Daily Kennebec journal., 1918-02-08

cred at the morning session by Gov
ernor Milliken, who appealed to the
patriotism of the farmers of Maine
for an increased crop acreage this sea-
son. assured his hearers of all posi-
BILE co cooperation by the State ana re-
ported the federal program for assist
ing the farmers in increased produc-
ton, as ascertaincd by him In a re-
cent conference with Secretary Hous
ton of the Department of Agriculture.
Governor Mi'liken's Address
The text OF the Governors address
follows:
Food and ships, more food and still
more ships,--these We must have in
order to win the war. Which need.
that of food or of ships is more imper
ativc in our necessary task of feeding
our soldiers overseas and our Allies,
no one can tell us unless he could also
tell which is more essential, the team
of horses OF the harness and whitfle-
trees by which they are attached to
the load
The civilized world looks to Amer
lea for both these necessities, as we'll
as for the gallant soldiers that arc 10
turn the scale of battle overseas.
The business of farming, always the
foundation of our economic life, has in
this crisis become d patriotic service.
The call for large crop acreage was
brought to the farmers of Maine last
year, and although it did not come
until late in the planting season, the
response was magnificent.
What Of this year 1918? The need
is even more urgent than year ago
The situation in which farmers find
themselves is in many respects very
dscouraging. Because of unusual
climatic conditions cur staple potato
crop was 2 partial failure and thou
sands of farmers find that the season
as whole yielded either scantN
margin or an actual loss.
The fact is, and let us face it frank
ly, we have asked farmers TO assume
a risk out # proportion TO that under
taken by any other class of business
rlen. At best the farmers business is
besct with many hazards. He must
take his chances months ahead on
market prices, flood, drouth, crop pests,
and all the possibilities of climatic
conditions. Now we have urged him
to take all the ordinary hazard and in
addition all the unusual risks of war
conditions as patriotic duty and
without any insurance against loss
that means financial disaster. In 9TH
Ell business enterprises work for the
government is done on contract price.
The farmer who adds to his acreage
from patriotic motives has no such
guarantee. Next to the man who risks
his life in the trenches, the farmer
risks nos., for he risks his livelihood
and the sustenance of his family.
| have been very glad to accept
this opportunity of speaking through
you to the farmers of Maine before the
beginning Of this crop season because
lit is necessary to present again to the
farmers of Maine the urgent need OF
lnrre crop acreage But I want YOU
and them to realize that | voice TINS
appeal with full consciousness OF the
serious sacrifices it has involved fof
them and may involve again, ana only
with the strong conviction on my own
part that every possible and reason
able cooperation on the part oi the
federal AMI state governments would
be assured the farmers in their patrl-
otic efforts to supply the food which
our people and armies need.
What assurance or assistance does
a farmer need? He does not, in my
Judgment, want or ask to be shown
srecial favors beyond those expected
by ordinary business men in other lines
engaged N government work. nc
ought to he assured of condition as
nearly as possible like that of the busi-
nessman working for definite PRICE
on government contracts.
To be placed on a par with other
business enterprises. the farmer ought.
so far as possible, 10 receive assurance
son foJr points:
First He should know that ncccs-
sary labor would be available.
Second: He should be able TO count
on supply OF seed and fertilizer at
reasonable market prices.
Third: lie should have reasonable
banking accommodation until the
harvest season.
Fourth: He ought to be assured OF
q. fair return for his crop that VIII DC
reasonably profitable.
\ government at war may properly
bc expected to deal with each OF these
items. Each one of them, however, IS
a federal problem. too broad loF any
state TO expect to handle by itself
The State of Maine will cooperate
fully with any federal programme de-
signed 20 meet these reasonable needs
o. farmers in this emergency but we
can do little that is effective except
in cooperation with the federal pro-
gramme.
I have just had conference IN
Washington with Secretary Houston
of the Department of Agriculture in
order to be able to report to you what
the federal programme is so far as at
present determined upon and to point
out how the State is planning TO sup
plement that programme.
Taking first the need of labor-in
this field. as in each Of the others the
first need is information as to prob
able demand. This should be secured
for the whole state by the grange,
working with the local committees on
public safety The national govern
ment will continue and expand its pro-
gramme of shifting labor to the point
of greatest need, will apply the ma
ohinery of the Federal Working Re