The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1918-08-19
Congressman Writes to Secretary
of Treasury and Tells of Crop
Outlook in this District
of State.
ASKS M 'ADOO TO BE
LENIENT ON QUOTAS
Pays Tribute to Loyalty of Peo-
Pile; Says They Will go
Limit But are in Poor
Shape.

Scott Ferris, congressman from this
district has just addressed a letter
to Hon. William McAdoo, secretary
of the treasury, in which the crop
conditions Of this section of Oklaho-
ma are set forth, and in which Mr.
Ferris asks the consideration Of the
secretary in compiling the quotas fol
the next Liberty Loan and such other
war securities to be sold in the fu-
ture. Mr.. Ferris pays a tribute to the
patriotism of the people of this sec
tion and states that no more loyal
citizens can be found anywhere. A
copy of the letter is as follows:
Hon. William G. McAdoo,
Secretary of the Treasury.
My dear Mr. Secretary:
| have. just returned from Oklaho-
ma. | iourneyed around over the
state considerably, a great part Of
my trip began by automobile | feel
it is my duty to advise you of the
situation there The most pitiless
drouth is in full swing. 1t has been in
full swing for two years. The people
in the Sixth and Seventh Congression-
al Districts, represented by myself
and Congressman jim McClintic, re-.
spectiyely, have had a complete crop
failure for two years. The same thing
is true to a great part of the State
though probably to slightly less
degree There is not enough corn in
the four southern counties Of my
district to feed a horse though the
winter The cotton is blooming out
while it is only four or five inches
high and will not make anything.
Even the milo maize, cane, kaGfir
and other forage crops are all as
dead as in January, withered and
dying on the ground The ground is
50 dry one can scarcely drive pick
into it, | am heart broken to make
such report to you, but after spend
ing several days in the State and
comforting with farmers, bankers. bus
mess men as well as Senator owen
and other members of the Oklahoma
delegation I felt it my duty to ad-
wise you at once in the premises.
I, therefore, hope that in making
the assessments on the various states
in the next Liberty Loan campaign
and in future War Savings Stamp
campaigns and such other war activ
tiles you will take into consideration
the pitiable condition which our peo.
pie are in and make the next assess,
ment somewhat lower than the last
Ia the proceeding loans our farmers
have mortgaged our crops, their live
stock and practically everything they
had in order to buy bonds. Now, with
our crops practically a complete
failure, it is going to be very diff
cult for them to meet their present
obligations. Our people have worked
and struggled to meet their assess
ment but it is a losing fight 7 ne
yer saw more patriotic people il
my life and never. saw a people more
anxious to carry their share of tn,
burden but at the same time 7 ne
ver saw a people less able to earrl
their share.
viii you not therefore, Mr. Sec
retary. in making future assess
mentsments bear in mind our un
fortunate condition in Oklahoma an,
be as lenient with our people as i
possible?
Very sincerely yours,
(Signed) SCOTT FERRIS