The states-graphic. (Brownsville, Tenn.) 1???-1984, 1918-05-31
THE FARMER And
THE LIBERTY LOAN

lhE LIbERlI LUAN
| Vitupsrations were heaped upon the
farmer at the time of the first and sec
end Liberty Loans. It was said that
he would neither fight, sell his crops,
nor buy Liberty Bonds. Now it is
learned that these hasty conclusions,
like most sweeping congratulations,
were entirely unjust.
The farmer has furnished his full
share, and in many sections more than
his share, of the army. He is sweep
ing his bins for the last bushel Of
wheat and his wife is scraping the
-four chest. And he not only took his
full share of the Third Liberty Loaf,
bit he did it so promptly that the open
country was ahead of the city in sub.
scribing its quota. Indeed the first
states "oyer the top" were the agricrl-
tural states, led by Iowa, the greatest
of all, and followed by one of the
most exclusive agricultural, North Ia
kota Farming Nebraska leads every
state in the Union four to one in tie
purchase of Thrift Stamps.
We have learned that people are
much the same, whether they live in
the country or in the town, and that
the selling of bonds is matter not so
much of patriotism as of organization.
We have learned that handbills in
street cars, posters on city billboarls
and four-minute talks in the movies,
however effective with the city dwell
ers, do not reach the farmers.
The plan that has been successful
in the country is the house-to-house
canvass. This method, originated in
some of the so-called Stacker states,
not only sells the goods but it locates
the individual Stacker.
There is no better method Of finding
the luhewarm profiteer or the active
opponent of the government than an
individual canvass for the financial
support of the war. Every family
can, if it is so minded, buy bond, or
at least save for Thrift Stamps. Many
close-fsted citizen and many an en-
envy sympathizer, hooded by German
efficiency, would continue in his close
fstedness or in his pro- Germanism
if he were left alone to nurse his pc
culiar failing. But discussion pulls
everyone out of his hole into the open.
Canvassing for bond sales is a great
scheme and its psychological effect is
wholly good.
The very individual approach serves
to convert many wrong-minded citi-
zens. 1t shames, at least, many into
correct behavior, others who are sen.
sitive to public opinion if not to feel
ings of patriotism, and even this is
beneficial as far as it goes. Last Of
all, such a scheme definitely locates
for future inspection the few who need
watching.
These bonds are not to be Coated,
entirely out Of past accpmulatons, but.
also oes;s gegeat sax g
4 Sss gsgbodT. It 3
aatder to i've than ever before BE-.
cause il is more costly; yet more moE-
ey must be saved. This all means that
We cannot conduct this kind of war as
an extra. 1t will not only absorb our
energies in the production Of food and
munitions, but it will require all pos
sible measures to meet the financial
cost Of maintaining our fighting ma
chinery Only few of the more fort
innate have any considerable accunlu-
lation. The funds must come out of
the labor and self-denial of US ALL
This war must be financed out Of our
savings.
To float a three-billion-dollar loan
means an average subscription Of thir-
ty dollars for every man, woman and
child in the United States. This IS the
third loan within twelve months, and
there are more to follow. Roughly
speaking, the contract calls for an an
nual subscription Of nearly one hun
bred dollars per capita, or five hun
dred dollars per family. This is more
chan fifty per cent Of the entire earn
ing capacity Of the average family ,
an impossible saving for the average
and those below the average.
The supply, therefore must come
mostly from those who are above the
average in earning capacity, and the
of the task will shortly ap-
pear
It is none too soon to begin to save
now for the next loan We shall have
to find new ways Of saving-in dress,
in fashions, in pleasure, in gasoline. in
wear and tear Of automobiles, in time.
IN strength, in everything that dissi-
oates the energies of production or the
results Of labor This is a measure
that America has to learn, and it is
a new lesson The first few loans may
be fOated out Of the past accumula-