Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1918-02-07
Farmers Should Expend Every
Effort in Growing Crops to
Win the War, Says President

S made before we had had our present
+ full experience in these perplexinl
matters. The supply of labor in all in
p dustries is a matter we must look Il
I and are looking to with diligent care
, And let me say that the stimulation
of the agencies | have enumerated has
been responded to by the farmers in
) splendid fashion. / dare say that you
, are aware that the farmers of this
country are as efficient as any other
farmers in the world. They do not pro-
duce more per ace than the farmers
iii Europe. 1t is not necessary that
they should do so. 1t would perhaps
be bad economy for them to attempt
it. But they do produce by two to
three of four times more per man, per
unit of labor and capital, than the
farmers of any European country.
"Thcy are more alert and use more
labor saving devices than any other
formers in the world. And their re-
SpOnse to the demands of the present
emergency has been in every way re-
markable.
50 Last spring their planting exceeded
by l2,OOO,OOO acres the largest planting
of. any previous year, and the yields
from the crops were record breaking
yields. In the fall of 1917 wheat
acreage of 42,170,OOO was planted.
which was 100000 larger than for any
preceding year. 100000 greater than
the next largest, and 100000 greater
than the preceding five years aver
age.
90 But ought to say to you that il is
not only necessary that these achieve
ments should be repeated but that
they should be exceeded. / know what
this advice involves. 1t involves not
only labor, but sacrifice. the painsta-
king application of every bit of scien-
tific acknowledge and very tested prae-
tice that is available. 1t means the
utmost economy, even to the point
where the pinch comes. 1t means the
kind of concentration and self-sacri-
hce which is involved in the field of ,
battle itself, where the object always /
looms greater than the individual. And
vet the government will help and help
in every way that it is possible
''The impression which prevails in
some quarters that while the govern
ment has sought to fix the prices of f
toodstutfs 1t has not sought to fix 9th
A. prices which determine the expenses /
II the farmer is Il mistaken one. As n
natter Of fact, the government has
actively and successfully regulated the
'rices of many fundamental matters
Underlying the industries of the coun- s
ny and has regulated them not only |
or the purchases of the government, 7
nut also for the purchases of the gen
raj public, and | have every reason to I
'elievc that the congress will extend i
he powers of the government in this h
Important and even essential matter so
hat the tendency to profteering which q
) showing itself in too many quarters a
lay be effectivly checked.
In fixing the prices of foodstuffs C
he government has sincerely tried to T
eep the interests of the farmers as n
uch in mind as the interests of the
which are to he served. a
ut it is serving mankind as well as h,
10 farmer and everything in these l.
mes of war takes on the rigid as ST
'ct Of duty.
81 will not appeal to y)u tc continue .
Id renew and increase your efforts. T 9
not believe that it is necessary 20 8
so. ] believe that you will do il
Lthout any word or appeal from me.
cause you understand as we'll as 7 do III
needs and opportunities of this IS
eat hour when the fortunes of man OF
nd everywhere seem about to he de-
mined and when America has the or
latest opportunity she has ever had eli
make good her own freedom and in
king it good to lend a helping hand ia
men struggling for their freedom I'm
arywhere. mt
You remember that it was farmers
I'M whom came the first shots at al
xington, that set aflame the revolu-
n that made America free. hone on
believe that the farmers of Amer e''
VIII, willingly and conscientiously 20
nd by to win this war also. "Ie
The toll, the intelligence. the en- no,
y the foresight. the self-sacrifice
devotion of the farmers of Amer Inn
will, I believe, bring to trium- ora
MT conclusion this great last war /
the emancipation of men from the apd
troll of arbitrary government and bor
selfishness of class legislation and
troll and then, when the end has ere.
e, we may look each other in the tbr,
and be glad that we are Americans fro,
have had the privilege to play such \
art. ro+,
o 0 o . o o o o o o o Q o o . 1at