American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1918-02-26

sign tonnage to each commodity that
enters into commercial overseas traf-
hc. II has consequently been neces-
sary 10 establish single agencies for
the purchase OF the food supplies
which must 20 abroad. The purchase
Of wheat In the United States for for
eien use is of so great volume in com
parison with the available domestic
supply that the price Of wheat has
been materially disturbed and It be
came necessary. In order to protect
both the producer and the consumer,
10 prevent speculation. II was neces-
sary. therefore. for the government
10 exercise a measure of direct super
vision as far as possible to control pur-
chases of wheat and the processes u
It's expectation. This supervision ne
c%essarily amounted 10 price fixing and
/, therefore. thought il fair and wise
that there should be a price stated
that should be at once liberal and
equitable.
Farmers Big War Asset.
Those peculiar circumstances gov
erning the handling and consumption
Of wheat put the farmer at the very
Z NiiltI OI WAT HtIN iktf ANNAh W Nv
soldiers, the serving Of country and
the world and serving it In a way
which is absolutely fundamental to
his own future safety and prosperity.
He sees this and can be relied upon
as the soldier can.
THE farmer has also contributed
men TO the army. and | am keenly
alive TO the sacrifice involved. Out
Of 10. 500, 900 men engaged in farm
industries. POS, 900 have been drafted,
or about t.4S per cent 0f the whole
number. In addition to these, there
have been sailors, and the farmers
have lost a considerable number Of
laborers because the wages paid in
industrial pursuits drew them away.
Lenlent With Draft.
In order to relieve the farming in
dustry as far as possible from further
drains OF labor, the new draft was
drawn with a view to taking from the
farms an even smaller proportion of
men. and il Is my hope that the local
exemption boards will make the new
classihcations with a view of tighten
ing the load upon the farmers to the
utmost extent. The secretary OF war
has asked for authority TO furlough
soldiers OF the national army II con
ditions permit Il SO that they may
Ifeturn to their farms when assistance
rs necessary In the planting and har-
vesting OF the crops. National and
local agencies are actively at work,
besides. in organizing community help
for the more effective distribution of
available labor and the drawing upon
new sources OF labors. While there
will be difficulties aud very serious
ones. they will be difficulties which
arc among the stern necessities Of
war.
The federal railway administration
? Is cooperating in the most active, in
telligent and efficient way with the
food administration TO remove the diff
5 Hculties of transportation and OF the
active movement of he crops. Their
marketing Is to be facilitated and the
farmers given the opportunity TO re-
alize promptly upon their stocks.
To Cooperate With Farmers
E The department of agriculture and
! the food administration will continue
to cooperate as heretofore 20 assist
! the farmers Ia every way possible. All
questions of production, of the mar
kcting OF farm products, OF conserva-
y tion in the course OF production. and
i OF agricultural labor and farm prob.
e Ions. generally. will be handled by
& tho department of agriculture while
X all questions OF distribution Of food
supplies 20 the allies and of conserva.
q ton in consumption will be handled
by the food administration but the
chief reliance is on the farmer him.
self and / am sure that that reliance
Will be justified by the results. The
chief thing TO kept clearly in mine
a b. that regulations OF this sort are onl,
y a part OF the great general plan o
mobilization into which every elemen
: OF the nation enters in this war as il
no other. The business Of war touche'
everybody 1t is a stern business.
cooperative business. a business o
energy and sacrifice. a business in tn
, largest and best and most stirrin.
= sense OF that great word.