The Bolivar County Democrat. (Rosedale, Miss.) 1887-1969, 1918-03-09
AN IMPORTANT WAR. DUTY
OF THE SOUTE

If the South neglects this wear
to provide her own food and feed
she is likely to suffer serious pri-
vation, and she will put burden
upon the nation which may pro-
long the war and even imperil cur
victory.
l am aware that these are strong
words. but they are none too strong,
l am not expressing an alarmist
personal opinion. I am seeing
through the eyes of 48 agricultural
colleges and county agents in
nearly every agricultural county.
I have recently crossed the cont-
nent from the Atlantic to the Paci-
F, flc. have studied the reports
gathered bv the Departments 49,
900 representative and as many
more employees of the Agricultural
Colleges. I have considered the
conclusions of the International
Institute OF the Agriculture at
Rome which has reports from all
the world.
The plain hard truth is that with
40 million people withdra wn from
productive industries and engaged
in the business of destruction. it is
not humanly possible for produc-
ton on the whole to exceed nor
NAL demand. The question is
wheather production can equal
necessitous demands.
England. France, and Italy
must be sustained or. their popu-
latiou can not stand the Strain.
They have been on scanty rations
for more than three years. The
chief cause of Russis's collapse
was hunger. The soldiers cannot
when their wives and children are
starving.
Secretary McAdd has given
warning that transportation may
be lacking in 1918 to haul food
and feed to states and communi
ties that do not provide for them
Selves. Many cattle have been
sacrificed in the drouth regions of
the Northwest and the Southwest
during the last few months because
railroad cars could not be obtained
as needed. Military movements
must have first consideration. and
military movements will be greater
in 1918 than in 1917. The prime e
question for the farmer is rot
what product will bring the high
est price, but what product will
insure food for his family and feed
for his live stock, and the answer
is: A vegetable garden, milk cow
a brood sow, poultry flock, am
pie corn, oats. peanuts, ETC.. and
then as much cotton or tobacco as
he can cultivate we'll.
1t is the highest demand of pa
triotism-it is the first requirement
of living-that in 1918 every state
every county, every nelghbor hood
every farmer. be as nearly self
sustaining as possible.
For the South to plunge OH cot
ton or tobacco or any other specu-
lative crop and 10 demand upon
the corn belt for bread and meat
will be tor the South to engage in
gamble which may cause priva-
tion TO its people and disaster to
the nation. For any man now to
det ermine his business operations
from the andpoint of profit alone
without regard to the nation s
needs is for him wilfully to profit
In the blood of his fellows who are
fighting in France for the prese-
walton of the republic. No man
can be excused for not taking his
share of the responsibility.
My whole life has been spent III
the South. I know the Southern
farmer. He will do his duty as he
lit, / am appealing to every man In
| the South to make known these
facts, to consider it his business
to make them known, and l shall
have no doubt of the results. II
they are not made known in a way
to impress the crisis that contronts
us, there may be hunger i'll this
bounteous ladd, or hunger over
yonder in Europe where it will
spell ruin for all that is worth
while in America.
CLARENCE OUsLEY,
Assistant Secretary