The Tomahawk., 1918-02-07

and has asked the congress 1ol "oS
100000 more.
1.-THE labor problem is one of great
difficulty and some of the best agen-
cies of the nation are addressing
themselves to the task of solving it,
so far as it is possible. Farmers have
not been exempted from the draft.
know they would not wish to be.
take it for granted they would not
wish to be put in a class by them
selves in this respect. But the atten-
ton OF the war department has been
very seriously centered upon the task
of interfering with the labor of the
farms as little as possible. and under
the new draft regulations ] believe
farm ers of the country will find their
supply of labor is much less seriously
drawn upon than it was under the
first and initial draft, made before
we had our present full experience in
these perplexing matters.
Americans Best Producers.
And let me say that the stimulation
of the agencies have enumerated has
beer responded to by the farmers In
splendid fashion. dare say you know
tho farmers of the country are as eff
cieut as any in the world. They do
not produce more per acre than the
farmers of Europe. 1t is not neces-
sary, It would perhaps be bad econ
o,ny. But they prodcce three or four
times more per man, per unit of labor
and capital, than the farmers of any
Euronean country They are more
alert and use more labor saving serv-
ices. And their response to the de-
mands of the present emergency has
heen remarkable Last spring their
nlauting exceeded by 100000 acres
the largest planting of any previous
wear. Tie crops were record break
ing Yields. Last fall wheat acreage
of 42.17O,OO was planted, which was
I .OO0 900 larger than for any proceed
jns. wear, 100000 greater than the
next largest, and 100000 greater
Than the preceding five year average.
Must Guido 1917 Records.
.Rut it is not only necessary that
th.se achievements should be repeat
cd but that they should be exceeded.
7 know what it involves. 1t Involves
not only labor but sacrifice, the PANS
taking application of every Dlt OF
scientific knowledge and every tested
| nractice available. It means utmost
economy, even where the pinch comes.
| II means the kind of concentration
and self-sacrifice which is involved III
! the field of battle itself, where the
object always looks greater than the
individual. And yet the government
will help, and help in every way pos
sible.
Farmers Are Protected.
"r,,o imnressiOn that while the gov
| eminent has sought to fix prices or
foodstuffs, it has not sought 10 NIX
other prices which determine the ex'
| nenses of the farmer is a mistaken
| one The government mas actively
and successfully regulated prices or
MANY fundamental materials underly-
inr all the industries Of the country
| and has regulated them not only for
purchase of the government but also
| cor the purchase of the general puD1c.
and T have every reason to bene'e
tho congress will extend the powers
| If the government in this even essen
| +iAl matter. so that protiteerlns wnlcn
is showing itself in too many quarters
may be effectively checked. In hxmg
vices of foodstufrs the government
has sincerely tried to keep the inter
ests Of the farmer as much IN mlhd
az the interests Of the communities
which are to be served, but 1t Is ser7'
in, mankind as we'll as the farmer
and everything in these times or war
takes on the rigid aspect OF duty.
Farmers Are Not S'ackers
| 81 will not appeal to you to continue;
and renew and increase yocr elloltS. =
do not believe that necessary. l We.
,ieve you will do it without appeal lron 1'
me-. because you understand as "ei.
as I the needs and opportunities ". u.
iris great hour when the fortunes VI
,uank kind everywhere seem ABOUT 10 pe
determined and when America mas .nS
greatest opportunity she mas ever n: ~
to make good her own freedom anu -
making it good to le"d heip'iS ~
80 mon strucgiins for thcir tcn"oom
aorvw,hore You remember that it was
farmers from whom came the nrst
shots at Lexington. that set aname '"e
revolution that made America lree
81 hono and believe that the farmers
- America will willingly and con-
spiculousiy stal-d by to WIN thls W. w.
a aor.,v The foresight, the self-sscriftce
WY devotiou of the farmers of Amer
lea will, believe, bring 10 a tri u,or
nh.,+ conclusion this great last war
sn ,, ,,,o emancipation of men from the
~, ,n NJ arbitrary government and
.bl se,f,shness of class legislation ana
1nu ,+ro1 and then, when the end has
oo we NAV look each other IN the
s s.oa and he glad that we are Amer
l oans and have had the privilege TO
plav such a part"