Morris tribune., 1918-03-29
UNITED STATES WILL
STAND BY FARMERS
Farmers Hold the Destiny of the
Nations Say A. J. Glover and
Dean Thatcher

That the farmers of America hold
the destiny Of nations in their hands,
and that the United States govern
ment is determined to stand behind
them, developing resources of labor
and other means to aid them in fully
meeting their great responsibilities,
was the message delivered by the
government to the farmers of west
central Minnesota at Morris on yes
terday afternoon. f.-
The bearer of the message was A.
J. Glover, a former Minnesota boy,
now one of the nations authorities
as to agricultural matters, who came
almost directly from Washington as
special representative to Minnesota.
Mr.. Glover said:
"The war has hastened the pro-
gress of agriculture and has revealed
to the world that the farmer holds
within his power the destinies of all
nations. The farmer is meeting this
great responsibility, but it is an op-
perfume time for him to demonstrate
the fact still further. The govern
ment expects every man to do more
than his bit; it expects him to do
his best, and the government is going
to stand behind the farmer to the
limit in helping him to do his best.
"The government realizes the lab
or difficulties which confront the
| G. Az hn mi
States department of agriculture and
| the department of labor have made
careful plans to locate and distribute
labor to the farmers who need it. On
the other hand, the farmer must
make known his needs-through the
county agent, the chairman of the
county public safety commission, or
the state labor bureau. The govern
ment cannot help effectively unless
it knows where help is needed.
cit is not the purpose of the selec-
tive draft to take from the farm the
skilled labor that is needed there.
If any farm boy who is needed on
the farm has been placed in class
1 A, his case should be taken up with
the local or district board, and, If
necessary with the Office of the pro-
vost marshal in Washington, D. c.
A statement signed by responsible
persons will receive prompt atten-
ton.
"The farmer, I know, will do his
full share in the present hour of
gravest national peril. The govern
ment, I know equally well, will not
fail the farmer.
Dean R. w. Thatcher of the Mime
sofa College of Agriculture after en-
phasizing the, fact that the principle
of the selective draft applied to every
patriotic citizen as call to serve
his country in the way in which his
talents and abilities best fitted him,
suggested four things to which the |
farmers might give special attention
this season.
First, the growing of as large q |
variety of foodstuffs as possible in
each community, in order that the |
railroads which are already greatly |
overburdened with traffic might not
be called on to carry to the farmers |
the things which they could produce
for themselves.
Second, the use of every possible |
method for the production of meat !
from feeds which cannot be used for
human consumption, in order to save
the cereal grains for human foods.
Third, the use of every possible !!
acre of waste land. that can be made |
to produce food. I
Fourth, the employment of labor !,
more economically by the use Of lab |
or that has not been employed be- |
fore and by spreading 1t over the
largest possible acreage Of land.
The immediate necessity, says DR.. |
Carl w. Gay of University Farm,
who was speaker at similar meet
ings in Minnesota last week, is wheat
and pork. Livestock men, said DIR.
Gay, are called on to release land
from the growing of corn, oats, and
barley, in order that wheat may be
seeded. To do this and keep up their
livestock production, for which the