The Fayette falcon. (Somerville, Tenn.) 190?-current, 1918-02-08
WORLD FREEDOM
MUST Be ACHIEVED
WILSON MAKES PREDICTION IN
MESSAGE READ AT GREAT
CONVENTION OF FARMERS.
DECISIVE VICTORY IN 1918
Recalls Achievements Of American
Farmers and Urges Greater Efforts
This Year-Freedom Of World
Depends on United States.

Washington.-In a message to the
nations farmers, delivered to an agri
cultural conference at Urbana, Ill.
President Wilson said he thought
statesmen on both sides of the water
realized that the eliminating crisis
OF the war had come and this years
achievements would decide it.
The message, which the president
intended to present personally until
attacked by cold, was delivered by
President James of the University OF
Illinois. Recounting the aggressions
OF Germany, the president said:
1--WE are fighting, therefore, as truly
for the liberty and self-government OF
the United States as If the war of our
own Revolution had to be fought over
again; and every man Ia every bust
ness in the United Stares must know
by this time that his whole fortune
lies in the balance.
Our national life and our whole
future development will pass under
the sinister influences of foreign con-
troll if we do not win. We must win,
therefore, and we shall win. | need
not ask you to pledge your lives and
fortunes with those of the rest of the
nation TO the accomplishment of this
great end.
"You will realize, as think states
men on both sides of the water real
ize, that the eliminating crisis OF the
struggle has come, and that the
achievements Of this year on one side
or the other must determine the is
sue"
The president recalled that farmers
fired the first shots at Lexington that
set aflame the American Revolution
for liberty, and expressed the hope and
belief that American farmers now
will willingly and conspicuously stand
by to win this war.
The presidents message said:
81 need not tell you, for l am sure
you realize as keenly as | do, that we
are as a nation in the presence Of a
great task which demands supreme
sacrifice and endeavor of every one
OF US. We can give everything that
is needed with the greater willingness.
and even satisfaction, because the OBJ
ject of the war in which we are en-
gagged Is the greatest that free men
have ever undertaken 1t is to pre-
vent the life of the world from being
determined and the fortunes of men
everywhere affected by small groups
of military masters who seek their
own interests and the selfish domin-
ion throughout the world Of the gov.
ernments they unhappily for the mo-
ment control You will not need TO
be convinced that it was necessary for
us as a free people to take part in
this war. 1t had raised its evil hand
against us. The rulers Of Germany
had sought to exercise their power in
buCl way do W oHul Oll Jul CIV
nomic life so far as our intercourse
with Europe was concerned, and to
confine our people within the western
hemisphere while they accomplished
purposes which would have perma-
nently impaired and impeded every
process of our national life and have
put the fortunes of America at the
mercy OF the imperial government of
Germany. This was not threat. 1t
had become reality. Their hand OF
violence had been laid upon our own
people and our own property In fla
grant violation not only Of justice, but
of the we'll recognized and long stand
ing covenants OF international law
and treaty. We are fighting, there
fore, as truly for the liberty and self
government Of the United States as
II the war of our own Revolutio.. had
TO be fought over again; and every
man in every business in the United
States must know by this time that
his whole future fortune lies in the
balance. Our national life and our
whole economic development win pass