Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-03-15
FARM BOYS ADVISED
NOT TO MAKE MISTAKE

The following letter has been sent to
the leading papers of Maine by l.. r. Nc
Intire. 1t was written to him by w. :.
Wood, a member of district board No
Of the State. OF MI. Wood Mr.. McIntire
says:
| Mr.. Wood is a union labor man, loyal
to our government and alive to serious
conditions this country is facing-his ad-
to publish this letter.
The Letter
There seems to be grave misunder-
standing as to what the government is
going to do for the farmer. Should we
not first consider what the farmer will
do for the government? Let US assume
that the farmer will do everything in his
power to support the President In the
great task that confronts him.
FIRST. let us consider the labor problem
Just as it is today. The great cry is
shortage of labor on the farms. We
know this is the fact of the case. Now
, why is this condition allowed to 60 on
without hindrance? What causes this
condition OF affairs? I will try to throw
some light on the matter.
First our government has sent out the
call for ships. ships. more ships. calling
on the man power to produce these ships
at the earliest possible moment What
has been the result? There have been
many young men VINO have left the farms
for the shipyards. This is the keynote
to the entire situation. Young men. do
you not mistake this as call on YOUR
patriotism? Would you not show a
greater patriotic spirit II you remained
on the farm? is there any greater service
to your country than to produce food for
your brothers in the trenches? This shin,
building is for only a short time And of
what use are these ships without food to
load them with? Surprising we take the
young man who leaves the farm for the
shipyard; do you consider what this
means? Don't think for a moment 1t is
going to be all sunshine. There has been,
and will be in the future much lost time;
your expenses will go on Just the same
but your pay stops when YOU stop work,
as you will be working by the hour. Fur
thermore, you will have to buy every
thing for yourself and family. at almost
unheard-of prices. Some Of these are the
rent Of your home, the buying of coal
in fact, everything YOU and your family
eat, drink and wear; and at the end of
the year you will only have bundle of
receipts to show for your years work.
Right here is where the mistake on
your part has been made. There is no
more noble service you can render YOUR
country than to go back to your farm,
and thereby show your true patriotic
spirit, and also show to the world that
you are firmly entrenched In the first line
trenches to support our noble boys "over
there and that with them you will 60 to
the limit of your endurance to produce
everything possible to feed our allies;
when you do this. you will be on an equal
footing with your brothers in the
trenches. for without the one the others
sacrifice will be of no avail. You will also
have the satisfaction of knowing that you
have done your Bit for freedom and
democracy.
Boys on the farms. bend your sturdy
backs, get your shoulder under the
wheel and help push that grand old flag,
the Stars and Stripes. on to Berlin. BY
your united efforts. help crush German
autocracy, Danish militarism and make
the world safe for democracy Demon
strate that with America thoroughly
aroused. the German armies will fee be-
fore our boys like chaK before the wind.