Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1918-02-08
Presidents Message To Farmers
Asking Help To Meet War Crisis.

Vi lhC Oouhug HuccodBc' WHICH was uc-
livered by President James, of the Univer-
sity of Illinois, to the farmers conference
in session at Urbana, Illinois. 1t reads as
follows:
Il am very sorry indeed that cannot be
present in person at the Urbana confer
ence. should like to enjoy the benefit Of
the inspiration and exchange OF counsel
which ] know should obtain. but in the
circumstances it has seemed impossible
for me to be present and, therefore. can
only send you a very earnest message ex-
pressing my interest and the thoughts
which such conference must bring promi-
nently into every mind.
Il need not tell you, for / am sure you
realize as keenly as do. that we are, as
a nation, in the presence of a great task
which demands supreme sacrifice and en-
deavor of every one of u.s. We can give
everything that is needed with the greater
willingness, and even satisfaction. because
the object of the war in which we are en-
Gagged is the greatest that free men have
ever undertaken.
ut is to prevent the life Of the world
from being determined and the fortunes Of
men everywhere affected by small groups
Of military masters who seek their own
interest and the selfish domination through
out the world of the governments they
unhappily for the moment control
"You will not need to be convinced that
it was necessary for US as free people to
take part in this war. 1t had raised its
evil hand against US.
+. The rulers Of Germany had sought to
exercise their power in such way as to
shut off our economic life so far as our
intercourse with Europe was concerned,
and to confine our people within the west
ern hemisphere while they accomplished
purposes which would have permanently
impaired and impeded every process of
our national life and have put the fortunes
OF America at the mercy of the imperial
government Of Germany. This was no
threat. 1t had become a reality.
Their hand Of violence had been laid
upon our own people and our ewn property
in fragrant violation not only Of justice. but
Of the well-recognized and long standing
covenants Of International law and treaty.
I'VE are fighting. therefore, as truly for
the liberty and self-eovernment of the
United States as If the war of our own
revolution had to be fought over again
and every man in every business in the
United States must know by this time that
his whole future fortune lies in the bal
ance.
Our national life and our whole eco
nomic development will pass under the
sinister influence of foreign control if we
do not win. We must win, therefore, and
we shall win. ! need not ask you to pledge
your lives and fortunes with those of the
rest Of the nation to the accomplishment
Of that great end.
you will realize, as think statesmen
on both sides Of the water realize, that
the eliminating crisis Of the struggle has
come and that the achievements of this
year on the one side or the other must de.
termine the issue.
1T has turned out that the forces that
fight for freedom. the freedom Of men all
over the world as well as our own, depend
upon us in an extraordinary and unexpected
degree for sustenance. for the supply Of
the materials by which men are to live
and to fight. and il will be our glory wher
the war is over that we have supplied
those materials and supplied them abun
dainty. and it will be all the more glor,
because in supplying them we have mad,
our supreme effort and sacrifice.
in the field Of agriculture we hav,
agencies and instrumentalities. fortunately
such as no other government in the worlC
can show. The Department of Aericul
ture is undoubtedly the greatest practica
and scientific agricultural organization il
the world.
ats total annual budget of SAG, 000,O0(
has been increased during the last fou
years more than 72 per cent. II has
staff of $4,000. including large humble
Of highly trained experts. and alongsid,
Of ii stand unique land grant colleges
which are without example elsewhere, ant
the SO State and Federal experiment sta
tons.
These colleges and experiment station
have a total endowment of plant AM
equipment of $l72.0OO,OO0 and an in
come of more than $35.00O.000. will
1927 teachers, a resident student body o
$4,000 and a vast additional number re
ceiving instruction at their homes. Count!
agents, joint officers of the Department o
Agriculture and Of the colleges. are every
where cooperating with the farmers anC
assisting them.
THE number Of extension workers un
der the Smith-Lever act and under tn,
recent emergency legislation has grown t
$500 men and women. working regularl,
in the various communities and taking t
the farmer the latest scientific and prac
tical information.
Alongside these great public agencies
stand the very effective voluntary organi
cations among the farmers themselves
which are more and more learning the bes
methods of cooperation and the bes
methods Of putting to practical use the
assistance derived from governmental
sources.
THE banking legislation of the last two
or three years has given the farmers &C,
cess to the great lendable capital Of the
country, and it has become the duty botl
Of the men in charge Of the Federal re.
serve banking system and of the farm loar
banking system to see to it that the farm.
ers obtain the credit. both short term and
long term. to which they are entitled moi
only. but which il is imperatively neces.
sary should be extended TO them il the
present tasks Of the country are to be ade.