The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1918-01-31

Ut-t4{u 2 lonR.tefm, 10 when INC
Ioptj<lrdl not only. but II Il impera
e1sssary should be extended
tbs present tasks OF III. eountr
~ - be adequately performed,
Both by direct purchase Of nitrate
NJ BY the establishment Of plants 4
psoduce nitrates the government Is DO
kne lis utmost to assist In the problem
fertilization. The department o
agriculture and other agencies are act
keIy assisting the farmers 10 locate
safeguard and secure al cost, an ade
Ouate supply Of sound seed. The depart.
0ent has 1850 000 available for this
purpose now and has asked the con.
0ress for 10000 600 more.
Labor Problem Being Solyed.
The labor problem Is one Of great
difficulty and some Of the best agencies
OF the nation are addressing themselves
10 the task Of solving Il, so far as Il II
possible TO solve IT,. Farmers have not
been exempted from the draft ! know
that they would not wish TO be. take
Il for granted they would not wish TO
be put in a class by themselves IN this
respect. But the attention Of the war
department has been very seriously cen
tered upon the task Of interfering with
the labor Of the farms as little as pos
sible and under the new draft regula-
tons | believe that the farmers OF the
country will find that their supply OF
labor Is very much less seriously drawn
upon than Il was under the first and
initial daft, made before we had had
OUT present full experience IN these per
picking matters. The supply OF labor m
all industries is a matter We must look
10 and are looking 10 with diligent care
u. s. Farmers Most Proficient
and let me say that the stimulation
Of the agencies | have enumerated has
been responded to by the farmers ~
splendid fashion. | dare say that YOU
are aware that the farmers Of this coun-
try are as efficient as any other farmers
in the world. They do not produce
more per acre than the farmers in Eu.
rope. Il is not necessary that they should
do so. It would perhaps be bad econ
omy for them 10 attempt IT.
100000 Acres Planted.
"They are most alert and use more
labor saving devices than any other
farmers in the world And their response
10 the demands Of the present emergency
has been in every way remarkable, la't
spring their planting exceeding by ~
10000 acres the largest planting OF any
previous year, and the yields from the
crops we're record breaking yields. In
the fall Of 1917 a wheat acreage OF
41i70OW was planted which was lOoC-
600 larger than for any preceding
year, 100000 greater than the next
largest. and 100000 greater than the
preceding iiye.year acreage.
"But ! ought n say TO YOU that II Is
not only necessary that these achieve
ments should be repeated but that they
.hould be exceeded | know what this
advice involves. II involves not only
labor but sacrifice, the painStakins ap-
plication Of every bit of scientific
knowledge and every tested practice
b that is available.
Means Strict Economy.
eft means the utmost economy even
TO the point where the pinch comes
II means the kind Of concentration
and seif.sacrifice which is involved IN
the field Of battle itself, where the OBJ
ject always looms greater than the m,
dividual. And yet the government, VIII
Etlp and help IN every way that II
Is possible. The impression which pre-
walls in some quarters that while the
government has sough, to fix the prices
OF f~oodstuffs, il has not sought to fix
other prices. which determine the eS-
penses Of the farmer is a mistaken
one.
"As q matter Of fact, the government
has actively and successfully regulated
the prices Of many fundamental mateti-
ais underlying all the industries Of the
country and has regulated them, not
only for the purchases of the govern
iment. but also for the purchases Of the
general public, and ! have every reason
to believe that the congress will extend
the powers OF the government IN this
important and even essential matter 20
that the tendency to proiitecring which
Is showing itself in too many quarters,
may be effectively checked.
Reason for Price Fixing,
"In fixing the prices OF 'oodstWiS the
government has sincerely tried to keep
the interests Of the farm as much IN
mind as the interests Of the communi-
ties which are 20 be served, but It IS
serving mankind as well as the farmer
and everything in these times ot war
takes on the rigid aspect of duty.
y will not appeal 10 You to con-
tinue and renew and increase your
efforts. I do not believe that it is
necessary 10 do so, ! believe thar
o will do il without any word or
appeal from me because YOU under
stand as well as-l do the needs
and opportunities OF this great hour
when the fortunes Of mankind
everywhere seem about to be deter
mined and when America has the
greatest opportunity she has ever
had. to make good her OWL freedom
and, in making It good, to lend a
helping hand to men struggling Tor
their freedom everywhere.
"You remember that it was farmer
from whom came the first shots at Lex,
ington that set aflame the revolution
that made America free. | hope an,
believe that the farmers OF America vii