Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1918-10-28
, IOWA AND THE A

OGoASt pAAS
their fidelity to the cause Of the United
States and it's associates in this war.
A mans patriotism is not dependent
upon the party with which he atfiliates.
Yet a few partisan opponents Of Gov.
Harding have sought and are seeking
to minimize the work the governor has
done since this country became involv-
ed in the conflict, hence it is deemed en-
tirely proper and advisable that a
short resume be given OF, some Of the
more important war activities of To-
was chief executive.
The reason the state has responded
so splendidly to every war demand is
due largely to the fact that it has been
so well organized. This organization
should be credited to the governor, for
he, more than anyone else, has led from
the very time war was declared, and
has steadily urged, in season and out.
that the commonwealth be effectively
organized. Iowa has been in the fore
front in furnishing men, money and
food, as well as its proportionate share
Of fuel and manufactured products.
On the 2Sth of March, 1917, before
wal was declared but when it was in
the air, Governor Harding called a 0 II
ference of something like two hundred
practical farmers in his Office, to take
up the matter of increased food pro-
duction. Growing out of this confer
ence, a committee representing each
congressional district IA appointed,
composed of farmers, known as the
Food Production Committee" This
committee has been active ever since
that time and has done an immense
amount Of work in encouraging the in
creased production on the farms. Gov
ernor Harding sent two special mes
sages to the legislature before war was
declared, urging the legislature to give
aid to various activities in order that
the food production of the state might
be increased. 1t must, therefore, be
admitted that whatever success has
been achieved in increased food pro-
.duction in the state can be credited
largely to the activities OF the =ovsl.
nor. He also called a state wide meet
ing of the county councils of def ,nsa in
July. 1917. At this conference the work
of the county councils of defense was
outlined.
Shortly after that a meeting of the
sheriffs, a member from each board Of
supervisors, and federal officers was
held. At this meeting the question OF
law enforcement was taken up, and en-
phasis was laid upon the point that the
local, state and federal officers should
cooperate, and see to it that no mob
violence be permitted to find express
sion in Iowa.
The governor, early after the declar-
alton of war, recognized the impor-
lance of producing all the coal posi-
BILE, and was instrumental in calling a
conference Of the coal producing states
in Chicago early in July, 1917, at which
time q memorial vas sent to the presi-
dent, stating that the coal producing
states would cooperate in every way
possible with the fedepal government
in encouraging the production OF coal.
During the spring of 1913, when the
mines of Iowa were standing idle be-
cause there was no demand for Iowa
coal, he put on a campaign of education
in the state which resulted in the i'm
mediate opening Of the mines, for they
were flooded with orders. J. c. Lewis,
president of the United Mine Workers,
states that this campaign alone increas-
ed the production of Iowa coal a mil
lion and a half tons. At that time coal
miners were leaving the state, and
something over eight hundred of them
mines were opened up, the exodus OF
coal miners stopped, and this has re-
suited in a great increase of production
from Iowa mines. This campaign was
beneficial to the mining industries, to
the miners of the state and to the con-
sumers of the state.
Last winter when the car shortage
was costing Iowa farmers thousands
of dollars every day, Governor Harding
took up the matter with Washington
authorities, made two trips to Wash
ington and succeeded in getting both
stock cars and box cars for live stock
and grain.
Attention needs only to be called to
the campaign that was put on in the
state a year e to increase the pro-
duction Of wheat in Iowa. This cam
paign resulted in increasing the acre
e about four hundred thousand acres,
and it is on again this year and the in