Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-02-11
IN ANY CIRCUMSTANCES

~ Delegations representing sixteen national farm or
kanizations and a number of smaller ones called on
President Wilson the other day and presented to him
stheir views with reference to a number of matters at
s3ecting the prosecution of farm work. They suggested,
ssamong other things, that furloughs be granted to men
ssfn the army for farm work; that bona fe farm workers
sTbe placed under The draft regulations in a lower class
than Glass /; that arrangements be made for the extern
ssion Of credit to farmers; and that so long as the govern
..7ment places a price on any of the products Of the farm
1T shall also limit the price of the goods which the
farmer must buy. These things were urged especially
THAT the farmers of the country may be enabled to work
more effectively, for the production of the vast volume Of
products which are now needed by and from this coun-
try.
The president expressed his apprecia ton Of the i'm
portance of the suggestions made, and promised that
they should receive his earnest attention, saying that it
would not be expected that he could decide these mat
tiers off hand. In the course of his remarks he said:
I want to say that I fully recognize that
you gentlemen do not mean that your utmost ef-
- fort will depend on the acceptance of these sug-
g4gestions. l know you are going to. do your level
best In any circumstances, and 1 count with the
assaltnaost9 coincidence on that.
Ia the president warranted in his confidence that the
farmers. of the country will do their level best 'in any
circumstances and that they will do their best first of
all because in so doing they will be most effectively per-
forming their part of the work in this war? Most of us
will say that he has abundant Justification for his con-
hdence, and that whatever the farmers Of the country
suggest to the government, whatever they believe should
be done to aid their effectiveness. whatever they believe
!. should be done as a measure of justice toward them
7. selves. they are going forward in any event, using to the
I. best Of their ability the means that they have, and put
4 ting forth every ounce Of energy that is in them in. order
81 to contribute the most possible to the speedy winning OF
the war. .9 .-
Most Of us will say this because we know it to be
~ x-.>Z 49,. -> hoo, <L~A A.
are as loyal as unselfsh. as are any other members OF
n the community. But while this is the opinion that most
Of us entertain that opinion is by no means unanimous
n IL all men have accurately stated their beliefs. It is not
The opinion Of the congressman from the First district
Inf North Dakota. for instance, because that Official pub
81 ltcly threatened the nation with a farmers strike If the
s government did not grant the demands which ne No.
!. forth ~ Just to the farmers.
Evidently the president was not greatly impressed
Il a1titude OF the farmers had been correctly stated. On
III ne contrary he was manifestly impressed with the con-
III trary view expressed before Commissioner Garfield by
H men OF another group who undertook to state what the
49, ATTITUDE Of the farmers was. and who declared that re-
81 eardless of anything that the government might deem
III wise or ind It necessary to do in matters relating to
9999@1he business OF farming, the farmers were prepared ia
ahead and do their level best, Is the president has
NJ IA. .fn any circumstances"
ssANggIg@Sssaa1as II ". y. cannot convince reasonable people
Ashsre q any proper connection between honest u.
3 10 ~ destroying other peoples property. 4:S