The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-02-25

wheat product ton, took place with nc
| other assurance than this, and the
farmers confidence was demonstrated
by the fact that they planted an acre.
age larger than the record of any pre-.
ceding year, larger by two million
acres than the second largest record
year, and seven million acres more than
the average for the five years before
the outbreak Of the European war.
1t seems not to be generally under
stood why wheat is picked out for price
determination, and only wheat among
the cereals. The answer is that, while
normal distribution of all our farm
products has been subject to great dis
turbances during the last three wears
because of war conditions, only two
commodities, namely, wheat and sugar.
have been 50 seriously affected as to
require governmental intervention.
1.-The disturbances which affect these
products (and others in less degreel
arise from the fact that all of the over
seas shipping in the world is now under
government control, and that the gov
eminent Is obliged to assign tonnage to
each commodity that enters into com
merclal overseas traffic 1t has. conse-
quently, been necessary to establish
single agencies for the purchase of the
food supplies which must go abroad.
The purchase of wheat in the United
States for foreign use is of so great
volume in comparison with the avail
able domestic supply that the price
of wheat has been materially disturbed
and 1t became necessary, in order TO
protect both the produce and the con
sumer, to prevent speculation.
1t was necessary, therefore. for the
government to exercise a measure Of
direct supervision as far as possible TO
control purchases of wheat and the
processes of its expectation. This SUI
perFlslon necessarily amounted to price
hXlng and |, therefore, thought il fair
and wise that there should be a price
stated that should he at once liberal
and equitable
Those peculiar circumstances gov
erning the handling and CONSUMPTION
OF wheat put the farmer at the very
center of war service Next to the sol
der himself, he is serving the country
and the world, aud serving them in a
way which il absolutely fundamental
to his own future safety and prosperity.
re sees TINS, and can be relied upon as
the soldier can.
THE farmer is also contributing
men to the army, and l am keenlv alive
TO the sacrifices involved. Out of I3.-
100000 men engaged in farm industries
2oo,opo have been drafted. or about
LIS per cent Of the whole number. In
addition to these there have been vol!
anteers. and the farmers have lost a
tonsldera Bile number OF laborers be.
cause the wages paid in industrial pur
suits drew them away. In order 10 re-
L'eVe the farming industry as far =.
possible from further drains OF labor
he new draft regulations have been
drawn with view to taking from TIE
farms an even smaller proportion of
men, and it is my hope that the local
Exemption boards viii make the new
with view Of tighten !
ing the load upon the farmers to the
almost extent.
The secretary OF war has asked for
authority to furlough soldiers of the
national army il conditions permit, So
mat they may return TO their farms
"heh a>SlStaHce IS necessary in the |
.Iahtng and harvesting of the crops. |
National and local agencies are active |
y at work. besides, in organizing com |
help for the more efficient dis |
,flbptlon OF available labor and the
irawing upon new sources of labor.
W hlle there will be difficulties. and
very serious ones, they will be diff
'ultics which are among the stern ne.
,essitie9 of war
THE federal railway administration
II IN,
tolllgent, and efficient wav with the
food administ ration to remove the dif}i
'uitles of transportation and of the ac-
tive movement Of cropl. Their mar
Eetlng IS to be facilitated and the
farmers gwen the opportunity to real
We promptly upon their stocks.
The department Of agriculture and
the food administration will continue
/" cooperate as heretofore to assist
the farmers in every way possible. All /
questions of production, of the mar
Netmg of farm produce, Of conservation
IN the course of production. and of ar.
rlcultural labor. and farm problems
generally will be handled by the de- /
partment Of agriculture; while all
questions of distribution of food sun |
plies to the allies and of conservation
IN consumption will he handled b. the
food administration: but the chief re.
lance is upon the farmer himself, and
am sure that that reliance will be
justified by the results.
The chief thing to he kent clearly !
IN mind is that regulations of this sort
aye only part of the great general |
plan of mobilization into which every |
element in the nation enters in this wart
rs N no other. The business Of war
touches everybody. It is a stern husi- |
ness, cooperative business, a bust /
ness Of energy and sacrifice, a bust |
ness OF service in the largest and best /
md most stirring sense of that great
word -