The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-05-12
Il PRESENT BATTLE

With the exception of a few disturbed places, where revo-
luton prevails the war is over and there is peace in the world
lhere IS another battle that must be fought-the battle
which began when Our first parents were driven from the
Garden of Eden, and which will last as long as the human race
lasts-the battle for existence.
10 live man must eat, and 10 eat he must have food The
paramount question all over the world is the food question, and
IT IS brought nearer home to this country because we have the
soil and climate to produce food, and a hungerine world is
looking wistfully and trustingly to us for sustenance.
1t is a mans part we have to do in the feeding of the world
Our own 100000 mouths must be first filled, and then comes
the world at large.
Every acre Of ground capable Of raising meat and bread
should be utilized, A great part Of the earths surface ic Gov
cred with water, and a greater part of it is nonproductive and
barren Comparatively few Of the states in this union raise
enough food for their own people. They must depend on other
sections more fortunately situated.
Russia alone raises enough, and has much for export when
conditions are normal, but Russia is stunned and paralyzed
with disorder, and is not producing food enough for her own
millions.
Intensive farming has almost made Germany self-support-
ing. but she still needs food. The war has set England to food
producing, and millions Of acres held out Of use by the rich have
been opened up and brought into cultivation. France must be
helped, for a time at least, and almost every country in Europe
will call upon us, as they are doing now.
1t behooves us, therefore, to realize our position, and the
important place which we occupy on the battle front The
~floodgates OF heaven overflow and pour down all the drink
we need and the kind that is best for us. Food of a ~nourishing
character we must provide by our own efforts.
Less will be wasted in the future in all probability; armies
and naves will be reduced. Forts, arsenals, coast deienses
and other wasteful and expensive agencies will be less promi-
nent, because the world has learned the futility Of war. Fight
ing settles nothing, improves nothing. The divisions OF the
human family should turn their attention and devote their ener-
gies to helping each other to live in comfort and hsppiness-not
TO killing and destroying each other. The paramount question
confronting the world at the present time is the food question
All others are subordinate or secondary.
This great South is the favored land insofar as food is
concerned, and we may add raiment, because cotton is going to
be worn more and more as the years roll by, and people learn
its value and utility. Herein is the South abundantly blessed,
if we make good use Of our opportunities. The spontaneous
native grasses will produce the meat; the fertile soil the corn,
wheat and cotton. 1t will take work, and the manhood of the
South can do the work and will not shirk it,
We are not lilies of the field; we must toll and spin; but
nowhere else as here are the rewards OF labor so great. By
raising something to eat we protect ourselves and help our
fellow man the world over.