The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1918-03-07
HAler OF Soil as Essential to Suo.
cess as the Soldier or the
Gun Maker.
IMPORTANCE REALIZED
agricultural Interests Receive Early
consideration From Public Safety
CommIssion-rieIp and Inspir-
alton olvsn-state to
Double Production.

Rrussianism Is the farmer. Though
9xns may thunder and cities crumbls
before the onslaughts of the millions
now engaged in the great cause, peace,
everlasting peace can come only
through the lowly tiller of the soil.
To the thoughtless this may not APP
peal, but how inseparably the great
cause and the farmer are linked is in
dicated In the unusual difference be-
Ing shown him by those directing the
allied interests. No battle is complete
without the farmer. God speed him.
is the constant supplication.
Among the first of the state war
units to recognize the importance of
the farmer in his relation to the great
conflict was the Minnesota State Safe
ty commission. Early was the consid-
GRAFTON given the agricultural inter
ests of the state by this body and in
its twelve months Of existence little
has been overlooked in the way Of
help and patriotic Inspiration. Re.
turns In consequence have been many
fold and further help is contemplated.
food production doubled and as the
main source Of that production is the
farmers Of the state the task the Min
nesota safety commission has before
it cam be appreciated And thst the
Commission will succeed there is lit
tie doubt as 1t has the confidence Of
the farmers and they will respond to
man.
One OF the most active Of the Min
nesota Safety body in an agricultural
way is G. H. March, vice president
OF the commission and a farmer him
self. As the head Of the agricultural
division of the state organization both
his. time and his money have been
freely given in its furtherance. Re-
Gently Mr. March returned from
Washington where he went at the
instance of Gov. Burnquist and the
members of the Commission and his
visit was not only of value to the
agricultural interests Of Minnesota,
but to the entire Northwest. II only
the promise of an increased fixed
price for the 1918 wheat crop, which
was one OF the objects Of the visit.
is realized. this Intervention alone
will be worth many millions of dol
lars to the farmers of the state.
At the command of Gov. Burnquist
and the Minnesota Safety commission
Mr. March placed before President
Wilson and those interested In food
production number of things neces-
sary to the success of the farmers and
the additional production which is so
urgently desired and was successful
to the extent that many reforms will
undoubtedly follow. Not the least
of the promises obtained was aid in
behalf OF a substantial increase In
the government fixed price for wheat
and q partial return to state grain
grades which have been superseded
by federal standards. Acting on be-
half of the commission Mr.. March
pointed out to President Wilson and
his war aides the great work Mime
sofa farmers are doing and urged as
generous a government compensation
MS other lines of endeavor are now re-
ceiy1ng. snch was only justice.
One OF the early agricultural activi.
ties OF the commission was the sup
nlying of farm help made necessary
by the draft. With the usual sources
OF supply cut off by the national call
10 arms the Commission at once took
over the free employment machinery
of the state and much financial loss
was averted as result. This year
even greater plans are In preparation
Tor the harvest call.
Another of the early problems was
transportation and how It was handled
nv the Commission is best told in the
thousands of freight cars that have
been forwarded to every section of the
state at the urgent call Of farmers and
communities generally. Any dearth
In this respect has been kept down to
the minimum.
One of the chief features OF the
euccess of the Commission in an agri-
cultural way has been the confidence
IT'S activities has. inspired. Education
and patriotic appeal, instead of Of
ficial commands have been the main
feature Of It's propaganda and as
result general cooperation is greater
than ever in the history OF the state.
Today the commission has more IN
innate relations and is in closer touch
with the farmers OF Minnesota than
any other known agency.
With the opening OF the new crop
wear efforts of the Minnesota Safety
commission will be redoubled in max
ing it record breaker and there Is
every reason to believe that the fond-
est ropes Of those in charge VIII be
realized. Anticipating such, plans
that viii carry the commission well
into the harvest season are IN the
making snd these cover every ~
- 4. - nrnpf aoA etakn helm.