The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1918-02-02
Address BY President, Read at
Urbana, Asks Supreme
Effort BY Farmers.
MARK MUST PASS 1917
crlsis Has Come, Says Executive, and
War VIII End This Year, but
Farmers Must Make Rec
ord Production.

ments or this year, or one side or
the other, must determine the issue.
The eliminating crisis OF the strup.
Gle has come"
nus President Wilson warned the
farmers Of the country. The messaee
wal delivered by President James OF
the University of Illinois In the ali.
sence OF Secretary of Agriculture u.
=. Houston, who was TO have repre-
s~nted the presioynt at the farmers
conference at Irrbana. The president
bad expected to attend, but indisposi.
ton made II impossible and he dele
gated Mr.. Houston, who was prevented
from participating by the railroad
fieup. The presidents message said:
y am sorry indeed that / cannot be
present in person at the Urbana con-
Terence. should like to enjoy the
beneht OF the inspiration and ex-
change Of counsel which | know |
should obtain but In the circumstances
Il has seemed impossible for me to
be present and therefore I only can
sen you . very earnest message ex.
pressing my interest and TIE thoughts
which such . conference must bring
prominently into every mind.
Facing Great Task.
Il need not tell You for | am sure
y0u realize az keenly as | do that we
are ~ . nation in the presence OF a
great task which demands supreme
sacrifice and endoavor OF of
-. We can give evrything that Is
needed with the greater willingness
and ven satisfaction because the OBJ
ject OF the wal In wnich we are en-
gagged is the greatest that free men
have ever undertaken.
Wal Cause 10 Righteous.
You will not need to be convinced
that 1t was necessary for us as q free
people TO take part In the war. Ii had
raised its evil hand against US. The
rulers OF Germany had sought to exer-
else their power In such q way as to
shut on our economic life so far as
cur intercourse with Europe was con-
ccrned and To confine our people vita
b. the Western hemisphere while they
accomplished purposes which would
have perman emily impaired and i'm
peded every process OF our national
iifo and have put the fortunes OF
America at the mercy OF the imperial
government OF Germany.
Whole Future at Stake.
~Ws are fighting. therefore. as truly
far the liberty and self-government OF
the United States - II the war OF our
ewn revolution had to be fought over
AGAIN, and every mandn every business
n the United States must know by
thds time that his whole future for
tuna lies In the balance. Our national
life and our whole economic develop
mrnt will pass under the sinister In
luenco OF foreign control II we do not
WIN. We must win, therefore, and we
uhall YIN. I need not aesk you to
pIedre your lives and fortunes with
tnose Of the rest OF the nation to the
accomplishment OF that great war.
Thln Year Will Decide War.
sYou viii realize a. | think states
men On both sides OF the water rea-
lire, that the eliminating crisis OF the
strugsle nas come and that the
achievements Of this year on the one
side or the other must determine the
issue. It has turned out that the
forces that fight for freedom OF men
over the world as well as our W de-
pend upon US In an extraordinary and
unexpected degree for s~ustenance for
TIE supply OF the materials by which
men are to live and to tight and It win
be our glory when the war IL over that
We have supplied those materials and
suppliod them abundantly and II will
BE- al The moro glory because In sup
plying them we have made our SUI
preme effort and sacrifice.
FARMERS Paramount Factors.
Elm the field OF agriculture we have
agencies and instrumentalities. fortu-
nately. such As no other government
In the world can show. The depart
ment Of agriculture Is undoubtedly
Tao greatest practical and scientific ag-
~ricultural organization in the world.
The banking legislation OF the last
two or three years has given the farm
err Access 70 the great lendable cap.
ital Of the country and 1t has become
the duty both OF the men In charge
Of the federal reserve banking system
snd Of the farm loan banking system
t. see to Il that the farmers obtain
Tie credit. both short term and long
tenn, to which sthay are entitled not
on1y, tut which IL Is i~mperatively nee
eooary should be extended to them II
the present tasks Of the country are to
bo.adeQuately performed. Both direct
pnrchase Of nitrates and by the estab-
tipnment Of plants to produce nitrates
- government Ia doing it's utmost to
aoolst n the problem of fertilization.
Giving Farmers Every Aid.
rrhe Department Of agriculture and
oe1or agencies are actively assisting
fafmerD to locate, safeguard and
oooore at cost IN adequate supply OF
seend seed. The department has 81.
100000 available for this purpose NOV
nc has asked the congress for S.
ooe,000 ore
The labor problem Is one Of great
4 keulty and some Of the best agen,
60 Of the nation are addressing
01ounelves to tde task Of solving II
~ - = y possible. Farmers have
boon< Dzosnptod from the draft.
oW ~ you'd not wish to ~.
e ~ efanted they would mol
% - put a = class By them
lyoo s. this re1pect. Bnt the atten
qco q the var department has beer
~ opstouoly contorod upon the tast
e. <noecCu Win ~ labor Of III
n1xnn ~ Hkf1n - n6Sn1b1n. and unda1