The Washington herald., 1918-02-24
ALetter to the President About Food
Milford. Pa. Feb. %. ISIS


MIlfcrd. Pa. Feb. %. ISIS.
The President.
The White House.
Ny Dear Mr.. President;-In this
critical time. when t. II the duty OF
every American 10 support the gov-
eminent In winning the war. ven
ture most respectfully 70 lay before
you. certain facts with relation 70 the
food supply. Of our people snd our
allies whose Importance would appear
TO Justify my doing 20. The study Of
conservation has required me 10 be-
come familiar with agricultural prob
lens, and ] have been in close touch
with organized farmers. In order 70
guard against making any statement
which might be mistaken. either in
letter or In spirit, the substance Of
the open communication has been
submitted to the leaders and repre-
sentatives of farm organizations
numbering many hundred thousand
members. and has received their as
sent.
The war has now entered a stage
in which the steadfastness of civil
populations ranks. in Importance with
the lighting spirit OF armies. Abund-
ant supplies Of food becomes a factor
NJ the first importance in maintsip-
ing the morale Of q people under
heavy stress.
Great Britain. as we know, still re-
lies on the United States and Canada
for IS per cent OF its essential food
stuffs. The Canadians are most Sc
riously handicapped In the effort &C
increase production by the lack OF
man power because they have al.
ready sent to Europe so large q pro-
portion OF their men OF military age,
It is we'll known that New Zealand
Australian and Indian wheat is in,
accessible for lack Of ships. The re-
sponsibility, therefore, rests mainly
upon the people Of the United States
Without the food which we alone car
supply not only England, but France
and Italy, must lose their power &c
carry on the war.
1t Is not famine we are facing IL
the United States. as some have
sought to show. but a food short.
age so serious that IL threatens e
become decisive. AS a man OF grea'
authority among American farmeri
has said: This war cannot bs
won by the forces of civilization
unless the farmers of the United
States can substantially increas,
their production Of foodstuffs q
feed our allies and the people o.
Cur. country" But we are faceC
with the certainly Of q reduction
instead OF an increase unless pres
ent conditions are promptly anC
radically changed.
The farmers Of the United States
are anxious TO do their full duty
in growing more food. Their lead
ers have been active in this matter
for months past. But they ar,
hampered by conditions which they
themselves cannot control. Farm
ers generally are now facing tn,
most unfayorabie condition Of farm
labor they have ever known, II
part because more than one-quar
| ter OF the men who have been takel
for the national army are farmers
They are short OF seed, agriculture
supplies. and credit, and they de
clare that a crop smaller than las
years is certain unless these con
ditions are changed for the better
Shortage in production at tn
coming harvest cannot be met from
any surplus held in reserve. Onl!
three crops OF our six principa
grains have ever been as large a.
| the amount by which our resery,
of these grains was reduced be
tween March, 1906. and March. 1917
Since then our reserve has been still
further diminished, and il has beeI
/ said that We have now reached tn,
bottom OF the granary.
Business confidence plays O.
large a part in the production o
food as Il does in the production
OF any other commoditr NothinI