The Mena weekly star., 1918-03-14
LEGISLATION THAT HURTS
By James A. sIote.)

etift yohicCti Of ttb UtiefS ucCtlNt ( you. Umess the season is unusually good, the food situation will be n1 better and perhaps not SD good this year. Ihink q moment. Inc iarm- CTS gave their very hest efforts to make record crop. They reached their limit last year. This year, with still less men on the farm, it is hopeless to accomplish more. nigll pfiee oI cotton ln the South waiI cause less food crops Co De planted Many farmers are planting a larger acreage Of forage crops to handle With machinery. Ihls will mean less corn. So many farmers say they will raise only food enough for their own use; others, with boys and help that will be taken by the new drafl, say they dare not take chance on a large crop as it may be left uncul- tlyated. Some farmers are begin ming to feel that the war and food board are out of sympathy with them. Here is one of the most im- portant industries of the war, and the farmer is not represented.
 The president in his proclamation last week said: T hope the local draft boards will make the burden as light as possible on the farmer 2 His sentiment and feelings are fine and credit to him; but it would have shown a better understanding of the situation if he had said: T hope the local draft boards will make the burden on the buying public as light as possible The farmer is going to eat, but are you? Quit knocking the farmer. We need him. He is loyal, patient and patri- otic. He has saved this country be- fore and will this time if he is not tied down by too many fool laws and rulings. Here are some of the Inconsistencies: Limiting the price on his products, and no limit to the price on what he has to buy to pro- duce his crops Asking for bigger crops and taking or allowing his help to leave. Flour substitutes sell ing for more than flour. Putting the embargo on southern and northern hens for the same time; the south ern hen has her clutch half laid, the northern hen just begun. We have 30 days perhaps of feeding 4-cent grain 10 unprofitabIe hens, but it may bring the price of eggs down and help the consumer a short time and the cold storage man a long time, when all these hens are dumped on the market the first of May. The farmer may have to stand drop in price, but 1t is an ill wind that blows no one good. The packers and cold storage men should reap harvest. By the way, you have probably read how well represented the packers are on the food board in the report of Francis J. Heney, who is probing the pack CTS for the government. And now those of us who followed the advice of the federal and local agents and put up our fruit juices to sweeten for jelly and jams after the season was over are finding that the and 10 pound allotments do not go far after taking out the regular daily supply. However, this is probably unavoidable and most regard it as a joke and laugh, as no one then pre- dieted the present shortage. How many of you know the size of the box or barrel required by law to ship fruit or vegetables? How many know if their fruit packages are of the right size or that the contents must be marked on the container as well as on the box, or do you know if your grape baskets are the size specified by the law that weni into effect last November? In addition to these federal laws, some states have their own laws regarding this. Is it any wonder farmers are afraid to ship their surplus, and let it rot rather than take chances on heavy fine which they might innocently incurg One of our farmers received warning saying he had billed his shipment as canned goods, whereas it was found to be CANNED FRUIT. Shortly after this we received a mo- tice and warning that the contents of our canned goods cases were vis- ible, and they were billed as So many cases of canned goods instead of so many crates. Mir. Consumer, are you beginning to learn which shoe is pinehing you, the farmer shoe or the middleman shoeY
 If all this sG-called protection against the farmer is good for you, some protection against the dishon- est shoe you are paying $5 or more pair for would also be good; or your clothing or any other thing you must have. As we said before, quit knocking the farmer. You are hurting yourself worse than him; and the elements permitting and with no adverse legislation, he will feed us and cur allies. All he wants is the opportunity. Don't hamper him any more than nee essary.
 Hattie.
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