The Washington herald., 1918-02-24

is 20 fatal 20 production az unc<r.
tainty. II is q matter OF nstioun,
signincance that the great ma.
jority OF farmers are today uncer.
tain as TO their business outlook.
A year ago our farmers produced
abundautly IN patriotic response ts
the request OF the government, bui
at harvest labor was wanting. NAM
fields OF potatoes were frozen 4.
the ground and much corn remain.
ed ungathered- There are farmer,
three-ouarters OF whose corn crot
was still in the field in Februar,
for want OF hands. To men OF small
resources such blows are stagger-
ing. The prosecutions of milk pro-
ducers, q very numerous class OF
farmers. for seeking prices high
enough TO meet the rising cost Of
production, have also had theii
share in robbing the farmers OF
confidence in the future.
Food 10 the FIRST condition Of pros-
perity at home and success in ths
war abroad. The food problem 4,
frst Of all q question Of production
The attention Of the whole nation
is at this moment directed 20 the
question Of building ships, but fooe
the ships 20 carry g. So also fooo
10 more essential than munitions
for without II munitions can neither
be manufactured nor used in night
ing.
What we need most is an increas.
in wheat and pork But the com.
ing crop Of winter wheat is more
than 100000 acres below the ares
officially recommended 20 producs
the crop desired, and its condition
on December ] was the lowest ever
known The British food admfnis.
traitor has warned us ofncially thai
''it now lies with America 70 decfd,
whether or not the allies in Europs
shall have bread enough to hole
out until the United States Is able
to throw its forces into the field.
Yet because Of its low price in re.
lation to corn. wheat so urgently
needed abroad is even now beins
fed to livestock in America Az II
pork, the outlook for production iI
at best uncertain because at the
present time and for some time past
the price OF hogs has not been high
enough to cover the price OF the
corn fed TO them
As q nation We have directed ouI
attention mainly TO saving food al
ready produced instead Of mainly &c
producing more food.-which woule
| make rigid conservation unnecessary
Surely II is better TO produce in plenty
than TO consume our energy in the diff.
ncult task OF stretching a short sup.
| ply. In Europe conservation measures
have been difficult TO apply. danger.
Gus to the morale OF the people, ano
1 fghnFf ~ arfuaN
IL producing results. They are prop-
| erly the last measure against fooc
shortage. Production is the first How
some OF the steps which are necessary
TO increase production may be taker
was indicated by the representative
Of 100000 or organized farmers, act
ing through the Federal Board o,
Farm Organizations. in their address
submitted TO you on February s
II the foregoing Ia true. then the
danger is 50 pressing and the results
OF the threatened food shortage will
] be so disastrous TO us, to our allies
and to the neutrals who depend upot
US for food, that vigorous and imme.
diate action for producing more fooc
Is the first thing NEEDED for our own
safety and welfare. and for winning
the war
There is only one power in Americs
able TO meet this emergency. and ths
power is yourself. All Americans looI
TO the President. Unless you inspire
the action needed. Il will not be taken
The time is short and the emergency
has passed beyond ordinary control
Without your help the scourEe OF .
food shortage will fall on our alIiei
/ and on US.
Very respectfully.
CLIFFORD PINCHOT.