Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-02-15

10 the Editor OF The Times Dispatch.
Sir,-The United States government
is preparing to draft millions OF men
Tor all branches OF the service for the
war to save freedom and humanity. 1t
munition factories and cantonments by
paying enormous wages to supply the
armies with guns and ammunition. II
is providing everything possible for
their safety and welfare at HON and
abroad. regardless Of cost. but the
most important factor that faces our
helped. That Is. the problem OF feed
Ing, not only the armies Of the allies.
but the whole world -G'
When tho world war began In 1914
the munition factories here wero
swampcd with orders from European
countries. which enabled them to pay
the highest wages this country had
ever known. and drew thousands OF
men from the farms. When our coun-
try entered the war it began to make
and still higher wages were offered.
There was another drain of the farm
crs. best labor. because they could
make a. much in one day as they could
in week on the farm. Then came tho
draft which took its heaviest toll from
the depleted ranks Of ehc skilled farm
labortrs.
The government is appealing to
farmers all over the country and en-
couraging them to plant more grain
10 feed the armies OF The allies. but how
can they do it under such conditions?
Millions of bushels Of wheat rotted in
the fields last year. because the farm
cr could not AFFORD TO pay SIS per day
10 get labor TO save it. and much OF
the corn is still In the fields. What en-
enlargement has n farmer to plant
large crop. when he cannot hire men to
work IL at any price, because they arc
not here. some have suggested the
men in cities physically UNIT for SER
vice and boys should he sent TO the
farms 10 take the place of the skilled
laborer This il as foolish as IL is
impossible. 1t takes able-bodicd and
trained men to work on a farm. just
dare say. not one farmer I'm a hundred
would hire one of the physically unfit
for his board. All men employed by
railroads down to the section hand are
exempt. because the trains have to run
ard the track kept up. This is very
true, but what account will they. be
our soldiers by hauling empty cars?
Every industry in the world is DEEPEN
dent on the farmer. Fertilizers have
price so that n farmer cannot afford to
buy them. and all improved machinery
is out Of reach of the average farmer.
OF this country to feed the world at
time like this II should furnish them
something TO do it with. No soldier
who goes to France is more patriotic
err. and the fate OF world Is just as
dependent on him now as on our SOL
ulcrS. me government can manufac-
turc all sorts of modern implements of
war necessary for our armies and place
all the wealth Of the richest nation on
earth ut their disposal but 1t cannot
manufacture grain and meat. The
farmer has to do that.
If some thing is not done to relieve
the struggling farmer the armies Of tho
allies are destined to share the fate OF
the grand army of the French rcpub-
lie. which had been invinciblc, and. led
by the greatest general that ever liv-
cd. was defeated in the fatal cam
paisn into Russia. because the little
grains of wheat could not be had
Let the government continue to drain
the farms of its best labor leaving old
men and boys to work them. the war
will soon end and the Kaiser will lead
his victorious armies into starving
world. j. r. PAYNE
Columbia. Va, February -, 1918.