The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1918-02-28
A Letter to the Presi-
dent About Food

The White House.
MY Dear Mr. President In this crit
ical time. when it is the duty of every
American to support the Government IN
winning the war, l venture most re-
spectfully to lay before you certain
facts with relation to the food supply of
our people and our Allies whose i'm
portance would appear TO justify my
doing so. The study of conservation
has required me to become familiar
with agricultural problems, and l have
been in close touch with organized
farmers. In order to guard against
making any statement which might be
mistaken, either in letter or spirit, the
substance of this open communication
/ has been submitted to the leaders and
representatives OF farm organizations
numbering many hundred thousand
members, and has received their assent.
TIE war has now entered a stage in
which the steadfastness of civil popua-
lions ranks IN Importance with the fight
ing spirit IF armies. Abundant sup
piles Of food become a factor of the
first importance in maintaining the
morale of a people under heavy stress.
Great Brain, as we know, still relies
on the United States and Canada for 65
per cent. of its essential food stuffs.
The Canadians are most seriously handi-
capped in the effort to increase produc-
ton by the lack Of man power because
they have already sent to Europe so
Jorge proportion ofEtheir men OF mill
tary age. 1t is well known that New
leland. Australian, and Indian wheat is
inaccessible for lack of ships. The re-
sponsibility. therefore, rests mainly
upon the people Of the United States.
Without the food which we alone can
supply not only England, but France
and Italy. must lose their power to
carry on the war
! 1t is not famine We are facing in the
United States, as some have sought to
show, but food shortage so serious
/ that it threatens to become decisive.
AS man OF great authority among
American farmers has said This war
cannot be won by the forces Of civiliza-
/ ton unless the farmers Of the United
I States can substantially increase their
production Of foodstufrs to feed our
Allies and the people Of our own
/ country But We are faced with the
certainty OF a reduction instead of an
/ Increase unless present conditions are
promptly and radically changed
The farmers Of the United States are
anxious to do their full duty in grow
. irR more food. Their leaders have been
active in this matter for months past.
/ But they are hamperod by conditions
which they themselves cannot control.
( Farmers generally are now facing the
most unfayorable conditions Of farm la
I Dor they have ever known. in part be.
cause more than ore-quarter Of the men
who have ueen taken for the National
Army are farmers. They are short OF
seed, agricultural supplies. and credit,
and they declare that a crop smaller
than last years is certain unless these
conditions are changed for the better.
Shortage IN production at the coming
harvest cannot be met from any surplus
held in reserve. Only three crops of
our principal grams have ever been as
large as the amount by which our re-
serve Of these grains was reduced be-
tween March, 1916, and March. 1917.
Since then our reserve has been still
/ further diminished, and il has been said
/ thatlwe have now reached the bottom
/ of the granary.
/ Business confidence plays as large
I part in the production of TODD as it does
in the production of any other com
modify. Nothing is so fateful to pro
duction as uncertainty. Ii is matter
of national significance that the great
majority of farmers are to-day uncer-
tain as TO their business outlook.
! A year ago our farmers produced
ahundantly in patriotic response to the
request of the Government. but at har-
vest labor was wanting. Many fields of
| potatoes were frozen in the ground and
much corn remained ungathered. There
are farmers three-quarters Of whose
corn crop was still in the field in Feb
ruary for want Of hands. To men Of
small resources such blows are stagger-
ing. The prosecutions Of milk producers
a very numerous class of farmers, for
seeking prices high enough to meet the
rising cost of production, have also mad
their share in robbing the farming of
confidence in the future.
| Food is the first condition of pros
perity at home and success in the war
abroad. The food problem is first of all
question of production. The atten-
| ton of the whole nation is at this NOM
ent directed to the question of build
ing ships, but food is prior TO and more
essential than the ships to carry it.
So also food is more essential than
munitions, for without it munitions can
naither 10 manufactured nor used in