The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1918-03-08
A Letter OF Intesest
To The Farmers

| feCPlN'N w pul NOdh'S 'SC''t ~ "
IN oorrells and ii gives the presen
lux needs So plain that we heIiev'
Is wiIlhe interesting to our readers
This word 0f warning coming MS i
does from the United States Depar
ment Of Agriculture, should he giver
lour utmost consideration and brheeC
I'd il order to avoid all the suffering
possible. Tie letter reads:
If the Sorth neSlects this year
To provide her own foou and feed she
i is likely to suffer serious privatior
and she will uut burden upon the
i nation which may prolong the wal
and even imperil our victory.
| am aware that these are strong
words, but they are none
to strong. | am expressing an alar-
mist personal opinion. | am seeing
through the eyes of Is agricultural
colleges and county agents in near
every agricultural county. | have
recently crossed the continent from
the Atlantic to the Pacific / have
studied the reports gathered by the
the Departments $4,000 represent
atives and as many more employees
of the Agricultural colleges. ! have
considered the conclusion of the In
ternational Institute of Agriculture
at Rome which has reports from all
the world.
THE plair, hard truth is that
with 40 million people withdrawn
from productive industries and en-
gagged in the business Of destruction
il is not humanity possible for pro
,Iuction on the " role to exceed nor
NAL demand. The question is whet-
er production can equal necessitous
demand. So
England, France. and Italy mu-
st be sustained or their population
can not stand the strain. They have
been on schnty ration for more than
three years The chief cause of Russ
las collapse was eunger. Soldiers
can not fight when their wives and
children are staving
Secretary McAdoo has give
warning that Transportation may liz
lacking in 1913 to haul food and
feed to the States and communities
that do not provide for thenselve.
Many cattle have been sacrificed in
the drouth region of the Northwe-
st and the Southwest during the Ia.
st few month because railroad cars
could not he obtained as needed.
Military movements must have first
consideration and military move.
ments will be greater in 1918 than
in 1917. The prime question for the
farmer is not what product will bri-
ng the highest live stock, and the
answsr is: vegetable garden milk
COW, brood sow, a poultry flock
ample corn, oats, peanuts, ETC., anc
then much cotton or tobacco as he
can cultivate well.
1t is the highest demand of Pat
riotism it is the requirement of liy
ing that in 1918 every State, every
county, every farmer, be as nearly
self-sustaining as possible.
"For the South to plunge on co
ton or tobacco or any other specula
tives crop and to depend upon tn
corn belt for bread and meat will b
for the South TO engage in a gambl
which may cause privation to j
people and disaster to the nation
For any man now t. determine hi
: his business operation from the stan,
point of profit alone, without regar
to the nations needs is for him wi
fully to profiteer in the blood of hi
e fellows who are fighting in. Franc
r for the preservation of the replu5i
I No man can be excused for not tail
ing his share of the responsibility.
4 my whole life has been spent
+ the South. know the Southern ia
II mer he will do his duty as he see
3 l am appealing to every man j
| the South to make known these ia
ct to consid er it is his business +