The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1918-02-28
THADDEUS STEVENS ENACTED
IN "THE BIRTH OF A NATION

Austin Stoneman in THE Birth of a
Nation" Griffiths photo-spectacle
which comes to the American Theatre
tomorrow. matinee and evening, has
role that during the original produc-
ton of ''The Clansman" created much
discussion. 1t is said the character
is founded on Thaddeus Stevens, a
member of the house during the re-
construction days and one of those
largely responsible for the carpet-bag
rule that predominated in the South
during that period Thaddeus Stevens
Is portrayed to be an evil and a carnal
miscegenist with a mulatto sweet
heart, his housekeeper. Lewis gives
an excellent Interpretation of the role.
Mary Alden splendidly enacts the part
of his mulatto housekeeper Among
its many other values as a presenta-
tion, the play is the means of bringing
out much remote historical fact.
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abundantly in patriotic response to
the request of the Government, but at
harvest labor was wanting. Many
fields of potatoes were frozen in the
ground and much corn remained un-
gathered. There are farmers three
quarters of whose corn crop was still
in the field in February for want of
hands. To men of small resources
such blows are staggering. The prose-
cutions OF milk producers, a very
numerous class of farmers, for seek
ing prices high enough to meet the
rising cost of production. have also
had their share in robbing the farm
ers 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 at
tention of the whole nation is at this
moment directed TO the question of
building 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 neither be manufactured nor used
in fighting.
What we need most is an increase
in wheat and pork But the coming
crop of winter wheat is more than five
recommended to produce the crop de-
sired. and its condition on December
l was the lowest ever known. The
British food administrator has warned
us officially that "it now lies with
America TO decide whether or not the
a ENfrFnnn gh
enough to hold out until the United
States is able to throw its forces into
the field" Yet because of its low
price in relation to corn. wheat so
urgently needed abroad is even now
being fed TO livestock in America. As
to pork, the outlook for production is
at best uncertain because at the pres
ent time and for some time past the
price of hogs has not been high
enough to cover the price of the corn
fed TO them.
AS a nation we have directed our
attention mainly to saving food al
ready produced instead of mainly to
producing more food-which would
make rigid conservation unnecessary
Surely it is better to produce in plenty
han to consume our energy in the
difficult task of stretching short sup
ply. In Europe conservation meas
ures have been difficult to apply, dan
gerous to the morale of The people,
and (short of actual rationing) in
effective in producing results. They
are properly the last measure against
food shortage. Production is the first.
How some of the steps which are
necessary to increase production may
be taken was indicated by the repre-
sentatives of three millions of organ
i7ed farmers, acting through the fed
eral board of farm organizations. in
their address submitted to you on
February 8.
If the foregoing is true, then the
danger is so pressing and the results
of the threatened food shortage will
be so disastrous to us, TO our allies,
and TO the neutrals who depend upon
US for food, that vigorous and imme-
date action for producing more food
is the first thing needed foI our own
safety and welfare. and for the win
ming of the war
There is only one power in America
able to meet this emergency, and tha'
power is yourself. All Americana
look to the President. Unless you in
spire the action needed, il will not b
taken. The time is short and tn
emergency has passed beyond ord
nary control. Without your help The
seourge of food shortage will fall o.
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