The Oskaloosa herald., 1918-10-31
GOV. HARDING and
IOWA IN WAR WORK
THE GOVERNORS FORESIGHT
PUT IOWA IN THE LEAD.
ORGANIZATION IS KEY NOTE
Food and Fuel Production, Business
Interests, Men in Service, Patri-
OTIS and Traitors Have Received
Careful Attention. .....s

| This is not year when republicans
can talk partisan politics with as
much freedom as ordinarily. for the
reason that any partisan talk on the
part of republicans is Immediately
construed as opposition to the presi-
dent in his war policies. This OF
course, is not well founded, but nev.
those who do not make careful
study of political conditions are apt
to take the surface view. $3.50.
The fact that Iowa has responded
so splendidly TO every war activity
is duo primarily 10 the fact that the
state was so well organized. TT
Organization can be credited to Gov
cnor Harding, for he. more than
anyone else, has led FROM the very
time that war was declared, and has
constantly urged, in season and out
of season, that the state be organized.
In Before War Was Declared.
! On the 2Sth OF March, before war
Twas declared but when it was in the
lair, Governor Harding called q con.
| ference of something like 200 practi.
cal farmers in his Office, to take up
the matter Of increased food produc-
ton. Growing out of this confer
once q committee representing each
congressional district in the state,
was appointed. composed OF farmers,
known as The Food Production
Committee" This committee has
been active ever since that time am
has done an immense amount of work
in encouraging increased production
on the farms of Iowa.
Governor Harding sent two special
messages 10 the legislature before
war was declared, urging the leGisla-
Iturc TO give aid TO the various activi-
ties in order that the food production
of the state might be increased.
Therefore whatever success has been
in increased food products can be
ivities of the Governor.
! Organized Councils Of Defense.
lie called n stale wide meeting of
The Council of Defense in July, 1917.
Councils of Defense was outlined.
Shortly after that meeting of the
tsEeriffs, member of each board OF
supervisors and Federal officers, was
held. At this meeting the question
of law enforcement was taken up and
emphasis was laid upon the POINT that
lthC local. state and federal officers
should cooperate and sec to it that
no mob violence be permitted to find
depression in the state
Increased Goa! Production.
The Governor, carly after the de.
claratiOn OF war recognizing the i'm,
portancC OF producing all the coal
J possible, SIS instrumental in calling
H. conference of all coal producing
states, in Chicago early in July, 1917
lat which time memorial was sent to
the President stating that the coal
producing states would cooperate IL
every way possible with the Federal
government in encouraging the pro
duction of coal. During the Spr
OF 1918 when the mines of Iowa were
standing idle because there was no
demand for Iowa coal. he nut on a
tcampaign Of education in tho state
which resulted in the immediate op,
eninS Of the mines. for they were
flooded with orders. .... .
j. G. Lewis. president of the United
Mine Workers, states that this cam.
paign alone increased the products
of Iowa coal a million and half tons.
At that time coal miners were leay.
ling the state and something over 800
OF them had already left Iowa. As
soon as the coal mines were opened
up the exodus Of coal miners stopped
and this has resulted in a great in
crease of production from Iowa mines.
This campaign was beneficial TO the
mining industries. to the miners OF
the state and to the consumers of the
state also
Car Shortage and Wheat
Last winter when the car shortage
was costing the farmers of the state
thousands of dollars every day, Gov
ernor Harding took up the matter
with Washington authorities. made
two trips TO Washington and succeed.
ed in SCI ing both stock cars and box
CO "a The live stock and the. grain
I u Iowa.
4 campaign was put on in tho state
q year ago TO increase the production
of wheat in Iowa. This campaign
increased the acreage in the state
about 100000 acres The campaign
is on again this year and the indica-
lions are that we will have a million
acres of wheat in the state next year.
A campaign Of this kind requires a
great amount OF work and planning
and the credit ought to be given to
the party who is responsible for car.
rying II out.
Seed Corn Campaign.
You will recall IL was hard year
to save seed corn. The farmers We're
urged TO save for seed, When il
was discovered in January that the
seed would not grow, or at least that
q very large part Of Il would not
grow, the Governor instituted cam.