Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-02-01
CRISIS Of STRUGGLE
IS HERE; RESULTS Of
1878 WILL DECIDE IT
President Wilson Tells Farm
erS-We Are Fighting for Lib
erty as Truly as If We Were
IN Revolution

WASHINGTON, Jan. 31.-The Gull
minating crisis of the struggle h a 5
come. The achievements of this year
on the one side or the other must de-
termine the issue"
Thus President Wilson today warned
the farmers of the country in making
public an address he had planned TO de-
liver at Urbana, Ills, today.
And facing this test, he said: 1T
has turned out that the forces that fight
for freedom, the freedom of men all
over the world as well as our own, de-
pend upon us in an extraordinary and
unexpected degree for sustenance for
the supply of the materials by which
men are to live and to fight.
And it will be our glory when the
war is over that we have supplied these
materials and supplied them abundant
ly, and it will be all the more glory be-
cause in supplying them we have made
our supreme effort and sacrifice.
I'VE are lighting the president con-
tinued, las 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 business in the United States
must know by this time that his whole
future fortune lies in the balance.
Sinister Foreign influence
our national life and our whole eco
nomic development will come under the
sinister influence of foreign control If
we do not win.
1--WE must win. therefore, and we
shall win. 1 need not ask you to pledge
your lives and fortunes with those Of
the rest of the nation in the accomplish
ment of that great end.
81 will not appeal to you to continue
and renew and increase your EFFORTS. 1
do not believe that it is necessary TO 90
so believe that you will do il with
out any word or appeal from me, be-
cause you understand as well as l do
the needs and opportunities of this
great hour when the fortunes OF man
kind everywhere seem about to be de-
teruined and when America has the
greatest opportunity she has ever had
TO make good her own freedom and IN
making good to lend a helping hand 20
men Struggling for0heir freedom every
where. You remember that it was farm
ers from whom came the first shot at
Lexington. that set afame the revolu-
ton that made America free. nope
and believe that the farmers OF America
will willingly and conscientiously stand
bv to win this war also. The toll the
Intelligence. the energy. the foresight
the self-sacrifice and devotion of the
farmers of America will. I believe
bring TO a triumphant conclusion TINS
great last war, emancipation or men
from the control of arbitrary govern
ment and the selhshness of class legls-
1ation and control, and then, when the
end has come. we may look each other
in the face and be glad that we are
Americans and have had the privilege 10
play such part.
Greatest War object
The president declared in opening ms
message to farmers "Fhat we are as
a nation in the presence of a great task
which demands supreme sacrifice and
endeavor of every one Of us.
1--WE can give everything that is need
cd with the greatest willingness, and
even satisfaction, because the object OF
the war in which we are engaged is the
greatest that free men have ever under
taken. 1t is to prevent the life of the
world from being determined and the
fortunes Of men everywhere affected by
small groups of military masters who
seek their own interest and the Selhsh
dominion throughout the world of the
government they unhappily for the mo-
ment control You will not need to be
convinced that it was necessary for us
as a free people to take part in this
war. 1t had raised it's evil hand against
US. The rulers of Germany had sought
to exercise their power in such a way
as to shut off our economic life so far
as our intercourse with Europe was con-
cerned. and to confne our people within
the western hemisphere while they &C
complished purposes which would have
permanently impaired and impeded
every process of our national life and
have put the fortunes of America at
the mercy of the imperial government
of Germany. This was no threat. II has
become a reality. Their hand of violence
had been laid upon our own people and
our own property in fragrant violation
not only of Justice hut of the well rec
ognized and lons-standing covenants OF
international law and treaty"
Statesmen on both sides of the water
now realize he added, that this year
will prove the critical one. And to show
the resources at hand with which to
launch the mighty blow he said:
Vast Farm Organization
In the field of agriculture, we have
agencies and instrumentalities, fortu-
nately. such As no other government in
the world can show. The department
Of agriculture is undoubtedly the great
est practical and scientific agricultural
organization in the world It's total an
nual budget OF 100000 has been
Increased during the last four years
more than 70 per cent 1t has stafr OF
$4,000, Including a large number oe
highly trained eXpefts, and alongside OF
it stands the unique land grant col
legeS, which are without example else
where. and the sixty-nine state and fed
eral experiment stations. These colleges
and experiment stations have total en-
dowmeut of plant and equipment Of
s1T2, 600. 900 and an income of more than
S35,oO0.00o, with 1921 teachers, a res
dent student body Of 125, 900. and vast
additional number receiving instruc-
tion al their homes. County agents
joint officers OF the department of aCri.
culture and of the colleges. are every
! where CO-onnratinr with the II IN, ~.