The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1918-03-01
sIu1er Of Soil as Essential to Sue.
cess az, the Soldier or tho: r.
( 3-l% 4 Gun Maker.
IMPORTANCE REALIZED
Agricultural interests Receive Early
Consideration From Public Safety
commIssIom-HsIp and Inspir-
alton oivsn-Stats to
Double Production.


Pr,usianism IL the farmer. Though
guns may thunder and cities crumble
before tho onslaughts of the millions
now engaged In the great cause, peace,
everlasting peace can come only
through the lowly tiller of the soil.
TO the thoughtless this may not ap-
peal but how inseparably the great
cause and tho farmer are linked is in
dicated in the unusual Difference be-
ing shown him by: those directing the
allied, interests. No battle is complete
without the farmer. God speed him,
IL the constant supplication. ..
Among the first Of the state war
units to recognize the importance Of
the farmer in his relation to tho great
conflict was the Minnesota State Safe
ty commission. Early was the consid-
GRAFTON given the agricultural inter
ests Of the state by this body and in
it, twelve months of existence little
he's been overlooked in tho way Of
help and patriotic inspiration. Re-
turns in consequence have been many
fold and further help is contemplated.
This year should see Minnesota's
food production doubled and as the
main source Of that production is the
farmers Of the state the task the Min
nesota safety commission has before
1t can be appreciated. And that the
Commission will succeed there is lit
tie doubt as it has the confidence Of
the farmers and they will respond to
q man.
One Of the most active Of the Min.
nesota Safety body in an agricultural
way is G. H. March, vice president
of the commission and farmer him
self. As the head of the agricultural
division of the state organization both
his time and his money have been
freely given in its furtherance. Re-
Gently Mr.. March returned from
Washington where he went at the
instance of Gov. Burnquist and the
members of the Commission and his
visit was not only of value to the
agricultural interests Of Minnesota,
but to the entire Northwest. II only
the promise of an increased fixed
price for the 1918 wheat crop, which
was one Of the objects Of the visit,
Is realized, this Intervention alone
will be worth many millions Of dol
lars to the farmers of the state.
At the command of Gov. Burnquist
and the Minnesota Safety commission
Mr.. March placed before President
Wilson and those interested in food
production a number of things neces-
sary to the success of the farmers and
the additional production which Is 50
urgently desired and was successful
to the extent that many reforms will
undoubtedly follow. Not the least
Of the promises obtained was aid in
behalf of a substantial increase In
the government fixed price for wheat
and partial return to state grain
grades which have been superseded
by federal standards. Acting on be-
half of the commission Mr.. March
pointed out to President Wilson and
his war aides the great work Mime
sofa farmers are doing and urged as
generous a government compensation
as, other lines of endeavor are now re-
ceivlng. Such was only justice.
One of the early agricultural actfvi-
ties Of the commission was the sup
plying of farm help made necessary
by the. draft. With the usual sources
Of supply cut off by the national call
to arms the Commission at once took
over the free employment machinery
of the state and much financial loss
was averted as a result This year
even greater plans are in preparation
for the harvest call.
Another of the early problems was
transportation and how 1t was handled
by the Commission is best told in the
thousands of freight cars that have
been forwarded to every section Of the
state at the urgent call Of farmers and
communities generally. Any dearth
in this respect has been kept down to
the minimum.
One Of the chief features Of the
SUCCESS of the Commission in an agri-
cultural way has been the confidence
its activities has inspired. Education
and patriotic appeal, instead OF Of
fetal commands have been the main
feature of its propaganda and as q
result general cooperation is greater
than ever in the history Of the state.
Today the commission has more in
innate relations and is in closer touch
with the farmers of Minnesota than
any other known agency.
/ With the opening of the new crop
year efforts Of the Minnesota Safety
commission will be redoubled in max
ing it a record breaker and there is
every reason to believe that the fond.
est hopes OF those in charge will be
realized. Anticipating such. plans
that will carry the commission well
into the harvest season are in the
making and these cover every phase
- hym work and otato hahn