The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1918-03-29
IMPORTANCE OF FOOD
PRODUCTION WAS SHOWN
FARMERS AT MEETING
How Agriculturalists Can Assist Greatly in the
Winning Of the War; Splendid Addresses
Delivered By Experts
From Tuesdays Daily.

Importance of the work of the farm
ers in food production as one of the
big factors for the ultimate winning
of the world war at the farmers mass
meeting, held in Mankato theatre
yesterday afternoon. The auditorium
was well filled with farmers from the
surrounding country, who heard the
instructive patriotic addresses with
attentive interest, and greeted the
points made by the speakers with
cries of "Good," and outbursts of ap-
plause.
G.. Nj. Palmer, president of the Blue
/ Earth County Red Cross chapter,
presided as chairman of the meeting,
| and introduced the speakers. He eX-
pressed the opinion that the fine
weather had undoubtedly been the
cause of the absence of many farm
ers, whom he felt sure were making
good use of the time on their farms.
/ To-day is the day of the farmer to
| help in winning the war;" said Mr..
Palmer Much depends on the
! farmer, and meetings similar to this
one will he held all over the country
for the purpose of letting the farm
ers know the great need of the pres
ent time. l do not believe there is
! a farmer but who recognizes the
gravity of the situation. The battle
now on will decide the future of the
world America has a tremendous
| job on her hands and it will take the
utmost we can do. The food situa-
ton is a very serious one at the
present time, and ii is up to us to
| do our utmost to bring farm pro-
duction up to its highest and most
efficient state"
Address BY Dean Thatcher.
Dean r. w. Thatcher of the Min
nesota college of agriculture, was
the first speaker introduced, and IL
Illustrated in novel and entertaining
way the need Of cooperation, and
the need of efficient farm production.
/ He spoke of the terrible conflict now
taking place on the western front
saying that nothing like it had ever
taken place, or would possibly ever
take place again. He explained clear
| ly the relation which the people of
1.-THE United States, safe at home, bear
to the great struggle. He reviewed
the entry of the Unite States into
the war and the causes leading up
to it. He also reviewed number OF
the German atrocities, such as pro-
posing to cut the new Testament out
Of tho Bible as it teaches peace, and
love Of fellowman and the great
wrong done to women in the invaded
countries.
1--WE are fighting for everything that
you and / hold DEAR" said Mr.. That
cher. "The Americans execute their
soldiers for the doing of deeds which
the Germans are ordered to do"
Mr. Thatcher then explained the
workings of the selective draft
about which some confusion remains
in the minds of many. He stated thai
a young man with one of the cards
in his pocket could rightfully con-
slider himself as in the service OF
his government, whether he went to
war, or worked on the farm.
/ Obey an Efficient Head.
1 Using the human body as smile
| Mr.. Thatcher told of the importance
of obeying an efficient head, and by
obeying the government falling in
line of duty He stated that for one
airplane operator it required twenty
six men on the ground to keep his
machine going, eight of whom must
be skilled mechanics and thus showed
how dependent one branch is on the
other The two arms of the body
represent the army and navy. The
job of the whole body is to lick the
kaiser. Part of the army is ever
now doing good work in Flanders
The little finger of the hand wa:
used by Mr.. Thatcher to illustrate
the cavalry; the third finger the in.
fantry, the big finger the artillery
the index finger, the aviation, ant
the thumb the base hospital. He states
the whole fist is the part that will
help to win the war. The heart ant
lungs are the pulsations of the in
dustries of the country, and tn
stomach and intestines are the re
serve, which furnishes the power t,
keep the body going. He then quotes
st. Paul's words, "Let not thy ey'
say to thy tooth or thy hand say t.
thy foot, Il need thee not as the.
are all parts of one body.
'Any man who says he is not
part of this great American body
well, / would like to zee him put il
Jail and stay there" said Dean That
;, cher He then explained how al
parts of the United States work to
gether to make the whole. lowing t
the recent ruling that substitutes b
!. used for wheat the great American
nation has been having trouble wit
its stomach. he said. "They hav
begun to realize the Importance Q
that part of the national body whic
. keeps the others going"
Four things urged upon the farm
> ers by Mr. Thatcher were first, tina
the largest portion of foods eaten o
: the farm be grown on the farm an
: in that way save transportation
. second, that livestock be raised wit
. the feeding of as little grain as pos
sible; third, that waste land be put t
h good use; fourth, that the labo
: problem be studied efficiently.
~ M. A. Benedict introduced.
f M. A. Benedict, county agriculture
q agent, was introduced and made
: few timely remarks. 81 want to sa
Q first of all that / heartily appreciat
5 the cordially that has been show
n me-" stated Mr.. Benedict. "As ia
O as I have been able to judge OF
4 farmers do not need much waking VI
: for thy are all patriotic" He spok
y 4