Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-02-25


are short of seed. agricultural sup
plies and credit, and they declare that
crop smaller than last years is GER,
tain unless these conditions are chang
ed for the better.
Shortage in production at the COM
ing harvest cannot be met from any
surplus held in reserve. Only three
crops OF our six principal grains have
ever been as large as the amount by
which our reserve of these grains was
reduced between March, 1916, and
March, 1917. Since then our reserve
has been still further diminished, and
it has been said that we have now
reached the bottom of the granary.
Business confidence plays as large a
part in the production of food as it
does in the production of any other
commodity. Nothing is so fatal to pro-
duction as uncertainty. 1t is a mat
ter of national significance. that the
great majority of farmers are today
uncertain as to their business out
look.
4 year ago our farmers produced
abundantly in patriotic response to the
request Of the government, but at har-
vest labor was wanting. Many fields of
potatoes were frozen in the ground and
much corn remained ungathered. There
are farmers three quarters OF whose
corn crop was still in the field in Feb.
ruary for want of hands. To men of
small resources such blows are stag
gering. The prosecutions of milk pro-
Il n
farmers, for seeking prices high enough
to meet the rising cost of production,
have also had their share in robbing
the farmers of confidence in the flu
ture.
Food is the first condition of pros
perity at home and success in the war
abroad. The food problem is first of
all question of production. The at
tention OF the whole nation is at this
moment directed to the question of
building ships, but food is prior to and
more essential than the ships to carry
it. 50 also food is more essential than
munitions. for without it munitions can
neither be manufactured nor used in
fighting.
What VIC need most is an increase
crop Of winter wheat is more than five
million acres below the area officially
recommended to produce the crop de-
sired. and its condition on December
list was he lowest ever known. The
British Food Administrator has warn
cd us Off tally that lit now lies with
America 70 decide whether or not the
Allies i'll Europe shall have bread
enough to hold out until the. United
States is able to throw it's forces into
the field ct because of it's low price
in relation to corn. wheat so urgently
needed abroad is even now being fed
t. livestock in America. AS to pork
the outlook for production is at best
uncertain because at the present time
and for some time past the price Of
hogs has not been high enough to COW
Ell the price of the corn fed to them
As a nation we have directed our
attention mainly to saving food already
produced instead of mainly to produc-
ing more food,-which would make
rigid conservation unnecessary. Sure
~ ii is better to produce in plenty
than to consume our energy in the diff
ficult task of stretching short sup
ply In Edrope conservation measures
have been difficult to apply, dangerous
to the morale of the people. and (short
Of actual rationing) ineffective in pro-
ducing results. They are properly the
last measure against food shortage.
Production is the first. How some of
the steps which are necessary to in
crease production may be taken was
indicated oy the representatives of g.
000oN0 of organized farmers. acting
through the Federal Board of Farm
organizations in their address sub
mltted to you on Feb. s.
If the foregoing is true, then the dan
the threatened food shortage will be so
disastrous tC us. to our Allies, and to
the neutralS who depend upon us for
fCod, that vigorous and immediate ac-
ton for producing more food is the first
thlng needed for our own safety and
welfare, and for winning the war.
There is only one power in America
able to meet this emergency, and that
power is yourself All Americans look
!" the President Unless you inspire the
action needed. it will not be taken. The
time IS short and the emergency has
passed beyond crulnary control. With
out your help the scourge Of a food
shortage VIII fall on our Allies and
on us
cry respectfully