Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1918-02-08
WILSON MAKES PREDICTION IN
MESSAGE READ, AT GREAT
CONVENTION OF FARMERS.
DECISIVE VICTORY IN 1918
Recalls Achievements Of American
Farmers and Urges Greater Efforts
This Year-Fresdom Of World
Depends on United States.

Washington.-In message to the
nations farmers. delivered to an agri-
cultural conference at Urbana, ILL.,.
President Wilson said he thought
statesmen on both sides of the water
realized that the eliminating crisis
4 OF the war had come and this years
achievements would decide it,
The message, which the president
intended to present personally until
attacked by cold, was delivered by
President James of the University of
Illinois. Recounting the aggressions
Of Germany, the president said:
I'VE are fighting, therefore, as truly
for the liberty and self-government Of
the United States as If the war of our
own Revolution had to be fought over
again; and every man in every busi-
|, ness in the United States must know
by this time that his whole fortune
lilies in the balance. fNfN'
Our national life and our whole
future development will pass under
1 the sinister influences of foreign con-
troll if we do not win. We must win.
therefore. and we shall win. / need
not ask you to pledge your lives and
{ fortunes with those of the rest of the
nation TO the accomplishment OF this
great end.
"You will realize, as l think states
men on both sides of the water real
Me, that the eliminating crisis of the
\ -n~g,e hes come and that tho
achievements of this year on one side
or the other must determine the is
4 sue"
The president. recalled that farmers
fired the first shots at Lexington that
set aflame the American Revolution
! for liberty, and expressed the hope and
belief that American farmers now
Twill willingly and conspicuously stand
/ by to win this war. f~,~ =
The presidents message said:
Il need not tell you, for / am sure
Fyou realize as keenly as l do, that we
are as a nation in the presence Of a
Pgreat task which demands supreme
sacrifice and endeavor Of every one
lof US. We can give everything that
is needed with the greater Willingness,
land even satisfaction, because the OBJ
Of the war in which we are en-
kgaged is the greatest that free men
khave ever undertaken. 1t is to pre-
Event the life of the world from being
determined and the fortunes Of men
affected by small groups
ffof military masters who seek their
sIown interests and the selfish domin'
fIion throughout the world of the gov
R'ernments they unhappily for the mo
lment control. You will not need to
be convinced that It was necessary for
us as a free people to take part in
i this war 1t, had raised its evil hand
#against US. The rulers of Germany
had sought to exercise their power in
e such a way as to shut off our eco
nomic life so far as our Intercourse
with Europe was concerned, and to
confine our people within the western
Hemisphere while they accomplished
purposes wirich~ would have -psrHa
tnently impaired and impeded every
&process of our national life and have
Iput the fortunes of America at the
mercy. of the imperial government OF
#Germany. This was not threat II
had become reality Their hand OF
violence had been laid upon our own
people and our own property in fla
grant violation not only OF justice. but
H the well recognised and long stand
ng covenants Of international Law
Ind treaty. We are fighting. there
ore. as truly for the liberty and self
government of the United States ~
the war Of our own Revoluti0.- had
hp fought over again; and every
nan In every business in the Unitsd
jtates must know by this time thai
is whole future fcrtune lies IN ths
ala6ce. Our. national Me and youI
rhole economic development viii pass