The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1918-02-08

100000 available for this purpose now
and has asked the congress for S.
100000 more.
"The labor problem is one of great
difficulty and some of the best agen-
cies of the nation are addressing
themselves to the task of solving it,
so far as it is possible. Farmers have
not been exempted from the draft. l
know they would not wish to be. l
take it for granted they would not
wish to be put in class by them
selves in this respect. But the atten-
tion of the war department has been
very seriously centered upon the task
of interfering with the labor of the
farms as little as possible, and under
the new draft regulations l believe
farmers Of the country will find their
supply of labor is much less seriously
drawn upon than it was under the
first and initial draft, made before
We had our present full experience in
these perpleXing matters.
Americans Best Producers.
''And let me say that the stimulation
Of the agencies have enumerated has
beer responded to by the farmers in
splendid fashion. | dare say you know
the farmers of the country are as eff
Gent as any in the world. They do
not produce more per acre than the
farmers of Europe 1t is not neces-
sary. It would perhaps be bad econ
ony. But they prodcce three or four
times more per man, per unit OF labor
and capital, than the farmers of any
European country. They are more
alert and use more labor saving serv-.
ices. And their response to the de-
mands of the present emergency has
been remarkable. Last spring their
planting exceeded by 100000 acres
the largest planting of any previous
year. The crops were record break
ing yields Last fall a wheat acreage
of 42.170,000 was planted, which was
I 900, 600 larger than for any preced-
ing year, 100000 greater than the
next largest, and 100000 greater
than the preceding five year average.
Must Guido 1912 Records.
"But it is not only necessary that
these achievements should be repeat.
ed, but that they should be exceeded.
| know what it involves. 1t involves
not only labor but sacrifice, the pains
taking application of every bit OF
scientific knowledge and every tested
practice available. 1t means utmost
economy, even where the pinch comes.
1t means the kind of concentration
and self-sacrifice which is involved in
the field of battle itself, where the
object always looks greater than the
Individual And yet the government
will help, and help in every way pos
sible.
Farmers Are Protected.
"The impression that while the gov
eminent has sought to fix prices OF
foodstuffs. it has not sought to nix
other prices which determine the ex.
penses Of the farmer is mistaken
one. The government mas actively
and successfully regulated prices OF
manv fundamental materials underly-
ing all the industries of the country
and has regulated them not only for
purchase of the government but also
for the purchase of the general public. |
and I have every reason to believe
the congress will extend the powers
of the government in this even essen
tial matter, so that profiteering which |
is showing itself in too many quarters
may be effectively checked. In fixing |
pr;ces of foodstuffs the government
has sincerely tried to keep the inter
ests of the farmer as much in mind
as the interests of the communities
which are to be served, but it is serv'
ing mankind as well as the farmer
and everything in these times of war
takes on the rigid aspect of duty.
Farmers Are Not SIackers.
81 will not appeal to you to continue
and renew and increase yocr efforts. l
do not believe that necessary. L be-
lieve YOU will do it without appeal from
me-. because you understand as well
as I the needs and opportunities of
this great hour when the fortunes OF
mankind everywhere seem about to be |
determined and when America has the |
greatest opportunity she has ever had
10 make good her own freedom and Ill |
making it good to lend helping hand
TO men struggling for their freedom |
You remember that it was |
"a rners from whom came the first |
shots at Lexington that set aflame the
revolution that made America free.
IT hope and believe that the farmers
~ America will willingly and con-
spiculously stand by to win this war
also. TIE toll, their intelligence, the
energy, the foresight, the self-sacrlhce
and devotion of the farmers OF Amer
ca will. | believe, bring to trlum-
Dbant conclusion this great last war
'or the emancipation Of men from the
control of arbitrary government ana
he selfishness of class legislation ana
control. and then, when the end mas
come. we may look each other IN the
ace and be glad that we are Amerl-
cans. and have had the privilege 10
olay such a part"