Middletown transcript., 1918-03-02

derstood why wheat Is picked out for
price determination, and only wheat.
among the cereals. The answer is
that, while normal distribution of all
our farm products has been subject
to great disturbances during the last
three years because Of war conditions.
only two commodities. namely, wheat
and sugar. have been so seriously
affected as to require governmental
Intervention.
1.-THE disturbances which affect
these products and others in less de-
gree, arise from the fact that all
of the overseas shipping in the world
is, now under governmental contro'
and that the government is obliged
to assign tonnage to each commodity
that enters into commercial overseas
traffic. 1t has, consequently, been
necessary to establish single agencies
for the purchase of the food supplies
which must go abroad. The purchase
of wheat in the United States for for
eign use is of SO great volume in
comparison with the available do.
nestle supply that the price of wheat
has been materially disturbed and 1t
became necessary, in order to pro-
tect both the producer and the con.
sumer, to prevent speculation. It was
necessary. therefore. for the govern
ment to exercise a measure Of direct
supervision as far as possible to con-
troll purchases Of wheat and the pro-
cesses of it's expectation. This SUI
pervision necessarily amounted to
price-f1xing and l. therefore, thought
it fair and wise that there should be
a price stated that should be at once
liberal and equitable.
"Those peculiar circumstances gov.
erning the handling and consumption
of wheat put the farmer at the very
center Of war service. Next to the
soldier himself, he is serving the
country and the world and serving 1t
in way which is absolutely funda-
mental to his own future safety and
prosperity. He sees this and can be
relied upon as the soldier can.
"The farmer is also contributing
men to the army, and am keenly
alive to the sacrifices involved. Out
of 13,8O0,0O0 men engaged in farm
205,OO0 have been drafted,
or about 1.4S per cent. of the whole
In addition to these, there
have been volunte ers, and the farm
ers have lost a considerable number
of laborers because the wages paid
in industrial pursuits drew them
away. In order to relieve the farm
ing industry as far as possible from
further drains of labor, the new draft
regulations have been drawn with a
view to taking from the farms an
even smaller proportion of men, and
it is my hope that the local exemption
boards will make the new classified
lions with view of tightening the
load upon the farmers to the utmost
extent. The Secretary of War has
asked for authority to furlough SOL
diers of the National Army if condi-
tons permit it, so that they may re-
turn to their farms when assistance
Is necessary in the planting and har-
vest of the crops. National and local
agencies are actively at work, besides,
in organizing community help for the
more efficient distribution Of avail
able labor and the drawing upon new
sources of labor While there will be
and very serious ones,
they will be difficulties which are
among the stern necessities of war.
1.-THE Federal Railway Administra-
ion is cooperating in the most active,
intelligent and efficient way with the
Food Administration to remove the
difficulties of transportation and OF
he active movement of the crops.
Their marketing is to be facilitated
md the farmers given the opportunity
o realize promptly upon their stocks.
1.-THE Department Of Agriculture and
he Food Administration will continue
o cooperate as heretofore to assist
he farmers in every way possible.
All questions of production, of the
marketing of farm products, Of con-
;ervation in the course of production,
md of agricultural labor and farm
problems generally, will be handled by
he Department of Agriculture; while
Ill questions of distribution of food
supplies to the Allies and of conserva.
ion in consumption will be handled
" the Food Administration; but the
thief reliance is upon the farmer him.
'elf, and l am sure that that reliance
will be justified by the results. The
thief thing to be kept clearly in mind
s that regulations of this sort are
,nly a part Of the great general plan
# mobilization into which every ele-
nent in the nation enters in this war
Is in no other. The business. bust
less Of enegy and sacrifice, bust
less of service in the largest and best
md most stirring sense of that great
vord."
Three KILLED IN AIR CRASH.