Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-01-29
Save Us from the Pretenders

international! relief organization, has
given out a statement in Paris that is
Of more than ordinary importance to
Americans. particularly 70 farmers.
Mr. Hoover says tha, the producer
Nus, be protected until the markets
can be opened. He thinks the pres
ent ovcrsupply Of fats. accumulated
as the result OF patrio pig p-oEa-
eating. will soon be exhausted. and
then-Hhy ne seems TO think We shall
forever be happy. an prosperous
with q big p" He says:
The dominating food problem in
tne United States al this moment is
Very muc:. bigger problem than the
Chicago packers. Il is The problem
OF ihe American farmer.
!. ,he packers profit Of OF 3 per
e.r. OF lis turnover is 200 high. il IS
thc 6aty .: Congress - TAX i out Of
HIN, :: Ire farmers prices threaten
20 ta- t=:ow re .evs. 9. fair return.
!, te.ooves re co--:-y 20 do some
o.. j. c.@z- .-.-a:-g
G-aob.-. eA.e=-C.=S seems 10 be the
accepted method q settling" great
pEcJ.ems Las. yea! the government
protected" certain producers and ex-
ported others. ali II the name OF pa
,r.,:ism Thousands Of men who had
invested n farming plants were driv-
Ell % he wall and OFT OF the farming
game by TIE National Food Garden
Propaganda and il. accomplishments.
THIS years production Of $500 wheat
Will oe record breaker if the season
is favorable. but what OF other agri-
culture. confronted as j, is with ire
mcadous surplus on hand. and the
fool garden promoters still yelling
their heads off 10 destroy the market
for regular producers?
We do not mean that we have any
objection 70 all those who are in
olined making and enjoying the veg
etables thereof. all the gardens they
wish. but we DO object to gangs Of
biusterers and lf-advertsers like
Charles Lathrop Pack fooling the in
experienced and uniformed like him
sel.. into costing themselves good
money running the markets for local
producers whose livelihood depends
largely upon those markets. We
would suppress such sap heads as
these promoters as we would the boil
sheviki, for they are dangerous.
We speak plainly for we deem it a
duty. and may the simple logic spread
among common sense publishers who
are bombarded with the publicity rot
Of such as this National War Gar
den Commission" Let editors and
publishers consider we'll what they are
doing when they contribute valuable
space 20 this idiotic pretense at agri-
cultural wisdom.
While Hoover sees a peril in the
amazing volume of over production
that would crush the markets and
disorganize everything if dumped into
the open market. Pack is sending out
his prattle Of this sort:
Food is the best known antidote for
bolsheviki poison and the 10000 gard
ems Of last year must be doubled to
show that We mean business"
Mr.. Pack is obviously incompetent
to get a broader view than that. but
AXE others Of that caliber he sails
forth to settle all world problems.
Mr.. Hoover says:
The perplexities arising out Of in
ability to demobilize totally the food
situation Of the world in the period
between the amistice and peace
make the farmers position in the
matter OF much more immediate con-
Germ than the future Of the Chicago
packers"
The submarine had so shortened
the worlds shipping that the Allies
were unable to readh the distant mar
kcts OF the Southern Hemisphere, and
we were bound to create in America
sufficient food to carry Europe. II
the war had gone on every pound Of it
and more would have been required
by the Allies before next harvest.
The armistice came suddenly. free
ing shipping from military use and
reopcning to the Allies the cheaper
Southern Hemisphere and the colo
NAL markets. where. in addition. they
could have more liberal credits and
markets for their manufactures.
We are thus faced with a serious
problem with respect to our own great
supplies. periodically accumulated"
1T Is. however. no more possible to
dcmobilize in a week the whole Of
these intricate forces set up during
the war than it is to demobilize our
army by Diminishing it on the field.
And. pending these solutions, our
American farmers. merchants, pack
ers and banks simply must stand to-
gether for two or three months to
carry our excess surplus over until
the markets OF the world have been
more extended and finally liberated
by peace"
There Il the difference: you can
take your choice. but need not ask
Maine farmers their opinion. And IL
Maine farmers resent It, let them con.
hidaP IA Sys,eIe <sxymara oa.. al ....>