The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-02-20
lS0lEMN WARNING.
THE SOUTH WILL SUFFER III m
NEGLECTs FOOD CROPS.
Assistant Secretary OF Agriculture
oasley Warns the south That the
Production of Food Is the First
Consideration.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13.-'If the
south negiects this year to provide
hes own food aud feed. she is likely
to suffer serious privation and she
will put burden upon the nation
which riay prolong the war and even
imperli our victory" says Clarence
ousley. Assistant Secretary of Agrl-
culture.
II am aware that these are strong
words" continues Secretary ous.cy,
but they are none too strong. am
not expressing an alarmist personal
opinion. am seeing through the
eyes OF as agricultural colleges and
OF county agents In nearly every agr;-
cultural county. have recently
crossed the continent from the AT.
lantlc TO the Pncifc. I have studied
the reports gathered by the depart
menrs $4,000 representatives and as
many more employees OF the agri-
cultural colleges. ! have consider
eel the conclusions of the International
Institute OF Agriculture at Rome
which has reports from all the world.
The plain. hard truth Is that with
90 miliicn people Withdrawn from
productive Industries and engaged In
the business OF destruction, Il Is not
humanity possible for production on
the whoh TO exceed normal demand.
The question Is whether production
can equal necessltous demand
England. france. and Italy must
he sustained or their pobulatlons can.
not stand the strain. They have been
on scanty ratlons for moro than three
years. The chief cause OF Russia
collapse was hunger. Soldiers cannot
fight when their wives and children
are starving.
secretary McAdoo has given warn
ms that transportation may be lack
ing In 1918 to haul food and feed TO
states and communities that do no;
provide for themselves. Many cattle
have been sacrificed i'm the drouth
regions OF the Northwest and the
Southwest during the last few months.
because railroad cars could not be OBJ
tanned as needed. Military movements
must have first consideration. and
military movements will be greater in
1913 than In 1917. The prime question
for the farmer IN not what product
will bring the highest price. but wha.
prodAGts will insure food for his fam
lily ard feed for his live stock. and
the answer Is; a vegetable garden. q
milk COW. brood SOW. poultry
flock. ample corn. oats. peanuts. etc.
sud then as much cotton or tobacco
90 ha can cultivate Well
1T Is the highest demand OF pa
triotism---it is the first requirement OF
living--thnt In 1918 every State. every
county, every neishborhood. every
farmer. be as nearly self-sustainlng as
possible.
Foo the South to plunge on cotton
or tobacco or any other speculative
crop and TO depend upon the corn
belt for bread and meat will he for
the South to engage in a gamble which
may cause privation to it's people and
disaster 10 the nation. For any man
now TO determine his business oper-
ations from the standpoint of profit
- alone. without regard TO the nations
needs. Is for him wiifully TO pronteer
in the blood OF his fellows who are
nghting in France for the preserva-
tion OF the republic No man can be
excused for not taking his share OF the
responsibility.
My whole life has becn spent a.
tho south. know the Southern
farmer. lie will do his duty as hc
sees II. am appealing TO every man
IN the South TO make known these
facts-to consider II his business 10
make them knDwn-and I shall have
- doubt OF the results. III they are
not made known In a way to impress
the crisis that confronts us. there
may be hunger I'm this bounteous lant
or hunger over yonder In Europe,
where IL will spell ruin for all that