Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-02-01

was planted which was one million
larger than for any preceding year
three millions greater than the next
largest, and several millions greater
than the preceding fve-year average.
MUST SURPAsS RECORDS.
But ought to say to you that it is
not only necessary that these achieve.
, ments should be repeated but that
they should be exceeded. I know
what this advice involves. 1t involves
not only labor but sacrifice, the pains
! taking application Of every bit of sci.
entific knowledge and every tested
| practice that is available. It means
where the pinch comes. 1t means the
kind of concentration and self sacri.
! flee which is involved in the field of
! battle itself where the object always
; looms greater than the individual.
And yet the government will help and
help in every way that is possible.
PRICE FIXING is GENERAL.
"The impression which prevails in
some quarters that while the govern
ment has sought to fix the prices of
foodstuffs it has not sought to fix
other prices which determine the ex-
penses of the farmer is a mistaken
one. AS matter Of fact, the govern
; ment has actively and successfully
, regulated the prices of many funda-
mental materials underlying all the
industries of the country and has regu.
/ lated them not only for the pur-
chases of the government but also
for the purchases Of the general pub
lie, and have every reason to believe
that congress will extend the powers
Of the government in this important
and even essential industry so that the
tendency to proflteering which is
showing itself in too many quarters,
may be effectively checked.
WATCHES FARMERS INTEREST.
"In fixing the prices Of foodstuffs
the government has tried sincerely
to keep the interests Of the farmers
as much in mind as the interests of
the communities which are to be
served but it is serving mankind as
we'll as the farmer and everything in
these times Of war tricks on the rigid
aspect of duty.
'1t will not appeal to you to con.
tinue and renew and increase your
efforts. I do not believe that it is
necessary to do so. I believe that
you will do it without word or appeal
from me, because you understand as
we'll as I do the needs and opportuni-
ties of this great hour when the for
tunes of mankind everywhere seem
about to be determined and when
America has the greatest opportunity
she has ever had to make good her
own freedom and making good to lend
helping hand to men struggling for
their freedom everywhere.
TRUSTS NATIONS FARMERS.
"You remember that it was farm.
ers from whom came the first shots
at Lexington that set aflame the
revolution that made America free. I
hope and believe that the farmers Of
America will willingly and conspicu-
ously stand by to win this war also.
Toll. the intelligence, the energy, the
foresight. the self-sacrifice and devo-
ton Of the farmers of America will,
believe. bring to triumphant con-
clusion this great last war for the
emancipation OF men from the control
of arbitrary, government and the self
ishness of class legislation and con-
troll, and then~when the end has come,
we may look each other in the face
and be glad that we are Americans
and have had the privilege to play
such part