crisis
That confronts us, there may be hun
ger i'll this bountcous land or hunger
over FOUNDER in Europe, where it will
spell ruin for all that is worth while
in America"