River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1918-02-07

and has asked the congress for &c.
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
know they would not wish to be.
take it for granted they would not
wish to be put in a class by them
selves in this respect. But the atten-
ton 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 | 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 mas
beer responded to by the farmers In
splendid fashion. / dare say you know
the farmers of the country are as Ell
cient as any in the world. They DO
not produce more pes acre than Tue
farmers of Europe. 1t is not neces-
sary. It would perhaps be bad econ
omy. But they prodcce three or four
tilDes 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 serY-
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
wear The crops we're record break
ing yields Last fall wheat acreage
of 42,170,000 was planted, which was
/ 900, 900 larger than for any proceed
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.
It means the kind Of concentration
and self-sacrifce 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. 1t has not sought TO TX
other prices which determine the ex-
penses Of the farmer is a mistaken
one. The government mas actively
and successfully regulated prices OF
many fundamental materials unuerly-
ing all the industries OF the country
and has regulated them not only lot
purchase of the government but also
for the purchase of the general puDhc.
and / have every reason TO DelleVe
the congress will extend the powers
of the government in this even essen
tial matter, so that prof1teer1ng wnlch
is showing itself in too many quarters
NAV be effectively checked. In HXlng
rrices of foodstuffs the government
has sincerely tried to keep the inter
nsts of the farmer as much in mlnd
&C the interests Of the communities
which are to be served, but it is sery'
ing mankind as we'll as the farmer
and everything in these times OF war
takes on the rigid aspect of duty.
Farmers Are Not Siackers.
tT will not appeal to you to continue
and renew and increase yocr efforts.
do moi believe that necessary. l De-
Iieve YOU will do it without appeal from
mo because you understand as well
&C 7 the needs and opportunities or
thie great hour when the fortunes OF
n,onlxind everywhere seem about to be
do+ormined and when America has the
greatest opportunity she has ever had
to make good her own freedom and IN
making it good to lend helping nano
~ men struggling for their freedom
ovorvwhere. You remember that 1t was
"a rn,ers from whom came the nrst
ebote at Lexington, that set af1ame the
,avoI,,tion that made America free.
1T hone and believe that the farmers
~ America will willingly and con
snicrlouslv stand by to win this wal
also. The toll, their intelligence, ene
energy, the foresight, the selI-sacrlllce
and devotion of the farmers OF Amer
ica will, I believe, bring to a trlun.,
nhant conclusion this great last war
for the emancipation of men from tns
control of arbitrary government an9 5
the se1fshness of class legislation anu anu
control con and then, when the END mas mas
come, we may look each other IN tn ne
| face and be glad that we are Amer !
cans. and have had the privilege %
nlay such part.