Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-01-02
Heading the Wrong Way

as a nation to continue our dangerous
and silly muddling and meddling when
we have undertaken to shoulder the
burden of the greatest war of all
time? How long are we to continue
to undermine our national structure,
robbing its very foundation, in order
To add more weight to the upper stories
which are already top heavy?
We have adopted national slogan
Food will win the war, don't waste
it For months we have deluged our
farmers with appeals and advice, post
'rs. bulletins and Impractical theory
from men who could not earn their salt
on a real farm. We have had
Wild orgy of hysterical cconomy-have
saved a few millions at the spigot
and wasted billions at the bunghole.
- >t*
We are robbing the food producer in
order to make cheap food for the con-
sumer, and at the same time we grant
fair and just profits often more than
that-to the middleman. Posters and
high brow talk will not stimulat e pro-
auction of food under such conditions.
Production costs have more than
doubled Oh the farm and the farmers
living expenses have increased quite as
r,ucl as those of the city man. E.X-
p,rienced and skilled labor is quite as
r"ccssarN on the farm as elsewhere. Yet
we have almost blcd our farms white
by Supplying superior inducements to
work elsewhere. Who will work from
II TO 16 hours Il day at hard labor on a
farm When he can get from TWO to five
an eight hour day in other callings ?
boston iIerald's Editorial Mail Bag"
At last a city paper has permitted
one who understands to put his finger
on the sore spot.
Leading farmers Of Maine at the re-
c"At state Grange meeting in Lewis
."1 frankly admitted that they were
stumpcd ny conditions: that Names
;'cgeage in 1918 will be full Is percent.
below 1917, ard tl,at they see no way
t. avoid ii. however much they may
struggle t. produce patriotic crops"
fnr tho country and its allies.
From "t&cr sections of the country
''ll'' 'AistlAd- IL t''l -.
The farmei's4of Maine, New England,
-vr-f the entire country are as patriotic
As any class Of people i'll the world, in
spite Of the cowardly and idiotic
ctarges published by some newspapers
over thc signatures of irresponsbles
hat farmers are not backing the war:
have not bought liberty bonds; have
not COINED the Red Cross; have not
Supported the Y VI. G. A.. etc, etc. AS
volunteers for army and navy service
ha,i come from tie farms than from
any other industry or calling 1t is
also a safe claim that farmers have
subscribed To every patriotic demand
as freely as any class. when they have
hrcn given opportunity. And if they
Lave not bought as freely of Liberty
Loan bonds as have business and
professional men, there is a mighty
good reason why Jack didn't eat his
dinner he didn't have any to eat.
Middle class taVclaEe) farmers of
New England and Northern states
have their noses held so closely to the
erindstone of every day life as hardly
20 know the color of money for in
vestment. And let us emphasize the
fact that farmers are as well aware
nf the value of four per cent, govern
ment, tax-free bonds as is anybody
But when every dollar scrapcd from
scauty sales to middlemen who exact
tic last cent must go for taxes, fertil-
i1er poisons. machinery. feed and hired
labor. where are the dollars for in
Vestment? If. perchancc. a good crop
returns well. shall the farmer reduce
his mortgage or invest with the gov
-rnment? Can you advise him and
feel sure Of the justice of your deci-
sion?
Last year. 1917. ruined scores of
Gamers in Maine To every one that Sc
cured fair profit for his labor and
outlay. And 1918 promises even great
CT difficulties because of increased la
hor shortage. higher wages higher cost
ri machinery, insect poisons. and fertil-
.sssersssa - .>.a st~
The habit. in recent years, of max
ing the farmer the goat and of listen
ing to every uninformed writer who
chose to air his lack Of facts by at
lacking the farmer has become so
fixed that government officials seem
not to know. 1t is easier to sit in a
swivel chair and theoriZe and advise
than IL Is to find out. But, after the
country has run up against the real
thing in the way of famine because
those responsible are approaching the
problem backwards. they may wake
up.
Thus far all the processes Of pros
eeuting the war have been to strip the
UNDERMINING from the WHOLE national
structure.
An army and . nation must eat in