Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1918-03-14

bookkeeping, school teaching, etc.-sit-down work.
And yet 1t is a fact that from 65 to IS per cent Of
the French mutiles nowadays were, before the
war, farmers or farm laborers. Not all Of these
men should undertake., Of are physically and men,
tally fitted to undertake, Industrial or city jobs.
Moreover, everyone knows that the first great
world peace problem will be the challenge Of a
food shortage. Obviously, as many mutiles as pos
slble-France's today, Americas tomorrow-mus
go back to the land. So 1t is the plan of the Amer.
lean Red Cross to help France In placing some Of
them there and, later on, to help America In the
same way"
l ventured to point out to Miss Harper that re-
ports show there are 81 agricultural centers in
operation In France. but Miss Harper was in.
cllned to shake her head. She would not quarrel
with my figures. but with the impression they ere.
ated.
NO doubt" she said, "but you must remember
that, judged by American standards, France Ia not
vet In the forefront Of scientific agriculture.
French economists. whose minds are now more
than ever busy with the facts Of food production,
are cxclaiming at the sad truth that Germany,
with a less and inferior farming area, should, be.
fore the war, have exceeded France in agricultural
production.
"These thlrtyone agricultural centers of reedu.
cation you speak Of have opened their doors for
mutiles, but they luck necessary equipment, and
the canny mutile looks In and, too often, passes
on. Small wonder, especially IL you reflect upon
his eagerness to get home, to be free Of discipline
that Is irksome because 1t Is latter three years and
q half Of wary still discipline.
France is teaching her mutiles small trades, cob.
bling. b~asket-naklng, tinsnithing, machine work,
etc, but what the Red Cross wants above nil to
do Is to cooperate In the agricultural movement,
We who are world-famous for our agricultural ma.
chinery must provide motor tractors and other me.
chanIcal equipment for the schools Of re.educatlOn,
Also, we must give expert instruction In the rails.
Ing Of live stock, poultry, rabbits, bees. We must
60 In for training In horticulture. When the spring
Of 1913 hns come, We should be In a position 10
show you our agriculture center In full blast, All.
Ing Il part, at least. Of the great need I have men,
situated In one Of the richest farming areas Of
France, very close to one Of the great psychothcra.
peutic centers. That is oil I can very well tell
you now.
'Of course, that one farm will not solve the
whole problem If the war mutile. At least, II will
ut nil times tuke care Of 200 mutilcs. 1t will have
been leased for three years. Diaries, sheds, cow.
barns, shecpcotes, pig.sties, n forge, machine shop,
carpentry %si,op--all these things figure In our cal.
cuIatlons. by spring, work Of construction and
repair will have been accomplished, quarters for
men put up and some Of the work will have been
contributed by the mutiles themselves. It 10 not
only more economical, II 10 better 20. And they
will get two francs q day wags-thess mutles;
Ave francs . day when they are themselves ~
stsuctors"