Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1918-03-27
The Southern Farmer.


and she will put Il burden upon the
nation which may prolong the war
and even impcril our victory" says
Clarence Ousley, Assistant Secretary
OF the United States Department Of
Agriculture. These words are spo-
ken by Southerner and for the
South, but they apply as well to every
community and every farmer in the
United States.
II am aware" continued MIR. Gus
ley, "that these are strong words, but
they are none too strong. am not
expressing an alarmist's personal
eyes Of As agricultural colleges and
and county agents in nearly every
agricultural county. | have recently
crossed the continent from the Allan
reports gathered by the departments
$4,000 representatives and as many
more employees OF the agricultural
colleges. | have considered the con-
Of Agriculture at Rome which has re-
ports from all the world.
''Fhe plain, hard truth is that with
10 million people withdrawn from
productive industries and engaged in
the business Of destruction it is not
humanity possible for production on
the whole to exceed the normal de-
mand. The question is whether pro-
durtion can equal ncccssitous de-
mand.
"Ensland, France and Italy must
b" sustained or their populations can
not stand the strain. They have been
on scanty rations for more than three
years. The chicf cause Of Russia'S
collapse WAS hunger. Soldiers can
not fight when their wives and chill
drcn are starving.
'SGcrctary McAd0o has given
warning that Transportation may be
lacking 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 regions Of the Northwest and
the Southwest during the last few
months because railroad cars could
not be obtained as needed. Military
movements must have first considera-
ton, and military movements will be
greater in 1918 than in 1917. The
prime question Gor the farmer is not
what product will bring the highest
price. but what products will insure
food for his family and feed for his
live stock, and the answer is: vege-
table garden, a milk COW, a brood
SOW, poultry flock, ample corn,
oats. peanuts. etc, and then as much
cotton or tobacco as he can cultivate
we'll
1T is the highest demand Of patri-
otism-.it Is the first requirement of
living-that in 1918 every State.
every county. every neighborhood,
every farmer. be as nearly self-sus-
tanning as possible.
"For the South to plunge on cot
ton or tobacco or any other specula-
tive crop and to depend upon the corn
belt for brea-. and meat will be for
the South to engage in a gamble
which may cause privation to its peo-
pie and disaster to the nation. For
any man now to determine his bust
ness operations from tho standpoint
Of profit alone, without regard to the
nations needs. is for him wilfully to
profitcer in tho blood OF his fellows
who are fighting in France for the
preservation OF the republic. No man
can be excused for not taking his
share OF the Responsibilities.
"My whole life has been spent in
the South. | know the Southern far
mcr He will do his duty as he sees
ii. | am appealing to every man in
the South to make known these facts
to consider ii his business to make
them known---and | shall have no
doubt OF the results. II they are not
made known in a way to impress the
crisis that confronts us, there may be
hunger in this bounteous land. or
hunger over yOnder in Europe where
il will spell ruin for all that is worth
while in America"