Crittenden record-press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1909-191?, 1918-02-07

dom OF men all over the world, AZ
well as our own. depend upon Us IL
an extraordinary and unexpected de-
gree for sustenance, for the supply of
the materials by which men are to
live and to fight. and II will he our
glory when the war is over that we
have supplied those materials and
have supplied them abundantly. and
II will he all the more glory because
in supplying them we have made our
supreme effort and sacrifice.
I'm the field of agriculture we have
agencies and instrumentalities, for
tunately such as no other government
in the world can show. The depart
ment OF agriculture is undoubtedly
the greatest practical and scientific
agricultural organization in the
world The banking legisla-
ton OF the last two or three years
has given the farmers access to the
great lendable capital OF the country.
Both by direct purchase OF nj
trates and the establishment OF plants
to produce nitrates. the government is
doing its utmost TO assist in the prob
lem OF fertilization. The department
OF agriculture and other agencies are
actively assisting the farmers TO To-
cate. safeguard and secure at cost an
adequate supply Of sound seed. The
department has S2.500,000 available
for this purpose now. and has asked
the congress for s6,OOO,eo0 more.
The labor problem is one OF great
difficulty and some OF the best agen-
cies OF the nation are addressing
themselves 10 the task OF solving II,
so far as II is possible to solve II.
Farmers have not been exempted from
the draft. know that they would
not wish to be. take II for granted
they would not wish TO be put in
class by themselves In this respect.
But the attention OF the war depart
ment has been very seriously conferred
upon the task Of interfering with the
labor OF the farms as little as pos
sible.
And let me say that the stimula-
ton OF the agencies have enumer-
ated has been responded TO by the
farmers in splendid fashion.
Last spring the planting exceeded by
100000 acres the largest planting
OF any previous year and the yields
from the crops were record-breakin&
Yields, In the fall OF 1917 wheat
acreage Of 42,170.000 was planted.
which was 100000 larger than for
any preceding year, 100000 greater
than the next largest. and 100000
greater than the preceding five.year
average.
But ought to say to you that II is
not only necessary that these achieve
ments should be repeated. but that
they should be exceeded
81 will not appeal 10 you TO con.
tinue and renew and increase your ef.
forts. do not believe that II is nee
essary 10 do So | believe that you
will do II without any word or appeal
from me, because you understand as
well as | do the needs and opportuni.
ties OF this great hour when the for
tunes OF mankind everywhere seem
about to be determined and when
America has the greatest opportunity
she has ever had 10 make good her
own freedom and in making II good
to lend helping hand TO men strug-
Cling for their freedom everywhere.
You remember that 1t was farmers
from whom came the first shots at
Lexington, that set aflame the revo.
luton that made America free.
hope and believe that the farmers OF
America will willingly and conspicu.
ously stand by TO win this war also.
The toll, the intelligence. the energy,
the foresight, the self.sacrifice and
devotion OF the farmers OF America
will, believe, bring to triumphant
conclusion this great last war for the
Of men from the con-
troll of arbitrary government and the
selfishness of class legislation and
control. and then, when the end has
come, we may look each other In the
face and be glad that We are Ameri
cans and have had the privilege to
play such a part